Football | October 01, 2018

KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan junior quarterback Jon Wassink was one of eight quarterbacks nationally to be recognized on the Davey O'Brien Award's "Great 8" list for week five, the Davey O'Brien Foundation and Punt & Pass Podcast jointly announced on Monday.

Wassink accounted for all six touchdowns in the Broncos' 40-39 road win at Miami this past Saturday. He threw five touchdowns, a career-high 439 yards and rushed for the game-winning touchdown with 2:53 remaining. Wassink totaled 477 yards of total offense, also rushing for 38 yards in the game. He came up with a key 4th-and-goal touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, as well as a 14-yard rush on 4th-and-10 on the Broncos' game-winning drive.

Wassink's 439 yards passing and his 477 yards of total offense are both conference highs this season. He leads the MAC in 2018 with 284.6 yards passing per game and 298.8 yards of total offense per game. Wassink has led the Broncos to three-straight wins, and the Broncos are off to a 1-0 start in MAC play.

This is the second time in his career Wassink has been recognized as a Davey O'Brien "Great 8" performer. He was also honored last year after registering six touchdowns (five passing, one receiving) and 295 total yards (256 passing, 26 rushing, 13 receiving) in a 71-68 seven-overtime win over Buffalo.

The eight honorees, as determined by voting from the award's selection subcommittee, are: Ian Book of Notre Dame, LSU's Joe Burrow, Will Grier of West Virginia, Fresno State's Marcus McMaryion, McKenzie Milton of UCF, Oklahoma's Kyler Murray, Nathan Rourke of Ohio and Wassink.

The winner of the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback of the Week Award, which will be one of the week's "Great 8" quarterbacks, will be announced Wednesday.

Western Michigan (3-2, 1-0 MAC) returns home to host Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 6 at noon. It will be the Broncos' 95th annual Homecoming game, as well as Arbor Financial Youth Day. The Youth Day special includes a Bronco Football game ticket and food voucher for $14 with pregame activities in the Seelye Center. Fans can use the promo code YOUTHDAY and purchase tickets today at wmubroncos.com/tickets.