Davey O’Brien Award watch list 2017: 5 favorites to win
By John Buhler
Mason Rudolph
Quarterback, Oklahoma State Cowboys
While Josh Allen, Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen have been tabbed as future first-round NFL Draft picks at the quarterback position, let’s not overlook the guy playing in Stillwater for Mike Gundy’s Oklahoma State Cowboys. Mason Rudolph can spin it and his Cowboys should be one of the better teams in the Power 5 this year.
Yes, Oklahoma State has to figure out run defense, but the Cowboys will have no problem putting up points in the Big 12 with their vaunted aerial attack. Rudolph has started for Oklahoma State the last two years and has proven to be every bit of a pro-style passer. In his college career, Rudolph has completed 62.3 percent of his passes and averaged 9.1 yards per attempt at 6-foot-5, 235 pounds.
Since taking over the starting quarterback reins in 2015, Rudolph has completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 7,861 yards and 49 passing touchdowns. Look for those numbers to improve in his senior year, as he will have arguably the best receiver in college football in James Washington back for another year.
Overall, Rudolph does not receive the hype of some of his competitors. Frankly, college football is waiting to see the Cowboys emerge as a viable College Football Playoff contender. Rudolph is a bit of a dark horse for many of these national awards, but he has the size, strength, passing ability and a great football team backing him up in 2017. There is a lot of be excited about him and the Oklahoma State football program this year.