FORT WORTH, Texas – Ole Miss senior quarterback Jaxson Dart has been named one of 16 semifinalists for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, as announced by the Davey O'Brien National Selection Committee on Tuesday.
This is Dart’s second consecutive semifinalist appearance for the Davey O’Brien Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The 16 quarterbacks have helped guide their respective teams to a combined record of 129-20 (.866).
Additionally, their teams hold down 14 of the top 20 teams in the latest Associated Press and AFCA Coaches Polls. Six FBS conferences are represented on the list, with the Big Ten and SEC leading at four honorees apiece.
Alongside Dart, this year’s class includes: Drew Allar (Penn State), Bryson Daily (Army West Point), Quinn Ewers (Texas), Dillon Gabriel (Oregon), Blake Horvath (Navy), Will Howard (Ohio State), Kevin Jennings (SMU), Cade Klubnik (Clemson), John Mateer (Washington State), Jalen Milroe (Alabama), Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), Jake Retzlaff (BYU), Kurtis Rourke (Indiana), Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) and Cam Ward (Miami). Dart, Ewers, Gabriel, Milroe, Rourke and Sanders are previous semifinalists.
Dart – a native of Kaysville, Utah – is in his third season as Ole Miss’ starting quarterback in 2024 after transferring from USC his freshman season in 2021. In his overall career, Dart is 787-1,207 (65.2 percent) for 11,100 yards and 74 touchdowns with a career rushing line of 1,350 yards and 14 scores on 354 carries – making him one of four active FBS quarterbacks at 12,000 yards of total offense at 12,450.
At 26-9 as a starter with the Rebels, Dart owns the most wins by any Ole Miss starting quarterback of the modern era since Archie Manning’s first start in 1968. Last season, Dart led the Rebels to their first 11-win season in program history at 11-2 – capped by a Peach Bowl victory over Penn State – and this season he has led Ole Miss to a current No. 10 ranking and recently helped lift the Rebels to a historic 28-10 victory over No. 2 Georgia.
As a Rebel, Dart owns a passing line of 670-of-1,018 (65.8 percent) for 9,747 yards, 65 touchdowns and an efficiency rating of 163.4. His 1,307 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground also make him one of the best rushing quarterbacks in Ole Miss history – 31 yards shy of Matt Corral’s record 1,338. Dart already owns Ole Miss career marks in total offense (11,054) and 300-yard passing games (13), while closing in on several other career and season records – including Eli Manning’s career passing yard total of 10,119.
This season, Dart owns a passing line of 211-of-298 (70.8 percent) for 3,409 yards, 22 touchdowns, four interceptions and an efficiency rating of 188.6. On the ground, Dart owns 304 yards and three scores, pushing his total offense to an FBS-leading 371.3 yards per game. Dart also leads the FBS in passing efficiency and yards per pass attempt (11.4), while leading the SEC and ranking FBS top-10 in passing yards (FBS No. 2), yards per completion (16.2; FBS No. 3), passing yards per game (340.9; FBS No. 4), passing touchdowns (FBS No. 6) and completion percentage (FBS No. 7).
Elsewhere, Dart is a finalist for both the Maxwell Award and the NFF William V. Campbell Trophy, and he has earned weekly conference honors twice and national weekly awards 10 different times – most coming after his record-breaking performance against Arkansas on Nov. 2. Dart set Ole Miss single-game records in passing yards (515), total offense (562), while tying the single-game record in passing touchdowns (6).
The next step in the process will be to select the award’s three finalists. The finalists will again be chosen based on voting from the Davey O’Brien National Selection Committee as well as bonus ballots awarded from the second round of the Davey O’Brien Fan Vote.
For the fifth straight year, the Fan Vote takes place on the award’s three social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (X) – and the top five vote getters on each platform will receive bonus committee member ballots which will be added to the votes cast by the National Selection Committee.
To participate in the Fan Vote, fans must like the original Davey O’Brien Award post highlighting their quarterback. The second round will be open until Fri., Nov. 22 at 11:59 p.m. (CT). The three finalists will be revealed on Tues., Nov. 26. Looking ahead, the winner will be announced live on Thurs., Dec. 12, on The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
The Davey O’Brien Foundation was created in 1977, and the National Quarterback Award was first issued in 1981. Over its time, the Davey O’Brien Foundation has given away 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.
In 1938, O’Brien, who was a star quarterback for TCU, became the first player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award in the same year. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.
The 47th Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Mon., Feb. 19, 2024, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
2024 Davey O’Brien Award Semifinalists
Drew Allar, Penn State, Jr., 6-5, 235, Medina, Ohio
Bryson Daily, Army West Point, Sr., 6-0, 221, Abernathy, Texas
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss, Sr., 6-2, 225, Kaysville, Utah
Quinn Ewers, Texas, Jr., 6-2, 210, Southlake, Texas
Dillon Gabriel, Oregon, Sr., 6-0, 200, Mililani, Hawaii
Blake Horvath, Navy, Jr., 6-2, 195, Hilliard, Ohio
Will Howard, Ohio State, Sr., 6-4, 235, Downingtown, Pa.
Kevin Jennings, SMU, So., 6-0, 185, Oak Cliff, Texas
Cade Klubnik, Clemson, Jr., 6-2, 210, Austin, Texas
John Mateer, Washington St., So., 6-1, 219, Little Elm, Texas
Jalen Milroe, Alabama, Jr., 6-2, 225, Katy, Texas
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt, Sr., 6-0, 207, Albuquerque, N.M.
Jake Retzlaff, BYU, Jr., 6-1, 205, Corona, Calif.
Kurtis Rourke, Indiana, Sr., 6-5, 223, Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado, Sr., 6-2, 215, Dallas, Texas
Cam Ward, Miami, Sr., 6-2, 223, West Columbia, Texas
