Hawkeye quarterback named to O'Brien Award watch list
Friday, July 20, 2012
Written by: UI Athletic Communications

University of Iowa senior quarterback James Vandenberg has been named to the 2012 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List, the Davey O'Brien Foundation announced. The list features 34 of the nation's top signal-callers.

The Davey O'Brien Award annually recognizes the top quarterback in college football. Former Hawkeyes Chuck Long (1985) and Brad Banks (2002) won the award; Ricky Stanzi was named a semifinalist in 2010. Iowa is one of eight schools nationally to have had two or more individuals capture the award.

Vandenberg, a native of Keokuk, Iowa, started all 13 games at quarterback for the Hawkeyes last year. He completed 237 of 404 pass attempts for 3,022 yards and 25 touchdowns. Only 17 returning players in the Football Bowl Subdivision threw for more yards than Vandenberg. He ranked third in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (232.5), fourth in total offense (237.2) and fifth in pass efficiency (138.5).

Vandenberg (6-foot-3, 212) was named to the Capital One/CoSIDA District Six Academic All-America team and is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. He is also on the 2012 preseason Maxwell Award and CFPA Quarterback Trophy watch lists, and was ranked as the No. 2 quarterback in the Big Ten by ESPN.com.

The Davey O'Brien Winner will be announced on the Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 6. The 36th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner will be held Feb. 18, 2013, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Iowa opens its season Sept. 1 against Northern Illinois at Soldier Field in Chicago. Kickoff is 2:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPNU.

Iowa Hawkeyes on watch lists

Keenan Davis, senior wide receiver

  • Biletnikoff Award
  • CFPA Wide Receiver Trophy

James Ferentz, senior offensive lineman

  • Outland Trophy
  • Rimington Trophy

C.J. Fiedorowicz, junior tight end

  • John Mackey Award
  • CFPA Tight End Trophy

Micah Hyde, senior defensive back

  • Bednarik Award
  • Bronko Nagurski Award
  • CFPA Defensive Back Trophy

Mike Meyer, junior placekicker

  • Lou Groza Award
  • CFPA Special Teams Trophy
  • CFPA Placekicker Trophy

Tanner Miller, junior defensive back

  • CFPA Defensive Back Trophy

James Morris, junior linebacker

  • Bednarik Award
  • Butkus Award
  • Rotary Lombardi Award

James Vandenberg, senior quarterback

  • Maxwell Award
  • Davey O'Brien Award
  • CFPA Quarterback Trophy