Bo Nix one of 40 QBs on Davey O'Brien candidate list

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Auburn's junior QB made the cut Tuesday for the most renowned quarterback of the year accolade in college football.

Bo Nix's name is one of 40 on the Davey O'Brien Award's official list of candidates, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon. Only from that crop of 40 players can be the winner of the 2021 Davey O'Brien Award, presented annually to the top QB in the sport. Alabama's Mac Jones won it last season.

Nix joins seven other quarterbacks from the SEC to make the late-October list: Stetson Bennett (Georgia), Matt Corral (Ole Miss), Hendon Hooker (Tennessee), KJ Jefferson (Arkansas), Will Levis (Kentucky), Will Rogers (Mississippi State) and Bryce Young (Alabama). The ACC has the second-most representatives with six.

A former five-star recruit who has started all 31 games for Auburn since the 2019 season, Nix is currently 10th in the SEC in quarterback rating, sixth in passing yards per game, 10th in completion percentage, and is tied for the second-fewest interceptions in the conference with only two on the season.

Since being benched in favor of LSU transfer T.J. Finley in Auburn's win over Georgia State in Week 4, Nix has 764 passing yards, 100 rushing yards, five total touchdowns and two picks in his last three games, as the Tigers have started 2-1 in the SEC, with two road wins over LSU and Arkansas, and a loss at home to No. 1 Georgia.

Nix is coming off the best road performance of his Auburn career, completing 21-of-26 passes for 292 yards, two touchdowns and a pick, plus 42 rushing yards and another touchdown on the ground in a 38-23 win at Arkansas in Week 7, before Auburn's bye week.

Through seven games, Nix is on pace to have his best season at Auburn in terms of completion percentage (60.7%) and quarterback rating (130.5).

"He makes throws, scrambles when he has to, and he makes the big plays for us," Auburn offensive guard Brandon Council of Nix on Tuesday. "He's Houdini — what can we say? He does it all."

Sixteen semifinalists for the award will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 9 — after Auburn's Week 10 game at Texas A&M.

2021 DAVEY O'BRIEN CANDIDATE LIST (OCT. 26)

ACC

Brennan Armstrong, Virginia

Malik Cunningham, Louisville

Sam Hartman, Wake Forest

Sam Howell, North Carolina

Devin Leary, NC State

Kenny Pickett, Pitt

AMERICAN

Tanner Mordecai, SMU

Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati

BIG 12

Gerry Bohanon, Baylor

Brock Purdy, Iowa State

Casey Thompson, Texas

Caleb Williams, Oklahoma

BIG TEN

Sean Clifford, Penn State

C.J. Stroud, Ohio State

Payton Thorne, Michigan State

C-USA

Frank Harris, UTSA

N’Kosi Perry, FAU

Chris Reynolds, Charlotte

Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky

INDEPENDENT

Malik Willis, Liberty

PAC-12

Anthony Brown, Oregon

Jayden Daniels, Arizona State

Tanner McKee, Stanford

Cameron Rising, Utah

Dorian Thompson-Robinson

MAC

Dustin Crum, Kent State

Kaleb Eleby, Western Michigan

MOUNTAIN WEST

Jake Haener, Fresno State

Carson Strong, Nevada

SEC

Stetson Bennett, Georgia

Matt Corral, Ole Miss

Hendon Hooker, Tennessee

KJ Jefferson, Arkansas

Will Levis, Kentucky

Bo Nix, Auburn

Will Rogers, Mississippi State

Bryce Young, Alabama

SUN BELT

Levi Lewis, Louisiana

Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina

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malick willis is on the list for those not looking at the list.