Barnett III Unveiled on Davey O’Brien Award Preseason Watch List

FORT WORTH, Texas - James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III added to his preseason laurels Thursday, being named to the Davey O'Brien Award Preseason Watch List, the Davey O'Brien Foundation announced.

Now in its 49th year, the award is presented annually to college football's best quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award.

The list, selected by a subset of the selection committee, is comprised of the top 36 returning football bowl subdivision (FBS) quarterbacks from across the nation.

Barnett is one of two Sun Belt Conference quarterbacks to make the list, being accompanied by Southern Miss signal caller Braylon Braxton.

This is the second straight season Barnett has been recognized on this award's watch list, as a JMU quarterback has made the Davey O'Brien watch list in all four FBS seasons. Todd Centeio was honored in 2022, while Jordan McCloud was on the list in 2023.

During the 2024 campaign, Barnett earned a laundry list of accolades from the Davey O'Brien Foundation, including being named to the award's midseason watch list, becoming the National Co-Quarterback of the Week on Sept. 24, and being a two-time honoree on Davey O'Brien's Great 8.

This honor for the Whitsett, N.C., product goes along with a selection to the 2025 Maxwell Award Watch List and a Preseason Second Team All-Sun Belt nod.

In his breakout 2024 season, Barnett accounted for 3,040 yards of offense with 33 total touchdowns, leading to an Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt award. He threw for 2,598 passing yards with 26 touchdowns, while rushing for seven scores.

The Davey O'Brien Midseason Watch List will be released on Oct. 21, with the 35-player QB Class of 2025 being unveiled on Oct. 28. Semifinalists will be named on Nov. 12, and three finalists will be unveiled on Nov. 25. The 2025 Davey O'Brien Award winner will be honored live on ESPN on Thursday, Dec. 11, during the Home Depot College Football Awards.