In-state QBs Bear Bachmeier and Devon Dampier land on Davey O’Brien watch list
Aug 20, 2026, 11:23 AM | Updated: 11:33 am
SALT LAKE CITY – The Davey O’Brien Award sees the state of Utah with two of the best quarterbacks in college football this season.
On Thursday, the annual Davey O’Brien Award watch list was released, a national quarterback award entering its 50th year recognizing the best signal-callers on the college gridiron.
Both BYU’s Bear Bachmeier and Utah’s Devon Dampier were on the 30-man list.
It's Year 50 for the Davey O'Brien Award! Time to officially kick off this historic season with our Preseason Watch List! #Daveyat50 #DaveyQBs
READ: https://t.co/bw7hyaHcWT pic.twitter.com/eCMj7lVMhp
— Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award (@daveyobrien) August 20, 2026
Bachmeier is one of six sophomores to make the watch list. The Murrieta, California native earned Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year last season in his true freshman campaign at BYU.
Bachmeier finished with 3,033 passing yards and 15 touchdowns to seven interceptions, while also rushing for 527 yards on the ground.
BYU football has produced four Davey O’Brien Award winners, beginning with the first recipient, Jim McMahon, in 1981. Steve Young (1983) and Ty Detmer (1990 & 1991) also took home the O’Brien during their careers at BYU.
Devon Dampier was the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year last season, along with earning Third Team All-Big 12 recognition.
He passed for 2,490 yards and 24 touchdowns to only five interceptions in his first year leading the Utes’ offensive attack after transferring in from New Mexico.
Dampier also rushed for 835 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Bear Bachmeier and BYU open the 2026 season on Saturday, September 5, against Utah Tech, while Devon Dampier and the Utes kick off the 2026 campaign on Thursday, September 3, versus Idaho.
2026 Davey O’Brien Award preseason watch list
Micah Alejado, Hawaii, So., 5-10, 180, Las Vegas, Nev.
Bear Bachmeier, BYU, So., 6-2, 230, Murrieta, Calif.
CJ Bailey, NC State, Jr., 6-6, 218, Miami, Fla.
Alonza Barnett III, UCF, Sr., 5-11, 210, Whitsett, N.C.
Rocco Becht, Penn State, Sr., 6-1, 208, Wesley Chapel, Fla.
Byrum Brown, Auburn, Sr., 6-3, 235, Raleigh, N.C.
CJ Carr, Notre Dame, Jr., 6-2, 215, Saline, Mich.
Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss, Sr., 6-0, 210, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Devon Dampier, Utah, Sr., 5-11, 210, Phoenix, Ariz.
Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, Marshall, Sr., 6-2, 225, Atlanta, Ga.
Noah Fifita, Arizona, Sr., 5-10, 189, Huntington Beach, Calif.
Josh Hoover, Indiana, Sr., 6-2, 200, Heath, Texas
Brad Jackson, Texas State, So., 6-0, 197, San Antonio, Texas
Kevin Jennings, SMU, Sr., 6-0, 195, Oak Cliff, Texas
Sam Leavitt, LSU, Jr., 6-2, 216, West Linn, Ore.
Broc Lowry, Western Michigan, Jr., 6-1, 210, Canfield, Ohio
Jayden Maiava, USC, Sr., 6-4. 230, Palolo, Hawaii
Arch Manning, Texas, Sr., 6-4, 222, New Orleans, La.
John Mateer, Oklahoma, Sr., 6-1, 224, Little Elm, Texas
Owen McCown, UTSA, Sr., 6-1, 190, Rusk, Texas
Darian Mensah, Miami, Jr., 6-3, 205, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State, So., 6-3, 215, Austin, Texas
Nick Minicucci, Delaware, Sr., 6-2, 215, Midland Park, N.J.
Dante Moore, Oregon, Sr., 6-3, 206, Detroit, Mich.
Marcel Reed, Texas A&M, Jr., 6-1, 185, Nashville, Tenn.
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Cal, So., 6-3, 225, Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Julian Sayin, Ohio State, So., 6-1, 214, Carlsbad, Calif.
Gunner Stockton, Georgia, Sr., 6-1, 215, Tiger, Ga.
Conner Weigman, Houston, Sr., 6-3, 210, Cypress, Texas
Demond Williams Jr., Washington, Jr., 5-11, 190, Chandler, Ariz.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSL and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
