David Ash named to 2013 O’Brien Award Watch List

Austin -- Texas junior David Ash has been named to the watch list for the 2013 Davey O'Brien Award, honoring the nation's top quarterback, the Davey O'Brien Foundation has announced.
Three Longhorns have won the award in its history, including Colt McCoy in 2009, Vince Young in 2005 and Earl Campbell in 1977, which was the award's first year when it honored the top player in the Southwest.

Already a member of the 2013 Maxwell Award watch list, Ash is a third-year quarterback who has played in 25 games with 18 starts (We have also predicted that he will have a breakout 2013). He owns a 12-6 record as a starter with wins in 10 of his last 13 games. He ranks eighth on the UT career passing yards list (3,778), ninth on the TD passes list (23), and fifth on the 300-yard passing games list (three).

Last season, Ash started 12 of 13 games and completed 214-of-318 passes (67.3%) for 2,699 yards and 19 TDs against eight INTs. He ranked 15th in the FBS in completion percentage (67.3) and 21st in passing efficiency (153.28 rating), while his passing yardage (2,699) ranks No. 8 on the UT single-season list and his total offense tally (2,840) is ninth. He was also one of only 10 QBs in the FBS on the year to post two games versus FBS teams with a passing efficiency of more than 225.0 and one of only seven QBs in the FBS to have a touchdown run of at least 45 yards and a TD pass of 75 yards or more.

Ash set the school record for the most touchdown passes (four) by a true freshman in 2011 when he played in all 13 games with six starts. He was named the 2011 Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP after he accounted for two touchdowns with one passing and one receiving in Texas' 21-10 win over Cal.

This year’s O'Brien Award watch list, which was compiled by a subset of the Davey O’Brien National Selection Committee, was selected based on player performance during the previous year and expectations heading into the 2013 college football season.

The field will be narrowed to 16 semifinalists on Monday, Nov. 4, and the Foundation and Selection Committee will announce three finalists on Monday, Nov. 25. The winner will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN on Thursday, Dec. 12, and will be honored at 37th Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner on Feb. 17, 2014, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Here is a picture of David Ash going over-the-top for a touchdown. It makes a great desktop image!