RENO, Nev. – Nevada junior Cody Fajardo was named Thursday to the Watch List for the 2013 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
Established in 1987, the award is presented at the end of each season to the nation’s top college quarterback based on character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, leadership, qualities, and athletic accomplishments. Candidates must be a college senior or fourth-year junior on schedule to graduate with their class.
A second team All-Mountain West selection in 2012, Fajardo has accounted for 6,308 yards of total offense so far in two seasons at Nevada. Last year, Fajardo threw for 2,786 yards and 20 touchdowns with just nine interceptions while rushing for 1,121 yards and 12 more scores.
Fajardo is one of just 30 quarterbacks on the list and one of four from the Mountain West.
This is the fourth watch list for the 6-foot-2, 210-pound quarterback. He has previously been named to the watch lists for the Hornung Award (most versatile player), Maxwell Award (player of the year) and Davey O’Brien Award (top national quarterback). He was named by The Heisman Pundit as a Hesiman Trophy contender earlier this year.
Past standout winners of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award include: Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997); Carson Palmer (USC, 2002); Eli Manning (Ole Miss, 2003); Brady Quinn (Notre Dame, 2006); Matt Ryan (Boston College, 2007); Colt McCoy (Texas, 2009); and Andrew Luck (Stanford, 2011). Last year’s winner, Collin Klein of Kanas State, was a 2nd Team All-American (AP) and the 2012 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year (AP).
2013 Top 30 Watch List for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
Blake Bortles, UCF
Tajh Boyd, Clemson
Kolton Browning, ULM
Kain Colter, Northwestern
Derek Carr, Fresno State
Jeff Driskel, Florida
Cody Fajardo, Nevada
David Fales, San Jose State
James Franklin, Missouri
Cody Green, Tulsa
Brendon Kay, Cincinnati
Taylor Kelly, Arizona State
Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois
Sean Mannion, Oregon State
Taylor Martinez, Nebraska
Jeff Mathews, Cornell
Andrew Maxwell, Michigan State
AJ McCarron, Alabama
Stephen Morris, Miami
Aaron Murray, Georgia
Keith Price, Washington
Bryn Renner, North Carolina
Chase Rettig, Boston College
Corey Robinson, Troy
Tyler Russell, Mississippi State
Connor Shaw, South Carolina
Joe Southwick, Boise State
Tyler Tettleton, Ohio
Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech
Keith Wenning, Ball State
