Tua Tagovailoa’s name continues to pop up in the college football world.
The Alabama quarterback has been named a semifinalist for the 2018 Davey O’Brien Award, the foundation announced Wednesday. The annual honor recognizes the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest national quarterback award. Candidates are thought to exemplify teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics.
There are 16 semifinalists. That list will be narrowed to three on Nov. 19. The winner will be announced Dec. 6 at the ESPN College Football Awards Show in Atlanta.
This marks the second award Tagovailoa has been dubbed a semifinalist. He’s also in contention for the Maxwell Award, which is given to the player of the year.
Tagovailoa, a sophomore, took over as the Crimson Tide’s starter at the beginning of the season and has flourished in the role. He averages 262.3 passing yards per game and completes 68 percent of his passes. He leads the nation in yards per completion with 17.89.
Tagovailoa has thrown 27 touchdown passes, good for fourth on Alabama’s single-season record list. Combine those with last season and he’s at 38 scoring tosses, which puts him fifth on the UA career list.
Reach Terrin Waack at twaack@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0229.
