Photo by: Josh McDaniel
11/10/2026 4:54:00 PM | Football
The Bulldog quarterback is one of 30 players in the country listed by the Davey O’Brien Foundation.
RUSTON – Fourth-year quarterback Blake Baker has been named to the Davey O'Brien Quarterback Class of 2026, per the Davey O'Brien Foundation's release Tuesday afternoon. Baker is one of 30 quarterbacks in the country named with everyone selected officially becoming a candidate for the 2026 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, which is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award.
Baker enters the final three games of the regular season as one of the most efficient quarterbacks not just in the Sun Belt, but in the country. He holds the fourth-best completion percentage (72.6%) and the sixth-best passing efficiency (174.1) in FBS, both of which are also the best among Sun Belt quarterbacks.
The Cypress, Texas native is also one of four qualified quarterbacks in the country with at least 14 passing touchdowns and just one interception thrown.
For the sixth 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 began immediately following the QB Class announcement and will run through Sunday, Nov. 15. 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 Tuesday, Nov. 17. The Foundation will announce the three finalists the following week (Tuesday, Nov. 24). The 2026 Davey O'Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 11, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
The 50th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Monday, March 8, 2027, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas. For more information, visit www.daveyobrienaward.com.
Davey O'Brien Award QB Class of 2026
Braden Atkinson, Oregon State, So. 6-1, 208, Raleigh, N.C.
Bear Bachmeier, BYU, So., 6-2, 230, Murrieta, Calif.
Blake Baker, Louisiana Tech, Sr., 6-5, 220, Cypress, Texas
CJ Carr, Notre Dame, Jr., 6-2, 215, Saline, Mich.
Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss, Sr., 6-0, 210, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Aidan Chiles, Northwestern, Sr., 6-4, 225, Long Beach, Calif.
Devon Dampier, Utah, Sr., 5-11, 210, Phoenix, Ariz.
Noah Fifita, Arizona, Sr., 5-10, 189, Huntington Beach, Calif.
Ethan Grunkemeyer, Virginia Tech, Jr., 6-3, 213, Lewis Center, Ohio
Jackson Gutierrez, Navy, Jr., 6-0, 207, San Antonio, Texas
Michael Hawkins Jr., West Virginia, So., 6-1, 205, Dallas, Texas
Josh Hoover, Indiana, Sr., 6-2, 205, Heath, Texas
Brad Jackson, Texas State, So., 6-0, 197, San Antonio, Texas
Tayven Jackson, North Texas, Sr., 6-4, 209, Greenwood, Ind.
Kevin Jennings, SMU, Sr., 6-0, 195, Oak Cliff, Texas
Lincoln Kienholz, Louisville, Sr., 6-2, 215, Pierre, S.D.
Sam Leavitt, LSU, Jr., 6-2, 207, West Linn, Ore.
Gio Lopez, Wake Forest, Jr., 6-0, 220, Madison, Ala.
Jayden Maiava, USC, Sr., 6-4, 230, Palolo, Hawaii
Arch Manning, Texas, Sr., 6-4, 222, New Orleans, La.
Darian Mensah, Miami, Jr., 6-3, 205, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State, Jr., 6-3, 215, Austin, Texas
John Alan Richter, Toledo, Jr., 6-3, 225, Gray, Ga.
Keelon Russell, Alabama, So., 6-3, 207, Duncanville, Texas
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, Sr., 6-3, 238, Florence, S.C.
Austin Simmons, Missouri, Sr., 6-2, 220, Miami, Fla.
Gunner Stockton, Georgia, Sr., 6-1, 215, Tiger, Ga.
Marcus Stokes, Memphis, Jr., 6-2, 209, St. Augustine, Fla.
Caden Veltkamp, Florida Atlantic, Sr., 6-5, 235, Bowling Green, Ky.
Conner Weigman, Houston, Sr., 6-3, 210, Cypress, Texas
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Championships require championship resources. Fans can make a direct impact on the success of LA Tech Athletics through LTAC, Aillet Society, T-Club, and Young Alumni program as well as the CHAMP fund, a revenue-sharing initiative designed to directly support LA Tech Athletics through NIL and marketing opportunities for Bulldog and Lady Techster student-athletes. Visit BuildTheLegacy.com today.
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Our mission is to engage, develop, and advance the Louisiana Tech Athletics brand. You can do that by spending time consuming our content and by investing your talents. By barking louder with your time and talent, you can affect progress and brand advancement in a meaningful way. Visit LATechSports.com/BarkLouder today. You bark. We bark. Louder together.
