BYU QB Zach Wilson Earns National Recognitions For Career Night Against Troy

PROVO, Utah – BYU junior quarterback Zach Wilson is playing the best football of his career right now. On Saturday night in a 48-7 win over Troy, Wilson passed for a career-high 392 yards showcasing BYU’s explosive offense.

#BYU QB Zach Wilson was named to the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award's Great 8 list.

Wilson also earned recognition as one of the Manning Award Stars of the Week. Second time he's receiving that recognition in 2020.#BYUFOOTBALL @kslsports

Pic: @BYUphoto pic.twitter.com/WvNM5krZgB

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2020

After a career performance, the national accolades are starting to roll in for Wilson. On Monday, Wilson was named to the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award’s Great 8 list. The O’Brien Award also added Wilson to its midseason watch list. The O’Brien is an award that is given to college football’s best quarterback.

BYU is a program that is very familiar with the Davey O’Brien Award. The Cougars have claimed the O’Brien Award four times, with Ty Detmer claiming the trophy twice, Steve Young in 1983, and Jim McMahon won the first-ever O’Brien Award in 1981.

Zach Wilson in the running for second Manning Award “Star of the Week”

Wilson’s career night also caught the attention of The Manning Award. After his week one win against Navy, Wilson was named the Star of the Week at quarterback. He’s up for that honor again this week, along with seven other quarterbacks.

The Manning Award has named eight quarterbacks as its “Stars of the Week.”

VOTE @zachkapono as the QB of the Week➡️ https://t.co/fnKED09b33#BYUFOOTBALL #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/TnCyEtLUbr

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) September 28, 2020

Fans can vote for Wilson in claiming his second Manning Award “Star of the Week” recognition this season. The other seven quarterbacks eligible in the voting include Mississippi State’s KJ Costello, Sam Ehlinger (Texas), Dillon Gabriel (UCF), Bryson Lucero (UAB), Skylar Thompson (Kansas State), Kyle Trask (Florida), and Malik Willis (Liberty).

To vote, go to the Allstate Sugar Bowl Facebook page and click “Like” on the photo of the player you want to receive your vote.

Through two games in 2020, Wilson has passed for 624 yards and has completed 80 percent of his passes. Wilson has thrown four touchdowns to only one interception. Both performances against Navy and Troy, Wilson has produced a QB rating over 200. It’s the first time a BYU quarterback has had back-to-back QBR’s over 200 since Max Hall in 2009.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.