The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Unveils 2023 Watch List

 Baltimore, MD – The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc., along with presenting sponsor A. O. Smith Corporation announce the 2023 list of Golden Arm Award candidates. All 10 FBS conferences as well as a football independent are represented on the list, rounding out this season’s list at 48 of the nation’s leading quarterbacks.

The preseason Watch List, semifinalists, finalists, and award recipient are selected by the distinguished Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, and former players. The award annually recognizes the top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class. This year’s watch list was selected based on career player performance and expectations heading into the 2023 college football season.

2023 Golden Arm Award Watch List Presented by A. O. Smith

  • Brennan Armstrong, NC State
  • Carter Bradley, South Alabama
  • Hudson Card, Purdue
  • Chevan Cordeiro, San Jose State
  • Jayden Daniels, LSU
  • Jalon Daniels, Kansas
  • Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
  • Quinn Ewers, Texas
  • Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma
  • Mitch Griffis, Wake Forest
  • Frank Harris, UTSA
  • Sam Hartman, Notre Dame
  • Seth Henigan, Memphis
  • Will Howard, Kansas State
  • KJ Jefferson, Arkansas
  • Phil Jurkovec, Pittsburgh
  • Devin Leary, Kentucky
  • Riley Leonard, Duke
  • Drake Maye, North Carolina
  • Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
  • J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
  • Cade McNamara, Iowa
  • Graham Mertz, Florida
  • Joe Milton III, Tennessee
  • Tanner Mordecai, Wisconsin
  • Bo Nix, Oregon
  • Michael Penix Jr., Washington
  • Michael Pratt, Tulane
  • Drew Pyne, Arizona State
  • Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
  • Austin Reed, Western Kentucky
  • Cam Rising, Utah
  • Will Rogers, Mississippi State
  • Kurtis Rourke, Ohio
  • Blake Shapen, Baylor
  • Garrett Shrader, Syracuse
  • Kedon Slovis, BYU
  • Donovan Smith, Houston
  • Cole Snyder, Buffalo
  • Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
  • Casey Thompson, Florida Atlantic
  • Payton Thorne, Auburn
  • Jordan Travis, Florida State
  • DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State
  • Tyler Van Dyke, Miami
  • Cam Ward, Washington State
  • Grant Wells, Virginia Tech
  • Caleb Williams, USC

The namesake of the Golden Arm Award has a storied history. Johnny Unitas was an 18-year veteran of the NFL, who played his collegiate career at the University of Louisville before joining the Baltimore Colts in 1958. His career passing figures include 2,830 pass completions for 40,239 yards, 290 touchdowns and throwing a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games.

The 2023 award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy by The Johnny Unitas Educational Foundation President, John Unitas, Jr., as well as other notable attendees at the Golden Arm Award banquet and celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland on Thursday, December 7, 2023.

Giving life to the commitment to give back, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. and presenting sponsor A. O. Smith continue to promote football on all levels by providing financial aid to deserving young scholar athletes. A. O. Smith is committed to creating innovative solutions that set new standards in the water heating industry.

Sharing a tradition of innovation with Johnny Unitas, who invented football’s two-minute drill, A. O. Smith has been an innovator in its industry for more than a century. A. O. Smith offers its customers an additional advantage in that the company designs, builds, distributes, and supports the world’s broadest and deepest line of residential and commercial water heaters, as well as commercial boilers. This single-source concept simplifies ordering, installation and service and is backed by 80 years of research and innovation.

The learn more about the 2023 Watch List and to watch the full reveal, please visit: 2023 Watchlist Reveal. For more information on the Golden Arm Award, please visit: Golden Arm Award. Additionally, follow the conversation throughout the college football season on Twitter, @GoldenArmAward, and use the hashtags #GoldenArmAward and #InnovationLeaders.

Sponsors of the Golden Arm Award Presented by A. O. Smith Corporation include: MedStar Sports Medicine, The Babe Ruth Museum, Comcast, Dunbar Security Solutions, Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore, Haddock Investments, HMS Insurance Associates, Inc., Milwaukee Tool, Encore, TRAY, AE2 Creative, Wolf Professional Security, and ZBest Executive & Global Transportation Services.

About A. O. Smith

A. O. Smith Corporation is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of residential and commercial water heaters. A. O. Smith offers its customers an additional advantage in that the company designs, builds, distributes and supports the world’s broadest and deepest line of residential and commercial water heaters, as well as commercial boilers. This single source concept simplifies ordering, installation and service and is backed by 80 years of research and innovation. For the most up-to-date A. O. Smith news, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and visit http://www.hotwater.com/.

MEDIA CONTACT

John Unitas, Jr.
C. 410.456.6785
E. [email protected]