Every SEC football player to win the Davey O’Brien award

Going to the nation’s top quarterback annually, there have been eight SEC football players to win the Davey O’Brien award since its creation back in 1981. Here are those eight names, along with what their award winning season looked like.

Which SEC football players have won the Davey O’Brien award?

1995 and 1996 – Danny Wuerffel, Florida

We begin with the SEC’s first, and only, two-time Davey O’Brien award winner in Wuerffel, as the Florida quarterback took home honors in back-to-back years in 1995 and 1996. As for the first of those two, Wuerffel would complete 64.6% of passes for 3,266 yards and a 35:10 TD:INT ratio to lead the conference in passing yards, touchdowns, and passing efficiency rating, while also being named the SEC Player of the Year (also led NCAA in passing touchdowns and passing efficiency rating).

In 1996, which was arguably Weurffel’s more remembered season at Florida, the Gators signal caller would complete 57.5% of passes for 3,625 yards and a 39:13 TD:INT ratio, leading the SEC in those same statistical categories, as well as ranking No. 1 nationally in passing touchdowns. A consensus All-American, Weurffel would receive multiple honors that season, headlined by the 1996 Heisman Trophy.

1997 – Peyton Manning, Tennessee

The SEC made it three-straight Davey O’Brien award winners back in 1997, with Manning taking home honors after a stellar season at Tennessee. A consensus All-American who would receive multiple honors that season, Manning completed 60.2% of passes for 3,819 yards and a 36:11 TD:INT ratio

2007 – Tim Tebow, Florida

Florida’s second Davey O’Brien award winner came in 2007, as Tebow took home honors in the midst of his Heisman Trophy winning season. Leading the SEC in both completion percentage and passing efficiency rating, Tebow would complete 66.9% of passes for 3,286 yards and a 32:6 TD:INT ratio, while also rushing for 895 yards and 23 touchdowns (led SEC) on 210 attempts on his way to receiving multiple different honors.

2010 – Cam Newton, Auburn

In addition to winning the Heisman Trophy, Newton’s breakout 2010 season for national champion Auburn also included the Davey O’Brien award. That year, Newton would lead the SEC in both passing efficiency rating and rushing touchdowns, completing 66.1% of passes for 2,854 yards and a 30:7 TD:INT ratio, while also rushing for 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns on 264 attempts.

2012 – Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M

Texas A&M had a quarterback win the Davey O’Brien award during their first season as a member of the SEC in 2012 with Manziel, who also won the Heisman Trophy, among other honors, that season. Leading the conference in completion percentage, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, Manziel would complete 68% of passes for 3,706 yards and a 26:9 TD:INT ratio, while also rushing for 1,410 yards and 21 touchdowns on 201 attempts.

2019 – Joe Burrow, LSU

One of the greatest single-seasons the SEC has ever seen from a quarterback came back in 2019 with Burrow, who won the Heisman Trophy among other honors that year for a Tigers team that won the national championship. Leading the SEC and NCAA in completion percentage, passing yards, passing touchdowns, and passing efficiency rating, Burrow would complete 76.3% of passes for 5,671 yards and a 60:6 TD:INT ratio, while also rushing for 368 yards and five scores on 115 attempts.

2020 – Mac Jones, Alabama

The SEC made it back-to-back Davey O’Brien winners in 2020, when Jones took home honors for the national champion Crimson Tide. Also a consensus All-American, among other honors, Jones would lead the SEC and NCAA in completion percentage, passing yards, and passing efficiency rating that season, completing 77.4% of passes for 4,500 yards and a 41:4 TD:INT ratio.

2021 – Bryce Young, Alabama

We conclude with the SEC’s most recent winner in Young, who was not only Alabama’s second-straight winner back in 2021, but also the third consecutive for the conference. During his 2021 Heisman Trophy winning season, Young would lead the SEC in passing yards and touchdowns, completing 66.9% of passes for 4,872 yards and a 47:7 TD:INT ratio.