The University of Akron Athletics
Nelson Named to Davey O’Brien “Great 8” List
September 17 | Football
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FORT WORTH, Texas – Akron sophomore QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) was named to the Davey O'Brien Award's "Great 8" list for week 3.
This week's eight honorees, as determined by voting from the award's selection subcommittee, are: Anthony Brown (Boston College), Alan Bowman (Texas Tech), Taylor Cornelius (Oklahoma State), Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State), Kelvin Hopkins, Jr. (Army), Kyler Murray (Oklahoma), Kato Nelson (Akron), and Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama).
In Akron's stunning 39-34 victory at Northwestern on Saturday night, Nelson guided the Zips to their second victory and their first win over a Big Ten team since 1894. He went 17-of-28 for 277 yards and two touchdowns. Nelson also rushed for 37 yards.
Under the guidance of seventh-year head coach Terry Bowden, Akron (2-0 overall) travels to Iowa State (0-2 overall) on Saturday, Sept. 22, for a Noon ET game on FSN.
Season ticket plans—which include a ticket to all home games as well as a parking pass— start at only $60 each. As a season ticket holder, fans have the ability to purchase tickets for road games at Northwestern and Iowa State.
To request tickets, please contact the Athletics Ticket Office by calling or texting 1-888-99-AKRON during business hours (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or purchase online at www.GoZips.com.
ABOUT THE DAVEY O'BRIEN "GREAT 8" LIST
All FBS quarterbacks are eligible for the weekly honor. Thus far, 20 different quarterbacks have been named to the Great 8 in 2018. Murray is the only player in the country to be selected all three weeks, while Haskins and Tagovailoa are the nation's only other players to be honored multiple times this year.
The winner of the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback of the Week Award, which will be one of the week's "Great 8" quarterbacks, will be announced Thursday on the Punt & Pass Podcast. To listen to the announcement and discussion of this week's Great 8, click here.
Eighty years ago, 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 (1938). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.
O'Brien was drafted fourth overall in the 1939 NFL Draft and earned Pro Bowl honors in his rookie season after setting a National Football League record for season passing yardage. The NFL's highest-paid player retired after the 1940 season to become an FBI agent.
The Davey O'Brien Foundation was created in 1977, and the National Quarterback Award, the oldest and most prestigious college quarterback award, was first issued in 1981. The Davey O'Brien Fan Vote, now in its 12th year, gives fans a chance to play a role in determining the award winner by voting daily at VoteOBrien.org.
Since 1977, the Davey O'Brien Foundation has given away more than $1 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life. For more information, visit DaveyOBrien.org.
FORT WORTH, Texas – Akron sophomore QB Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) was named to the Davey O'Brien Award's "Great 8" list for week 3.
This week's eight honorees, as determined by voting from the award's selection subcommittee, are: Anthony Brown (Boston College), Alan Bowman (Texas Tech), Taylor Cornelius (Oklahoma State), Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State), Kelvin Hopkins, Jr. (Army), Kyler Murray (Oklahoma), Kato Nelson (Akron), and Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama).
In Akron's stunning 39-34 victory at Northwestern on Saturday night, Nelson guided the Zips to their second victory and their first win over a Big Ten team since 1894. He went 17-of-28 for 277 yards and two touchdowns. Nelson also rushed for 37 yards.
Under the guidance of seventh-year head coach Terry Bowden, Akron (2-0 overall) travels to Iowa State (0-2 overall) on Saturday, Sept. 22, for a Noon ET game on FSN.
Season ticket plans—which include a ticket to all home games as well as a parking pass— start at only $60 each. As a season ticket holder, fans have the ability to purchase tickets for road games at Northwestern and Iowa State.
To request tickets, please contact the Athletics Ticket Office by calling or texting 1-888-99-AKRON during business hours (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or purchase online at www.GoZips.com.
ABOUT THE DAVEY O'BRIEN "GREAT 8" LIST
All FBS quarterbacks are eligible for the weekly honor. Thus far, 20 different quarterbacks have been named to the Great 8 in 2018. Murray is the only player in the country to be selected all three weeks, while Haskins and Tagovailoa are the nation's only other players to be honored multiple times this year.
The winner of the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback of the Week Award, which will be one of the week's "Great 8" quarterbacks, will be announced Thursday on the Punt & Pass Podcast. To listen to the announcement and discussion of this week's Great 8, click here.
Eighty years ago, 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 (1938). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.
O'Brien was drafted fourth overall in the 1939 NFL Draft and earned Pro Bowl honors in his rookie season after setting a National Football League record for season passing yardage. The NFL's highest-paid player retired after the 1940 season to become an FBI agent.
The Davey O'Brien Foundation was created in 1977, and the National Quarterback Award, the oldest and most prestigious college quarterback award, was first issued in 1981. The Davey O'Brien Fan Vote, now in its 12th year, gives fans a chance to play a role in determining the award winner by voting daily at VoteOBrien.org.
Since 1977, the Davey O'Brien Foundation has given away more than $1 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life. For more information, visit DaveyOBrien.org.
Players Mentioned
QB
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