Kansas State senior quarterback Jake Waters was named to the watch list for the 2014 Davey O’Brien Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s best quarterback, the Davey O’Brien Foundation announced Wednesday.

Waters, who was one of 39 players nationally and five from the Big 12 to be named a candidate for the honor, joins a list of prominent K-State quarterbacks who have received consideration for the honor. Chad May and Matt Miller were each one of 10 finalists in 1994 and 1995, respectively, prior to Michael Bishop winning the award in 1998. Most recently, Collin Klein was one of three finalists in 2012.

The honor was the second for Waters this preseason as he was a member of the Maxwell Award watch list, while he picked up the Wildcats’ 15th major college football award candidacy.

A product of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Waters threw for 2,469 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine on 159-of-260 (61.2 percent) aim during his initial season in Manhattan last year. The former community-college transfer played his best during the Wildcats’ 6-1 record over the final seven contests when he threw for just over 200 yards per game with 14 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

Waters, who enters his senior campaign with the top career passing efficiency rating (156.8) in school history, ranked fourth nationally in yards per completion (15.53) and 14th in passing efficiency in 2013. He also finished third in the Big 12 in passing yards per game (189.9) and total offense per game (213.9).

The Davey O’Brien Foundation will announce semifinalists for the award on November 3, and three finalists on November 24. The winner of the award will be announced live on December 11 during The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.

The Wildcats kick off the 2014 season on August 30, with a 6:10 p.m., contest against Stephen F. Austin at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

— KSU Sports Information —