JONESBORO, Ark. (9/25/23) – Arkansas State true-freshman signal-caller Jaylen Raynor was named to the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8 List and one of eight Manning Award Stars of the Week, the respective award committees announced Monday.

Making his first career start, the first true-freshman to start at quarterback for A-State since 2001, Raynor accounted for five touchdowns in the 44-37 win over Southern Miss in the Sun Belt Conference opener. He is the first A-State quarterback to total five touchdowns since Justice Hansen in 2018 against Georgia State.

The Kernserville, N.C., native completed 11-of-21 passes for 233 yards while rushing for a team-best 97 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He passed for three touchdowns, including a 60-yard touchdown to Courtney Jackson to open the second half.

Raynor, honored as one of eight Manning Award Stars of the Week, was officially added to the Midseason Watch List and is eligible to be named the 2023 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award winner. The O’Brien Award will announce its quarterback of the week on Tuesday. The eight Manning Award Stars of the Week are voted upon by fans for the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week. Voting closes on Thursday at 9 a.m. (CT). Fans are encouraged to vote here.

The Davey O’Brien Foundation was created in 1977, and the National Quarterback Award, the oldest and most prestigious college quarterback award, was first issued in 1981. Over its time, the Davey O’Brien Foundation has given away more than $1.3 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life. The eight selections each week represent O’Brien’s No. 8 that he wore at TCU before being the first Heisman Trophy winner in 1938, but the organization elected to use its “Davey Double” and honor 16 quarterbacks this week.

The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in 2004 to honor the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates’ bowl performances in its balloting. Since the Manning Award started recognizing Stars of the Week in 2011, 491 different quarterbacks from 132 schools have been recognized. Sixty players from 58 different schools were honored during the 2022 season.

A-State returns to action Saturday, Sept. 30, at UMass. Kickoff against the Minutemen at McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst, Mass., is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+, while the radio broadcast can be heard on the EAB Red Wolves Sports Network as well as on the A-State Red Wolves mobile app.

Davey O’Brien Great 8 – Week 4
Drew Allar, Penn State
Rocco Becht, Iowa State
Carson Beck, Georgia
Davis Brin, Georgia Southern
Byrum Brown, South Florida
Ben Bryant, Northwestern
Jayden Daniels, LSU
Jordan McCloud, James Madison
Bo Nix, Oregon
Jack Plummer, Louisville
Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
Jaylen Raynor, Arkansas State
Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
Jordan Travis, Florida State
Cameron Ward, Washington State
Caleb Williams, USC

Manning Award Stars of the Week – Week 4
Byrum Brown, USF
Ben Bryant, Northwestern
Jordan McCloud, James Madison
Bo Nix, Oregon
Jack Plummer, Louisville
Jaylen Raynor, Arkansas State
Jordan Travis, Florida State
Cameron Ward, Washington State