FORT WORTH, Texas (Nov. 2, 2026) — The Davey O’Brien Foundation has selected the eight quarterbacks named to the Davey O’Brien Great 8 for week nine. The group features Air Force’s Kemper Hodges, Tayven Jackson of North Texas, Baylor’s DJ Lagway, Nick Minicucci of Delaware, Oregon’s Dylan Raiola, Jaylen Raynor of Iowa State, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers and Marcus Stokes of Memphis.
All quarterbacks who were named to the Great 8 during the first nine weeks of the season officially joined the Davey O’Brien Midseason Watch List. Through nine weeks, 53 different quarterbacks were honored.
The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week, selected from the Great 8 list, will be revealed Tuesday at 11 a.m. (CT).
The Davey O’Brien Foundation was created in 1977 and is celebrating its 50th anniversary season this year. The National Quarterback Award, the oldest and most prestigious college quarterback award, was first issued in 1981.
Over its time, the Davey O’Brien Foundation has given away more than $1.4 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 wore No. 8 as 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.
Davey O’Brien Great 8: Week 9
Kemper Hodges, Air Force, Sr., 6-0, 245, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.
· Rushed 35 times for 200 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-26 victory over UConn, becoming the first Falcon to achieve either of those totals since 2023.
Tayven Jackson, North Texas, Sr., 6-4, 209, Greenwood, Ind.
· Accumulated 445 total yards (404 passing, 41 rushing) while going 33-for-46 (.717) through the air with four touchdown passes in a 48-41 win over Florida Atlantic.
DJ Lagway, Baylor, Jr., 6-3, 237, Willis, Texas
· Connected on 16 of 25 passes for 319 yards (19.9 yards per completion) and four touchdowns, while also adding 23 rushing yards, in a 41-9 rout at UCF.
Nick Minicucci, Delaware, Sr., 6-2, 215, Midland Park, N.J.
· Was 32-for-38 (.842) passing for 414 yards and four touchdowns as Delaware defeated Western Kentucky, 35-21.
Dylan Raiola, Oregon, Jr., 6-3, 232, Buford, Ga.
· Helped lead Oregon to a 34-26 upset over No. 20 Northwestern by completing 22 of 31 passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns.
Jaylen Raynor, Iowa State, Sr., 6-1, 208, Winston-Salem, N.C.
· Completed 18 of 28 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 12 times for 48 yards and a score in a 51-49 upset of No. 24 Oklahoma State.
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, Sr., 6-3, 238, Florence, S.C.
· Totaled 397 yards of offense (301 passing, 96 rushing) and five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) as South Carolina downed Oklahoma, 42-25.
Marcus Stokes, Memphis, Jr., 6-2, 209, St. Augustine, Fla.
· Was 29-for-35 (.829) for 371 yards and four touchdowns and added 30 rushing yards and a score in a 49-22 win over Army.