Courtesy of UNLV
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV’s Hajj-Malik Williams was one of just 35 players named to the Davey O’Brien Quarterback Class of 2024 on Tuesday. Each member of the group is now an official candidate to win the 2024 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.
Williams, a graduate transfer from Campbell, took over as starter in Game Four and has impressed both on the ground and through the air for the 6-2 Rebels. He currently ranks fourth in the nation in pass efficiency after completing 74-of-109 passes for 1,017 yards and 12 touchdowns with just three interceptions. His rushing numbers are 80 attempts for 495 net yards and five more scores. His team-leading 105 net yards rushing on Friday vs. Boise State made him just the third Rebel signal-caller to have more than one 100-yard rushing game in a career at the school.
The first UNLV quarterback in history to throw for at least three touchdowns in each of his first three starts behind center, his 17 total TDs rank him fourth in the Mountain West. He leads the league in both pass completion percentage (67.9) and pass yards per attempt (9.33) while his per-carry rush average sits fifth (6.19).
Williams was named to the O’Brien Great 8 list after his first career FBS start on Sept. 28 when he led UNLV to a 59-14 win over Fresno State. 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. 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 the fourth straight year, fan voting on social media (Facebook, Instagram and X) will earn players bonus selection committee votes during the semifinalist, finalist and winner voting rounds. First-round fan voting began today. The list of semifinalists selected from the QB Class will be named on Nov. 12. The Foundation will announce the three finalists two weeks later. The 2024 Davey O’Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on Thursday, Dec. 12, during The Home Depot College Football Awards. The 48th Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Feb. 17, 2025, at The Fort Worth Club in Texas.
Williams and the Rebels are off this week before playing at Hawai’i. The next UNLV home game is Nov. 16 vs. San Diego State at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale by calling (702) 739-FANS or visiting unlvtickets.com.
DAVEY O’BRIEN QB CLASS OF 2024
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
Ben Wooldridge, Louisiana
