The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
UT quarterback tabbed O'Brien Award semifinalist
11.13.2002 | Football
FORT WORTH, Texas - The Davey O'Brien Foundation announced the 14 semifinalists for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award on Wednesday, and for the second year in a row, senior QB Chris Simms (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) has made the list.
Simms has completed 180-of-307 passes (58.6%) for 2,315 yards and 17 TDs (T-No. 6 on UT's single season list) in leading No. 4 Texas to a 9-1 (5-1 Big 12) record this season. His 180 completions rank fifth on UT's single-season list, while the 2,315 yards are good for eighth-best in school history. The left-handed signal caller also has rushed for four scores and accounted for 21 TDs this year (No. 5 on UT's single-season chart). He has thrown for 200 or more yards in five games and has registered two TD passes in six contests.
UT's third-year starter has been at his best the last two games, completing 47-of-70 passes (67.1%) for 673 yards and five TDs. He threw for a school-record 419 yards on a career-best 29-of-47 passes at Nebraska and followed that up by completing 18-of-23 passes for 254 yards and three TDs, including a season-long 73-yarder to junior WR Roy Williams, in just three quarters of action against Baylor.
Simms, who is 24-5 as a starter (fifth-most victories in UT history), is seeking to become the first quarterback in school annals to lead the Longhorns to back-to-back 10-win seasons. He will have his first shot at the record as he directs the Longhorns offense at Texas Tech on Saturday. Simms has connected on 480-of-822 passes (UT-record 58.4%) for 6,205 yards (No. 4 on UT's career list) and 49 TDs (No. 3 on UT's all-time chart) during his four-year career.
The O'Brien Advisory Committee, composed of national sportswriters and commentators, will vote later this month to narrow the field again. The National College Football Awards Association will announce the three finalists on Monday, Dec. 2.
This year's winner will be announced at the 2002 Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec. 12. The 26th annual O'Brien Awards Dinner is scheduled for Feb. 17, 2003, at The Fort Worth Club.
Simms joins senior CB Rod Babers (Thorpe Award), sophomore LB Derrick Johnson (Butkus Award), senior DE Cory Redding (Lombardi Trophy and Hendricks Awards) and junior WR Roy Williams (Biletnikoff Award) among the Longhorns on national award semifinalist lists this season.
Davey O'Brien semifinalists
Brad Banks, Iowa
Kyle Boller, California
Ken Dorsey, Miami
Jason Gesser, Washington State
Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech
Byron Leftwich, Marshall
Jared Lorenzen, Kentucky
Eli Manning, Mississippi
Zack Mills, Penn State
Carson Palmer, USC
Dave Ragone, Louisville
Philip Rivers, North Carolina State
CHRIS SIMMS, TEXAS
Seneca Wallace, Iowa State