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Baker enters the final three games of the regular season as one of the most efficient quarterbacks not just in the Sun Belt, but in the country. He holds the fourth-best completion percentage (72.6%) and the sixth-best passing efficiency (174.1) in FBS, both of which are also the best among Sun Belt quarterbacks.
The Cypress, Texas native is also one of four qualified quarterbacks in the country with at least 14 passing touchdowns and just one interception thrown.
For the sixth 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 began immediately following the QB Class announcement and will run through Sunday, Nov. 15. 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 Tuesday, Nov. 17. The Foundation will announce the three finalists the following week (Tuesday, Nov. 24). The 2026 Davey O'Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 11, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
The 50th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Monday, March 8, 2027, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas. For more information, visit www.daveyobrienaward.com.
Davey O'Brien Award QB Class of 2026
Braden Atkinson, Oregon State, So. 6-1, 208, Raleigh, N.C.
Bear Bachmeier, BYU, So., 6-2, 230, Murrieta, Calif.
Blake Baker, Louisiana Tech, Sr., 6-5, 220, Cypress, Texas
CJ Carr, Notre Dame, Jr., 6-2, 215, Saline, Mich.
Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss, Sr., 6-0, 210, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Aidan Chiles, Northwestern, Sr., 6-4, 225, Long Beach, Calif.
Devon Dampier, Utah, Sr., 5-11, 210, Phoenix, Ariz.
Noah Fifita, Arizona, Sr., 5-10, 189, Huntington Beach, Calif.
Ethan Grunkemeyer, Virginia Tech, Jr., 6-3, 213, Lewis Center, Ohio
Jackson Gutierrez, Navy, Jr., 6-0, 207, San Antonio, Texas
Michael Hawkins Jr., West Virginia, So., 6-1, 205, Dallas, Texas
Josh Hoover, Indiana, Sr., 6-2, 205, Heath, Texas
Brad Jackson, Texas State, So., 6-0, 197, San Antonio, Texas
Tayven Jackson, North Texas, Sr., 6-4, 209, Greenwood, Ind.
Kevin Jennings, SMU, Sr., 6-0, 195, Oak Cliff, Texas
Lincoln Kienholz, Louisville, Sr., 6-2, 215, Pierre, S.D.
Sam Leavitt, LSU, Jr., 6-2, 207, West Linn, Ore.
Gio Lopez, Wake Forest, Jr., 6-0, 220, Madison, Ala.
Jayden Maiava, USC, Sr., 6-4, 230, Palolo, Hawaii
Arch Manning, Texas, Sr., 6-4, 222, New Orleans, La.
Darian Mensah, Miami, Jr., 6-3, 205, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State, Jr., 6-3, 215, Austin, Texas
John Alan Richter, Toledo, Jr., 6-3, 225, Gray, Ga.
Keelon Russell, Alabama, So., 6-3, 207, Duncanville, Texas
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, Sr., 6-3, 238, Florence, S.C.
Austin Simmons, Missouri, Sr., 6-2, 220, Miami, Fla.
Gunner Stockton, Georgia, Sr., 6-1, 215, Tiger, Ga.
Marcus Stokes, Memphis, Jr., 6-2, 209, St. Augustine, Fla.
Caden Veltkamp, Florida Atlantic, Sr., 6-5, 235, Bowling Green, Ky.
Conner Weigman, Houston, Sr., 6-3, 210, Cypress, Texas
SUPPORT LA TECH ATHLETICS
Championships require championship resources. Fans can make a direct impact on the success of LA Tech Athletics through LTAC, Aillet Society, T-Club, and Young Alumni program as well as the CHAMP fund, a revenue-sharing initiative designed to directly support LA Tech Athletics through NIL and marketing opportunities for Bulldog and Lady Techster student-athletes. Visit BuildTheLegacy.com today.
BARK LOUDER
Our mission is to engage, develop, and advance the Louisiana Tech Athletics brand. You can do that by spending time consuming our content and by investing your talents. By barking louder with your time and talent, you can affect progress and brand advancement in a meaningful way. Visit LATechSports.com/BarkLouder today. You bark. We bark. Louder together.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in Bulldog Football, follow us on X (@LATechFB), Instagram (@LATechFB), and Facebook (LATechFootball).
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