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University of Minnesota Athletics
Leidner on Davey O'Brien Watch List
7/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
University of Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner is one of 30 quarterbacks named to the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List, the foundation announced today.
Compiled by a subset of the Davey O'Brien National Selection Committee, this year's list was selected based on player performance during the previous year and expectations heading into the 2016 college football season.
The senior is also on the Maxwell Award watch list. Last season, Leidner set a program record for a junior in completions (242) and passing yards (2,701). He set career highs in completions (27) at Ohio State, attempts at Colorado State (45) and passing yards (317) against Michigan.
The Lakeville, Minn. native passed for 301 yards against Nebraska and 317 yards against Michigan in consecutive weeks to become the first Gopher since 1995 to throw for 300 or more yards in back-to-back games (Cory Sauter 303 vs Northwestern and 404 vs Michigan State). Leidner passed for 301 yards against Nebraska, 317 yards against Michigan and 281 yards at Ohio State and 259 yards at Iowa to tie Mike Hohensee's 1982 school record of passing for at least 250 yards in four straight games. Leidner passed for 250 yards or more in five games (Ohio, Nebraska, Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa) to become the first Gopher quarterback to have five 250-yard games in a season since Adam Weber had five in 2007.
In his career Leidner has played in 35 career games (20-15 record) and started 29 (16-13 record). He has rushed for 1,129 career yards and 23 career touchdowns (second most in school history for a quarterback) and has passed for 5,118 yards (sixth most in school history) and 28 touchdowns (eighth most in school history). He ranks fifth all-time in school history in completion percentage (56.4), sixth in completions (407) and tied for sixth in attempts (722). Leidner is one of only two Minnesota quarterbacks to pass and rush for 20 career touchdowns (Rickey Foggie rushed for 24 and passed for 33 from 1984-87).
Leidner is one of five Big Ten quarterbacks to make the list. Sixteen semifinalists for the award will be named on Thursday, Nov. 10. From that list, the foundation and the selection committee will announce the three finalists on Tuesday, Nov. 22. The 2016 Davey O'Brien Award winner will be announced live Thursday, Dec. 8 on The Home Depot College Football Awards.
