FORT WORTH, Texas – Delaware’s Nick Minicucci is one of 36 quarterbacks selected to the Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2025 and is officially a candidate for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, announced Thursday by the Davey O’Brien Foundation.
 
The junior signal-caller has completed 64.4 percent (179-278) of his passes for 2,077 yards, 13 touchdowns and just three interceptions, while adding 139 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. After starting quarterback Zach Marker went down with a season-ending injury on the second drive of the season, Minicucci stepped in and immediately made a statement, completing 28-36 passes for 270 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, while rushing for 44 yards and another score in a 35-17 win over Delaware State.
 
The Midland Park, N.J., native went on to throw for a career-high 312 yards at Colorado, scored four total touchdowns in an overtime win over UConn and twice broke his career-best passing mark in back-to-back weeks against WKU (314) and Jacksonville State (422). Through seven games, Minicucci has logged three games with four total touchdowns and two additional games with three total touchdowns. In the Fightin’ Blue Hens’ first season at the FBS level, he has led them to a 4-3 mark, needing just two wins to vie for a waiver to play in a bowl game.
 
Minicucci currently ranks seventh nationally in total offense (315.6) and eighth in passing yards per game (295.7), and he is one of just two FBS quarterbacks with three or fewer interceptions on at least 275 pass attempts. He leads CUSA in passing yards (2,070) and passing touchdowns (13). Minicucci has the 10^th-most yards in FBS on third downs (529), and his seven passes of 25+ yards on third downs are tied for the most in the country. In the red zone, he is 17-28 for 119 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions, while rushing for 73 yards and seven scores.
 
For the fifth straight year, fan voting on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) will earn players bonus selection committee votes during the semifinalist, finalist and winner voting rounds. First-round fan voting will begin immediately following the QB Class announcement. To vote, fans must simply like the official graphic from the @daveyobrien social media account that highlights their favorite quarterback.
 
The list of semifinalists selected from the QB Class will be named on Wednesday, Nov. 12. The Foundation will announce the three finalists two weeks later (Tuesday, Nov. 25). The 2025 Davey O’Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 12, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
 
The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The 49th Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas. For more information, visit www.daveyobrienaward.com.
 
Davey O’Brien Award QB Class of 2025
Joey Aguilar, Tennessee, Sr., 6-3, 225, Antioch, Calif.
Luke Altmyer, Illinois, Sr., 6-2, 205, Starkville, Miss.
Bear Bachmeier, BYU, Fr., 6-2, 230, Murrieta, Calif.
Bryson Barnes, Utah State, Sr., 6-2, 210, Milford, Ohio
Carson Beck, Miami, Sr., 6-4, 220, Jacksonville, Fla.
Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss, Sr., 6-2, 230, Frisco, Texas
Byrum Brown, USF, Sr., 6-3, 232, Raleigh, N.C.
CJ Carr, Notre Dame, R-Fr., 6-3, 210, Saline, Mich.
Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss, Sr., 6-0, 200, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Anthony Colandrea, UNLV, Jr., 6-0, 205, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, Marshall, Jr., 6-2, 219, Atlanta, Ga.
Joe Fagnano, UConn, Sr., 6-4, 225, Williamsport, Pa.
Josh Hoover, TCU, Jr., 6-2, 200, Heath, Texas
Blake Horvath, Navy, Sr., 6-2, 195, Hilliard, Ohio
Colton Joseph, Old Dominion, So., 6-2, 200, Newport Beach, Calif.
Haynes King, Georgia Tech, Sr., 6-3, 215, Longview, Texas
Brendon Lewis, Memphis, Sr., 6-3, 210, Dallas, Texas
Jayden Maiava, USC, Jr., 6-4, 230, Palolo, Hawaii
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana, Jr., 6-5, 225, Miami, Fla.
Darian Mensah, Duke, So., 6-3, 205, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Drew Mestemaker, North Texas, R-Fr., 6-4, 211, Austin, Texas
Nick Minicucci, Delaware, Jr., 6-2, 215, Midland Park, N.J.
Dante Moore, Oregon, So., 6-3, 206, Detroit, Mich.
Chandler Morris, Virginia, Sr., 6-0, 192, Highland Park, Texas
Miller Moss, Louisville, Sr., 6-2, 210, Los Angeles, Calif.
Parker Navarro, Ohio, Sr., 6-0, 205, Tempe, Ariz.
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt, Sr., 6-0, 207, Albuquerque, N.M.
Marcel Reed, Texas A&M, So., 6-1, 185, Nashville, Tenn.
Sawyer Robertson, Baylor, Sr., 6-4, 220, Lubbock, Texas
Julian Sayin, Ohio State, So., 6-1, 208, Carlsbad, Ala.
Evan Simon, Temple, Sr., 6-3, 205, Mt. Joy, Pa.
Ty Simpson, Alabama, Jr., 6-2, 208, Martin, Tenn.
Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati, Jr., 6-3, 235, Denton, Texas
Gunner Stockton, Georgia, Jr., 6-1, 215, Tiger, Ga.
Conner Weigman, Houston, Jr., 6-3, 210, Cypress, Texas
Demond Williams Jr., Washington, So., 5-11, 190, Chandler, Ariz.