Marshall University Athletics
Carlos Del Rio-Wilson Named To Davey O’Brien Award Watch List
8/20/2026 12:00:00 PM | Football
SBC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year returns to list after strong 2025 season
2026 Marshall Football Tickets
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall fifth-year quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson was named to the 2026 Davey O'Brien Award Watch List on Thursday, the Davey O'Brien Foundation announced.
Del Rio-Wilson was one of 30 quarterbacks nationally named to the list, which is given to the nation's best college quarterback.
"Carlos' strong 2025 season continues to garner attention and accolades for himself and our program heading into this year," Marshall head coach Tony Gibson said. "Recognition like this does not happen without great teammates that put you in situations to succeed, so this is a team honor, as well. Everyone within our program should take pride in this."
Del Rio-Wilson is the lone Sun Belt Conference player on the list among the 30 quarterbacks who are chosen by a subset of the Davey O'Brien National Selection Committee, based on previous Division I career performance and expectations heading into the 2026 season.
The 6-3, 225-pound quarterback for the Herd is no stranger to recognition this preseason after previously being named this month to the Watch Lists for the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award and Allstate Wuerffel Trophy.
In July, Del Rio-Wilson was named as the 2026 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and was a 2026 Preseason All-SBC First Team selection at quarterback by Phil Steele Publications, Athlon Sports and the SBC's coaches.
Del Rio-Wilson comes into 2026 as one of only two returning FBS quarterbacks to throw for 2,000 yards, complete 65 percent of passes and rush for 600 yards in the 2025 season, joining Auburn's Byrum Brown.
In addition to that elite company, Del Rio-Wilson was also a multi-time recipient of weekly awards in 2025 to the Davey O'Brien "Great 8" and the Manning Award "Stars of the Week" – both of which lauded the nation's top quarterbacks during the season. He was one of only eight quarterbacks in the nation to win multiple awards in both.
Del Rio-Wilson leads all returning Sun Belt Conference players in passing yards (2,043) and rushing yards per game (60.1) after a successful season that saw him amass 2,704 yards of offensive for the Herd.
The Atlanta native finished 171 of 256 passing for 2,043 yards with 17 touchdowns and only five interceptions in 2025 while rushing for another 661 yards and six scores.
His 661 rushing yards broke Marshall's single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback – a record that stood for 43 years.
Del Rio-Wilson also has been named as a 2026 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee after securing a 4.0 grade point average and being a leader with community service works in the Tri-State.
The Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2026 will be named on Nov. 10 and semifinalists from the 2026 QB Class will be chosen on Nov. 17. The Davey O'Brien Foundation will announce its three finalists on Nov. 24 and the winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on Dec. 11 during the Home Depot College Football Awards.
About The Davey O'Brien Award
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 50th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be March 8, 2027 at the Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
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