Wooldridge Named To Davey O'Brien Class of 2024

FORT WORTH, Texas – Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns quarterback Ben Wooldridge was one of 35 quarterbacks named on Tuesday by The Davey O'Brien Foundation to the Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2024. Each member of the group is now an official candidate to win the 2024 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award.

Wooldridge, a redshirt senior, was one of two Sun Belt Conference quarterbacks named to the list joining Texas State's Jordan McCloud.

The signal-caller has led Louisiana (6-1, 3-0 SBC) after throwing for 1,785 yards and 15 touchdowns on the season. The Pleasanton, Calif., native has completed nearly 70 percent of his passes on the season while rushing for a team-high five touchdowns.

Wooldridge recorded his fourth career 300-yard passing game against Coastal Carolina on oct. 19 after setting career-highs in both yards (373) and completions (27) in a 34-24 win. He tied Jon Van Cleave (2000-02) and Jerry Babb (2003-06) for fourth in Ragin' Cajuns history in career 300-yard passing games and would tie both Jake Delhomme (1993-96) and Blaine Gautier (2009-12) with his next 300-yard game.

This year's class includes: Drew Allar (Penn State), Luke Altmyer (Illinois), Rocco Becht (Iowa State), Carson Beck (Georgia), Max Brosmer (Minnesota), Bryson Daily (Army West Point), Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss), Kyron Drones (Virginia Tech), Quinn Ewers (Texas), Dillon Gabriel (Oregon), Eli Holstein (Pitt), Josh Hoover (TCU), Blake Horvath (Navy), Will Howard (Ohio State), Kevin Jennings (SMU), Avery Johnson (Kansas State), Cade Klubnik (Clemson), Riley Leonard (Notre Dame), Maddux Madsen (Boise State), John Mateer (Washington State), Jordan McCloud (Texas State), Kyle McCord (Syracuse), Jalen Milroe (Alabama), Chandler Morris (North Texas), Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), Jake Retzlaff (BYU), Kurtis Rourke (Indiana), Shedeur Sanders (Colorado), Tyler Shough (Louisville), Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati), Caden Veltkamp (Western Kentucky), Cam Ward (Miami), Hajj-Malik Williams (UNLV) and Ben Wooldridge (Louisiana).

The 35 quarterbacks have helped lead their respective teams to a combined record of 217-51 (.810), and all of the teams possess a record of better than .500 through week nine.

The next step in the process will be to select the award's 16 semifinalists from the 35 quarterbacks. The semifinalists will be chosen based on voting from the Davey O'Brien National Selection Committee as well as bonus ballots awarded from the first round of the Davey O'Brien Fan Vote.

For the fifth straight year, the Fan Vote will take place on the award's three social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (X)—and the top five vote getters on each platform will receive bonus committee member ballots which will be added to the votes cast by the National Selection Committee.

To participate in the Fan Vote, fans must like the original Davey O'Brien Award (@daveyobrien) post highlighting their quarterback. First-round voting will close Friday, Nov. 8 at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The semifinalists will be named on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Looking ahead, the three finalists will be tabbed on Tuesday, Nov. 26, while the winner will be announced live on Thursday, Dec. 12, on The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.

The Davey O'Brien Foundation was created in 1977, and the National Quarterback Award was first issued in 1981. Over its time, the Davey O'Brien Foundation has given away more than $1.3 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life.

In 1938, O'Brien, who was 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. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.

The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The 48th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2024
Drew Allar, Penn State, Jr., 6-5, 235, Medina, Ohio
Luke Altmyer, Illinois, Jr., 6-2, 205, Starkville, Miss.
Rocco Becht, Iowa State, So., 6-1, 210, Wesley Chapel, Fla.
Carson Beck, Georgia, Sr., 6-4, 220, Jacksonville, Fla.
Max Brosmer, Minnesota, Sr., 6-2, 225, Roswell, Ga.
Bryson Daily, Army West Point, Sr., 6-0, 221, Abernathy, Texas
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss, Sr., 6-2, 225, Kaysville, Utah
Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech, Jr., 6-2, 234, Houston, Texas
Quinn Ewers, Texas, Jr., 6-2, 210, Southlake, Texas
Dillon Gabriel, Oregon, Sr., 6-0, 200, Mililani, Hawaii
Eli Holstein, Pittsburgh, R-Fr., 6-4, 225, Zachary, La.
Josh Hoover, TCU, So., 6-2, 200, Heath, Texas
Blake Horvath, Navy, Jr., 6-2, 195, Hilliard, Ohio
Will Howard, Ohio State, Sr., 6-4, 235, Downingtown, Pa.
Kevin Jennings, SMU, So., 6-0, 185, Oak Cliff, Texas
Avery Johnson, Kansas State, So., 6-2, 192, Wichita, Kan.
Cade Klubnik, Clemson, Jr., 6-2, 210, Austin, Texas
Riley Leonard, Notre Dame, Sr., 6-4, 216, Fairhope, Ala.
Maddux Madsen, Boise State, So., 5-10, 201, American Fork, Utah
John Mateer, Washington State, So., 6-1, 219, Little Elm, Texas
Jordan McCloud, Texas State, Sr., 6-0, 205, Tampa, Fla.
Kyle McCord, Syracuse, Sr., 6-3, 220, Mt. Laurel, N.J.
Jalen Milroe, Alabama, Jr., 6-2, 225, Katy, Texas
Chandler Morris, North Texas, Jr., 6-0, 191, Highland Park, Texas
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU, Jr., 6-2, 200, Lake Charles, La.
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt, Sr., 6-0, 207, Albuquerque, N.M.
Jake Retzlaff, BYU, Jr., 6-1, 205, Corona, Calif.
Kurtis Rourke, Indiana, Sr., 6-5, 223, Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado, Sr., 6-2, 215, Dallas, Texas
Tyler Shough, Louisville, Sr., 6-5, 225, Chandler, Ariz.
Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati, So., 6-3, 228, Denton, Texas
Caden Veltkamp, Western Kentucky, So., 6-6, 236, Bowling Green, Ky.
Cam Ward, Miami, Sr., 6-2, 223, West Columbia, Texas
Hajj-Malik Williams, UNLV, Sr., 6-1, 205, Atlanta, Ga.
Ben Wooldridge, Louisiana, Sr., 6-3, 216, Pleasanton, Calif.

About the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The Davey O'Brien Award honors candidates who exemplify Davey O'Brien's enduring character while exhibiting teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, the Davey O'Brien Foundation has awarded more than $1.3 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 www.DaveyOBrienAward.com.

Single-game tickets for Louisiana's six home games – which include remaining games against Arkansas State (Nov. 9), South Alabama (Nov. 16) and Troy (Nov. 23) – are currently on sale now. Tickets start as low as $15 and can be purchased through RaginCajuns.com and its social media platforms (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram).

Season tickets for Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Football are available for purchase on-line at RaginCajuns.com/tickets or by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at (337) 482-GoUL (4685).

Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.

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Wooldridge Named To Davey O'Brien Class of 2024

Players Mentioned

Ben Wooldridge

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