The Football Writers Association of America is a little late to the awards party, but they announced their freshman All-American team today. Danny O’Brien made the team at quarterback, beating out BYU’s Jake Heaps and Tennessee’s Tyler Bray.
O’Brien beat Jamarr Robinson out for the starting job after three games, and finished the season with 2,438 passing yards, 22 touchdowns against eight interceptions, and a 134.53 quarterback rating. In Maryland’s last home game of the season, against NC State, the redshirt freshman threw for 417 yards and four touchdowns.
There were three other ACC players on the list – Miami tackle Seantrel Henderson, Georgia Tech guard Will Jackson, and Florida State cornerback Xavier Rhodes. The FWAA also has a freshman coach of the year honor, which went to Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher.
Last season, Nick Ferrara was named to the FWAA Freshman All-American team as a kicker. O’Brien and Ferrara are the only two Terps ever to be named to the FWAA team.
Congrats to DOB on a well-deserved honor.