Memphis quarterback Marcus Stokes has been named to the Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2026, a group of 30 players in the running for the national quarterback award, Memphis Athletics announced Tuesday.
Stokes has guided one of the most productive offenses in the country in his first season with the Tigers. According to Memphis, the Tigers rank fifth in FBS in total offense at 513.3 yards per game, ninth in rushing offense and 13th in passing offense. Stokes himself ranks in the top 10 nationally in passing efficiency, passing yards with 2,532, passing touchdowns with 25 and total offense.
He has already collected a long list of honors this season. Stokes is a two-time American Offensive Player of the Week and has been named three times to both the Davey O'Brien Great 8 and the Manning Award Stars of the Week. He was added to the Manning Award midseason watch list on Oct. 23.
Earlier this season, Stokes became the first Memphis quarterback since Brady White in 2020 to be named Davey O'Brien National Quarterback of the Week. He is also the first Tigers quarterback since White to make a Davey O'Brien QB Class.
Stokes is one of four quarterbacks from the American Conference on the list, along with Florida Atlantic's Caden Veltkamp, North Texas' Tayven Jackson and Navy's Jackson Gutierrez.
Fans can help. For the sixth year, fan voting on social media earns players bonus votes from the selection committee. Fans can vote for Stokes by liking the official Davey O'Brien graphic that features him. Semifinalists will be named Nov. 17, three finalists the following week, and the winner on Dec. 11 during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
Memphis, 7-2 and 4-1 in the American, plays at South Florida on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Sources: Memphis Athletics; Davey O'Brien Foundation