FORT WORTH, Texas (Oct. 26, 2026) — The Davey O’Brien Foundation has named its Great 8 quarterbacks for week eight. The group consists of JC French IV of Cincinnati, UCF’s Keyone Jenkins, Sam Leavitt of LSU, Miami’s Darian Mensah, Nick Minicucci of Delaware, Toledo’s John Alan Richter, LaNorris Sellers of South Carolina and Memphis’ Marcus Stokes.
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 eight weeks, 50 different quarterbacks have now been 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 8
JC French IV, Cincinnati, Sr., 6-1, 205, Roswell, Ga.
· Led the Bearcats to a 37-24 upset over No. 8 Texas Tech by throwing for four touchdowns and totaling 218 yards of total offense (172 passing, 46 rushing).
Keyone Jenkins, UCF, Sr., 6-0, 200, Opa-Locka, Fla.
· Was 25-for-41 passing for 293 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 11 times for 35 yards and a score in a 39-31 double-overtime win over No. 2 BYU.
Sam Leavitt, LSU, Jr., 6-2, 207, West Linn, Ore.
· Accumulated 441 yards of total offense (387 passing, 54 rushing) and four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) in a 38-17 victory at Auburn.
Darian Mensah, Miami, Jr., 6-3, 205, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
· Completed 31 of 37 passes (.838) for 387 yards and four touchdowns against no interceptions as Miami defeated Pitt, 52-23.
Nick Minicucci, Delaware, Sr., 6-2, 215, Midland Park, N.J.
· Accounted for six touchdowns, including a school-record-tying five through the air, in a 61-38 victory over Missouri State.
John Alan Richter, Toledo, Jr., 6-3, 225, Gray, Ga.
· Connected on 29 of 41 passes for 391 yards and three touchdowns and tacked on a rushing score in a 45-38 win over Western Michigan.
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, Sr., 6-3, 238, Florence, S.C.
· Was 18-for-32 passing for 210 yards and a score and carried 18 times for 96 yards and two TDs in a 27-24 upset over No. 11 Tennessee.
Marcus Stokes, Memphis, Jr., 6-2, 209, St. Augustine, Fla.
· Amassed 351 yards of total offense (320 passing, 31 rushing) and five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) as the Tigers edged East Carolina, 41-34, in overtime.