Clemson Tigers QB Cade Klubnik Joins Davey O'Brien Award Watchlist

via Davey O'Brien Award Foundation

FORT WORTH, Texas (Aug. 7, 2025) — The Davey O’Brien Foundation unveiled the 2025 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Preseason Watch List today, a group that includes three dozen of the nation’s top returning college quarterbacks.

Clemson Tigers signal-caller Cade Klubnik is sure to be on the shortlist of nominees as the season wears on. He made the initial list released on Thursday.

Klubnik passed for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns against just 6 interceptions last season.

2025 Davey O’Brien Award Preseason Watch List

Drew Allar, Penn State, Sr., 6-5, 235, Medina, Ohio

Luke Altmyer, Illinois, Sr., 6-2, 205, Starkville, Miss.

Alonza Barnett III, JMU, Jr., 6-0, 217, Whitsett, N.C.

Rocco Becht, Iowa State, Jr., 6-1, 210, Wesley Chapel, Fla.

Carson Beck, Miami, Sr., 6-4, 220, Jacksonville, Fla.

Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss, Sr., 6-2, 230, Frisco, Texas

Devon Dampier, Utah, Jr., 5-11, 204, Phoenix, Ariz.

Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, Colorado State, Jr., 6-2, 200, Aledo, Texas

Tucker Gleason, Toledo, Sr., 6-3, 245, Tampa, Fla.

Taylen Green, Arkansas, Sr., 6-6, 235, Lewisville, Texas

Josh Hoover, TCU, Jr., 6-2, 200, Heath, Texas

Blake Horvath, Navy, Sr., 6-2, 195, Hilliard, Ohio

Nico Iamaleava, UCLA, So., 6-6, 215, Long Beach, Calif.

Keyone Jenkins, FIU, Jr., 6-0, 190, Opa-Locka, Fla.

Kevin Jennings, SMU, Jr., 6-0, 192, Oak Cliff, Texas

Avery Johnson, Kansas State, Jr., 6-2, 192, Wichita, Kan.

Haynes King, Georgia Tech, Sr., 6-3, 215, Longview, Texas

Cade Klubnik, Clemson, Sr., 6-2, 205, Austin, Texas

DJ Lagway, Florida, So., 6-3, 247, Willis, Texas

Sam Leavitt, Arizona State, So., 6-2, 205, West Linn, Ore.

Maddux Madsen, Boise State, Jr., 5-10, 207, Lehi, Utah

Arch Manning, Texas, So., 6-4, 219, New Orleans, La.

John Mateer, Oklahoma, Jr., 6-1, 224, Little Elm, Texas

Owen McCown, UTSA, Jr., 6-1, 190, Rusk, Texas

Fernando Mendoza, Indiana, Jr., 6-5, 225, Miami, Fla.

Darian Mensah, Duke, So., 6-3, 205, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Chandler Morris, Virginia, Sr., 6-0, 192, Highland Park, Texas

Behren Morton, Texas Tech, Sr., 6-2, 210, Eastland, Texas

Miller Moss, Louisville, Sr., 6-2, 210, Los Angeles, Calif.

Maalik Murphy, Oregon State, Jr., 6-5, 234, Inglewood, Calif.

Parker Navarro, Ohio, Sr., 6-0, 205, Tempe, Ariz.

Garrett Nussmeier, LSU, Sr., 6-1, 205, Lake Charles, La.

Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt, Sr., 6-0, 207, Albuquerque, N.M.

Sawyer Robertson, Baylor, Sr., 6-4, 220, Lubbock, Texas

LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, So., 6-3, 240, Florence, S.C.

Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati, Jr., 6-3, 235, Denton, Texas

Compiled by a subset of the Davey O’Brien National Selection Committee, this year’s list was selected based on previous Division I career player performance as well as expectations heading into the 2025 college football season.

The preseason list features 16 seniors, 14 juniors and six sophomores. Six players – Drew Allar (Penn State), Blake Horvath (Navy), Kevin Jennings (SMU), Cade Klubnik (Clemson), John Mateer (Oklahoma) and Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt) – were semifinalists in 2024.

The Big 12 Conference leads all leagues with eight quarterbacks honored. The Big 12 is followed closely by the Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference, both with seven.

The official Davey O’Brien Midseason Watch List will be released on Tuesday, Oct. 21, and will contain active quarterbacks from the Preseason Watch List, players honored as weekly Great 8 recipients through the season’s first eight weeks and any additional quarterbacks approved by the selection subcommittee.

The 35-player Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2025 will be announced on Tuesday, Oct. 28. For the fifth straight year, fan voting on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) will earn players bonus selection committee votes during the semifinalist, finalist and winner voting rounds. First-round fan voting will begin Oct. 28 following the QB Class announcement.

The list of semifinalists selected from the QB Class will be named on Wednesday, Nov. 12. The Foundation will announce the three finalists two weeks later (Tuesday, Nov. 25). The 2025 Davey O’Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 12, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.

The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The 49th Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

About the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA)

The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients since 1935. Visit NCFAA.org for more information.

Remaining Watch List Calendar

Fri., Aug. 8: Mackey Award/Rimington Trophy
Mon., Aug. 11: Bednarik Award

About the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award

The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The Davey O’Brien Award honors candidates who exemplify Davey O’Brien’s enduring character while exhibiting teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, the Davey O’Brien Foundation has awarded more than $1.3 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life. For more information, visit www.DaveyOBrienAward.com.