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Boise State’s Brett Rypien named to Davey O’Brien Award watch list

As the Broncos take aim at another New Year’s bowl, their QB earns a rare nod.

By Matthew Kenerly
NCAA Football: Poinsettia Bowl- Boise State vs Northern Illinois Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Many teams in the Mountain West can attest to the fact that it can be difficult to find a top-flight player at the most important position on the field: Quarterback. That explains, in part, why the Davey O’Brien Award, given annually to the nation’s best signal-caller, includes just one name from the conference on this year’s watch list: Boise State’s Brett Rypien.

Rypien is one of just five sophomores to be named to the O’Brien list, joining Jake Browning (Washington), Tanner Mangum (BYU), Josh Rosen (UCLA) and Brent Stockstill (Middle Tennessee). He was the clear choice as the Mountain West’s freshman of the year in 2015, finishing second in completion percentage (63.6%) and passing touchdowns (20), third in overall QB rating (140.98) and leading the MWC with 3,350 passing yards.

The Broncos quarterback will have his work cut out for him, though, in a field that currently runs 30 deep and includes last year’s winner, Clemson’s Deshaun Watson.

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