Denard Robinson a top candidate for Davey O'Brien award; no Wolverines on Doak Walker list

Posted on Fri, Jul 15, 2011 : 2:35 p.m.

Denard Robinson a top candidate for Davey O'Brien award; no Wolverines on Doak Walker list

By Rich Rezler

The college football award watch lists continue to roll in, with Michigan’s Denard Robinson mentioned today as a top candidate for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.

Robinson is among 38 quarterbacks on the list based on “performance during the previous year and expectations heading into the 2011” season.

The Doak Walker Award (best running back) watch list was also announced Friday, with no current Michigan players mentioned among 51 candidates. Former Wolverine Sam McGuffie, now a junior at Rice, is on the list.

Denard Robinson, a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award in 2010, was one of 38 top candidates named to the award's watch list on Friday.

AnnArbor.com file photo

The Big Ten Conference has six players on the list with Kirk Cousins (Michigan State), Taylor Martinez (Nebraska), Dan Persa (Northwestern), Nathan Scheelhaase (Illinois) and Russell Wilson (Wisconsin) joining Robinson.

Big Ten players on the Doak Walker watch list include Edwin Baker (Michigan State), Montee Ball (Wisconsin), Duane Bennett (Minnesota), Rex Burkhead (Nebraska), Marcus Coker (Iowa), Jason Ford (Illinois) and James White (Wisconsin).

Oregon running back LaMichael James, who won the award last year, is back to defend his title.

Robinson set a Michigan single-season record with 4,272 yards of total offense in 2010, when he finished second nationally and first in the Big Ten in total offense at 328.6 yards per game. He was the nation’s fourth-leading rusher (130.9 yards per game) and 20th in passing efficiency (149.58).

Robinson was a semifinalist (final 16) for the award last season and was twice named the Davey O'Brien Quarterback of the Week - following wins over Notre Dame and Indiana.

Auburn’s Cam Newton won the 2010 award, beating out two finalists who return as candidates this season: Stanford’s Andrew Luck and Boise State’s Kellen Moore.

Robinson, Cousins and Martinez are three of seven 2010 semifinalists on this year’s watch list, joining Matt Barkley (USC), Robert Griffin III (Baylor), Landry Jones (Oklahoma) and Darron Thomas (Oregon).

A player does not have to appear on the watch list to win the O’Brien award. Quarterbacks from all Football Bowl Subdivision teams are eligible until 16 semifinalists are announced on Oct. 24.

A roundup of previous college football award watch lists, with Michigan candidates:

Rimington Award (best center): David Molk
Butkus Award (top linebacker): No Michigan candidates
Lombardi Award (best down lineman): Mike Martin, David Molk
Thorpe Award (best defensive back): No Michigan candidates
Outland Trophy (best interior lineman): Mike Martin, David Molk
Beletnikoff Award (best receiver): Roy Roundtree
Mackey Award (best tight end): Kevin Koger
Maxwell Award (best overall player): Denard Robinson
Bednarik Award (best defensive player): Mike Martin
Ray Guy Award (best punter): No Michigan candidates
Groza Award (best placekicker): No Michigan candidates

Comments

wolfman

Sun, Jul 17, 2011 : 12:56 a.m.

I see this young man get a few titles not only in his college years but as well as he will in the Pros

Tru2Blu76

Sat, Jul 16, 2011 : 3:58 a.m.

Going into this season, I'm just hoping that the "No Michigan candidates" list gets whittled down substantially. We all know it: we need defense players to step up and join that list. We need punters and kickers to get themselves on that list. We also need a lot of moms and dads to step up and get their Maize & Blue Block M tattoos. (Just kidding, I hope I didn't start a real fad here.)

Terry Star21

Fri, Jul 15, 2011 : 7:54 p.m.

And well Denard should be. The more and more we learn about this kid even becomes more and more impressive. He was extremely happy with his role last season and prior to that had worked very hard to put himself in that position for the 2010 season. Then in comes a coach with a whole new system, and Denard agrees to do what ever necessary to adapt to that system for 'The Team, the Team, The Team'. MgoBlueForTiM..........nd the best to Denard Robinson !