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Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza won the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s top quarterback, the second of what could be three major honors in as many days, with the redshirt junior also heavily favored to win the Heisman Trophy.
Mendoza was the first winner announced during ESPN’s college awards show Friday night. The Heisman winner will be named Saturday night in New York, and Mendoza is one of the heavy favorites to take home the trophy, according to BetMGM.
“It’s a wonderful feeling. It really doesn’t feel real,” Mendoza said from New York. “It’s a testament to so many people who believed in me, who helped me become the player I am today and all those people, especially before anyone knew my name.”
O’Brien’s honor came a day after Mendoza was named player of the year by the Associated Press.
The California transfer led the Hoosiers to a 13-0 record, a victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game and the top seed in the College Football Playoff. Indiana’s first O’Brien winner set a program record with 33 touchdown passes to just 6 interceptions.
Mendoza was chosen over Ohio State freshman Julian Sayin and Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed, two other quarterbacks preparing to lead their teams in the CFP.
Associated Press reporting.
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