QB named to O’Brien list; Kicker Second Team All-SEC
From college reports FORT WORTH, Texas
— Appalachian State University football junior quarterback and former Calhoun High standout Taylor Lamb landed on the Davey O’ Brien Preseason Watch List on Thursday as one of the top-30 quarterbacks in the nation.
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 Davey O’Brien Award honors candidates who exemplify Davey O’Brien’s enduring character while exhibiting teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics.
Lamb, in his second year as the Apps’ signal caller and his first-full season starting behind center, did not disappoint running the offense. App State’s offense ranked first in the Sun Belt and 26th in the nation in total offense (467.3) while their scoring output at 36.7 points per game was a conference best and ranked 23rd in the country. Appalachian scored at least 30 points in 10 of 12 games, 40 points in five contests and a 50-point outing at UL Monroe. The Black and Gold averaged 40 points in their 11 wins in 2015.
His 31 touchdowns passes broke former Mountaineer Armanti Edwards’ single-season record in 2008 when Edwards threw for 30 touchdowns. Lamb was one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country.
His 160.7 passing efficieny rating was the 10th highest in the nation and first in the league. He ranked third in the Sun Belt in passing yards and was fourth in the conference in total offense (2,823 yards). His impressive numbers led to honorable-mention all- Sun Belt recognition.
Lamb is the lone student-athlete from the conference to make the list.
To dive into Lamb’s season in more depth, the junior had thrown a touchdown pass in every game while throwing for multiple touchdowns in 10 of 12 contests. Lamb’s touchdown to interception ratio was near 3-to1 and his 436 yards rushing was fourth on the squad with five rushing touchdowns.
Lamb is the fifth Mountaineer to be named to a preseason watch list so far, as Darian Small (Wuerffel), Marcus Cox ( Maxwell), Barrett Burns (John Mackey) and Parker Collins (Outland) all have received preseason recognition.
Coming off an impressive 11-2 campaign in 2015 with a Camellia Bowl win over Ohio (31-29) and setting the record for the most wins in the Sun Belt, the Mountaineers return 17 starters. App State opens up the 2016 season on the road against Tennessee in Knoxville on Thursday, Sept. 1.
In other recent college football news:
Griffith among Alabama players named All-SEC
— The University of Alabama football team had a league-high 13 players selected to the 2016 Southeastern Conference Media Days All-SEC Team announced Friday by the conference office.