Davey O’Brien Award Selects Week 3 Great 8
FORT WORTH, Texas (Sept. 21, 2026) — The Davey O’Brien Foundation has announced the eight quarterbacks named to the week three Davey O’Brien Great 8 list.
This week’s list includes Trinidad Chambliss of Ole Miss, Northwestern’s Aidan Chiles, Ethan Grunkemeyer of Virginia Tech, West Virginia’s Michael Hawkins Jr., Lincoln Kienholz of Louisville, Kentucky’s Kenny Minchey, John Alan Richter of Toledo and Alabama’s Keelon Russell.
All quarterbacks who are named to the Great 8 during the first nine weeks of the season officially join the Davey O’Brien Midseason Watch List. Through three weeks, 23 different quarterbacks have been honored with only Chambliss being recognized twice.
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 3
Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss, Sr., 6-0, 210, Grand Rapids, Mich.
· Led the Rebels to a 32-24 win over No. 7 LSU by completing 33 of 48 passes for 363 yards and two TDs and adding a rushing score.
Aidan Chiles, Northwestern, Sr., 6-4, 225, Long Beach, Calif.
· Accounted for five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) and connected on 17 of 22 passes (.773) for 241 yards as the Wildcats dropped Colorado, 41-7.
Ethan Grunkemeyer, Virginia Tech, Jr., 6-3, 213, Lewis Center, Ohio
· Was 31-for-39 passing (.795) for 314 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing TD in a 35-26 victory at Maryland.
Michael Hawkins Jr., West Virginia, So., 6-1, 205, Dallas, Texas
· Rushed 13 times for 123 yards and three touchdowns and completed 10 of 17 passes for 190 yards and two TDs during a 38-27 win at No. 25 Virginia.
Lincoln Kienholz, Louisville, Sr., 6-2, 215, Pierre, S.D.
· Helped Louisville top No. 16 SMU, 41-31, after securing three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) and 219 total yards.
Kenny Minchey, Kentucky, Sr., 6-2, 211, Hendersonville, Tenn.
· Steered the Wildcats to a 31-21 upset win at No. 9 Texas A&M by going 14-for-18 (.778) for 252 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.
John Alan Richter, Toledo, Jr. 6-3, 225, Gray, Ga.
· Completed 36 of 51 pass attempts for 429 yards and four touchdowns to help the Rockets erase a 14-point deficit in a 49-48 overtime win against Temple.
Keelon Russell, Alabama, So., 6-3, 207, Duncanville, Texas
· Was 23-for-30 for 320 yards and three touchdowns and rushed three times for 56 yards and a TD as Alabama defeated Florida State, 50-36.