Clark named a semifinalist for Davey O'Brien Award

Photo: GoPSUsports.com Daryll Clark

University Park, Pa. — For the second consecutive year, Penn State's Daryll Clark (Youngstown, Ohio) has been selected as a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award. Clark has led the Nittany Lions to a 7-1 overall record, including a 3-1 Big Ten mark, and a No. 12 ranking in the AP poll and BCS standings.

Directing the Big Ten's No. 1-ranked offense, Clark is 144 of 232 (62.1) for 1,884 yards, with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season, with just one interception in the last four games. He also has run for 132 yards (3.1 avg.) and has four rushing touchdowns.

Clark and Iowa's Rick Stanzi are the only Big Ten signal-callers among the 15 Davey O'Brien Award semifinalists (complete list below).

Last Saturday, Clark was instrumental in helping Penn State earn its second straight victory over Michigan in convincing fashion, as the Nittany Lions prevailed in Ann Arbor, 35-10. Clark was 16 of 27 for 230 yards, with a career-high tying four touchdown passes and no interceptions. He threw touchdown passes of 10, 11 and 17 yards to wideout Graham Zug and a beautiful 60-yard scoring strike to tight end Andrew Quarless.

Previously named one of the final 10 candidates for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Clark was honored as Big Ten Player of the Week for the second time this season and for the fourth time is his career for his standout performance versus Michigan. In the game, he became the Nittany Lions' career leader with 55 touchdowns responsible for (36 passing, 19 rushing), surpassing the previous mark of 52 by Zack Mills.

The former Ursuline High School standout is the only Big Ten quarterback ranked in the top three of the conference's three primary statistical categories: pass efficiency (1st, 148.4 rating), passing yardage (3rd, 235.5 ypg) and total offense (3rd, 252.0 ypg).

The 2008 first team All-Big Ten signal-caller leads the conference and is tied for third in the nation with 17 touchdown passes. Boise State's Kellen Moore (21) and Houston's Case Keenum (20) are the only players with more touchdown passes nationally. Clark has thrown three or more touchdown passes three times this season.

Penn State boasts two past recipients of the prestigious Davey O'Brien Award - Todd Blackledge (1982) and Kerry Collins (1994). Before last season, Michael Robinson was Penn State's last semifinalist, being selected in 2005.

The Davey O'Brien National Selection Committee, an elite group of journalists, broadcasters, commentators and former winners, chose the semifinalists, with the fan vote accounting for five percent of the total vote. The committee is asked to evaluate each candidate on the criteria of his quarterback skills and athletic ability, academics, his reputation as a team player, character, leadership and sportsmanship.

Fans may now help determine which three quarterbacks will advance as finalists by voting as often as once daily at www.VoteOBrien.org. Fan voting will close at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 22. Finalists will be announced on Nov. 23. The fan vote accounts for 5% of each round of the voting process.

The 2009 Davey O'Brien Award winner will be announced on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show airing Dec. 10 on ESPN and will be honored at the 33rd Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner held at The Fort Worth Club on Feb. 15, 2010 in Fort Worth, Tex.

Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions will travel Evanston, Ill. to face Northwestern on Saturday, Oct. 31. Kickoff for the clash is set for 4:30 p.m. ET at Ryan Field and will be televised on ESPN. The Wildcats are 5-3 (2-2 in the Big Ten) on the season and are coming off a 29-28 come-from-behind win over Indiana after trailing 28-3 in the second quarter.

2009 O'Brien Semifinalists
Daryll Clark, Sr., Penn State
Matt Barkley, Fr., USC
Jimmy Clausen, Jr., Notre Dame
Jacory Harris, Soph., Miami
Case Keenum, Jr., Houston
Dan LeFevour, Sr., Central Michigan
Jake Locker, Jr., Washington
Colt McCoy, Sr., Texas
Kellen Moore, Soph., Boise State
Tony Pike, Sr., Cincinnati
Todd Reesing, Sr., Kansas
Zac Robinson, Sr., Oklahoma State
Ricky Stanzi, Jr., Iowa
Bill Stull, Sr., Pittsburgh
Tim Tebow, Sr., Florida