The Manning Award, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, published its complete preseason Watch List on Monday, August 15. The list includes 30 of the top quarterbacks in the nation heading into the 2016 season. The winner will again be selected by a voting panel, which includes national media and each of the Mannings, after the bowls.
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates’ bowl performances in its balloting.
“We once again have a great group of quarterbacks returning to college football this fall,” said Archie Manning. “While this Watch List has many of the best returning players, we look forward to making midseason additions as teams settle on definite starters and as young players step up and make names for themselves. I’m really looking forward to getting the season rolling to see which guys will rise to the top and become Manning Award finalists.”
Inclusion on the Watch List is not necessary for the quarterbacks to be selected for the honor. Midseason additions to the Watch List will be announced on Wednesday, October 12. The list of 10 finalists will be released on Wednesday, November 30. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, January 11.
This year’s Watch List includes players from all 10 Football Bowl Subdivision conferences. The Big 12 leads the way with five selections, followed by the Big Ten and ACC with four each. There are 15 seniors on the list while the junior class is represented by 11 quarterbacks and the sophomore class has three.
Four of last year’s Manning Award finalists are included on this year’s Watch List, including 2015 winner Deshaun Watson from Clemson, who will attempt to become the first repeat winner of the honor. Other returning finalists are Chad Kelly (Ole Miss), Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma) and Greg Ward, Jr., (Houston).
2016 MANNING AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST (2015 STATS)
| Name, School |
Cmp-Att |
Pct. |
Yards |
TDs |
INT |
QBR |
Rushing |
| Tommy Armstrong, Nebraska |
222-402 |
55.2 |
3030 |
22 |
16 |
72.8 |
400 yds, 7 TDs |
| J.T. Barrett, Ohio State |
93-147 |
63.3 |
992 |
11 |
4 |
76.9 |
682 yds, 11 TDs |
| C.J. Beathard, Iowa |
223-362 |
61.6 |
2809 |
17 |
5 |
69.7 |
237 yds, 6 TDs |
| Jake Browning, Washington |
233-368 |
63.3 |
2955 |
16 |
10 |
60.8 |
NA |
| Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee |
205-344 |
59.6 |
2291 |
15 |
5 |
75.9 |
671 yds, 11 TDs |
| Dane Evans, Tulsa |
305-485 |
62.9 |
4332 |
25 |
8 |
66.5 |
NA |
| Luke Falk, Washington State |
447-664 |
69.4 |
4561 |
38 |
8 |
65.9 |
NA |
| Quinton Flowers, USF |
163-276 |
59.1 |
2296 |
22 |
8 |
54.4 |
991 yds, 12 TDs |
| Skyler Howard, West Virginia |
221-403 |
54.8 |
3145 |
26 |
14 |
57.4 |
502 yds, 6 TDs |
| Lamar Jackson, Louisville |
135-247 |
54.7 |
1840 |
12 |
8 |
72.2 |
960 yds, 11 TDs |
| Brad Kaaya, Miami |
238-389 |
61.2 |
3238 |
16 |
5 |
69.4 |
NA |
| Chad Kelly, Ole Miss |
298-458 |
65.1 |
4042 |
31 |
13 |
86.9 |
500 yds, 10 TDs |
| Trevor Knight, Oklahoma* |
179-316 |
56.6 |
2300 |
14 |
12 |
25.9 |
NA |
| Taylor Lamb, Appalachian State |
170-283 |
60.1 |
2387 |
31 |
9 |
70.4 |
436 yds, 5 TDs |
| Wes Lunt, Illinois |
270-481 |
56.1 |
2761 |
14 |
6 |
49.4 |
NA |
| Pat Mahomes, Texas Tech |
364-573 |
63.5 |
4653 |
36 |
15 |
79.1 |
456 yds, 10 TDs |
| Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma |
269-395 |
68.1 |
3700 |
36 |
7 |
80.4 |
405 yds, 7 TDs |
| Nick Mullens, Southern Miss |
331-421 |
63.5 |
4476 |
38 |
12 |
69.1 |
NA |
| Kent Myers, Utah State |
121-199 |
60.8 |
1593 |
16 |
3 |
68.3 |
356 yds, 3 TDs |
| Josh Rosen, UCLA |
292-487 |
60.0 |
3670 |
23 |
11 |
68.4 |
NA |
| Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State |
264-424 |
62.3 |
3770 |
21 |
9 |
73.9 |
NA |
| Cooper Rush, Central Michigan |
324-489 |
66.3 |
3848 |
25 |
11 |
70.5 |
NA |
| Seth Russell, Baylor |
119-200 |
59.5 |
2104 |
29 |
6 |
89.9 |
402 yds, 6 TDs |
| Brett Rypien, Boise State |
273-430 |
63.5 |
3353 |
20 |
8 |
58.3 |
NA |
| Brandon Silvers, Troy |
202-330 |
61.2 |
2378 |
20 |
7 |
53.0 |
NA |
| Brent Stockstill, Middle Tennessee |
327-490 |
66.7 |
4005 |
30 |
9 |
76.3 |
NA |
| Zach Terrell, Western Michigan |
262-391 |
67.0 |
3522 |
29 |
9 |
68.9 |
NA |
| Greg Ward, Jr., Houston |
232-345 |
67.2 |
2828 |
17 |
6 |
78.1 |
1108 yds, 21 TDs |
| Phillip Walker, Temple |
246-433 |
56.8 |
2973 |
23 |
10 |
69.4 |
332 yds, 3 TDs |
| Deshaun Watson, Clemson |
333-491 |
67.8 |
4104 |
35 |
13 |
86.7 |
1105 yds, 12 TDs |
* – Knight stats are from 2014 with Oklahoma
2016 MANNING AWARD WATCH LIST MIDSEASON ADDITIONS (STATS THROUGH 10/11/16)
| Name, School |
Cmp-Att |
Pct. |
Yards |
TDs |
INT |
QBR |
Rushing |
| Austin Allen, Arkansas |
119-187 |
63.6 |
1632 |
15 |
5 |
77.9 |
NA |
| Shane Buechele, Texas |
97-155 |
62.6 |
1204 |
11 |
4 |
65.4 |
108 yds, 1 TD |
| Jerod Evans, Virginia Tech |
76-120 |
63.3 |
1045 |
15 |
1 |
74.7 |
258 yds, 2 TDs |
| Deondre Francois, Florida State |
116-184 |
63.0 |
1557 |
9 |
2 |
81.0 |
150 yds, 2 TDs |
| Ryan Higgins, Louisiana Tech |
142-216 |
65.7 |
1869 |
17 |
2 |
73.8 |
NA |
| Jalen Hurts, Alabama |
97-152 |
63.8 |
1242 |
9 |
2 |
72.4 |
296 yds, 5 TDs |
| DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame |
104-177 |
58.5 |
1621 |
14 |
5 |
66.2 |
202 yds, 6 TDs |
| Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina |
146-208 |
70.2 |
1769 |
13 |
2 |
83.1 |
54 yds, 4 TDs |
| Davis Webb, California |
183-301 |
60.8 |
2256 |
22 |
7 |
68.4 |
NA |
| Logan Woodside, Toledo |
106-151 |
70.2 |
1691 |
20 |
3 |
88.3 |
NA |
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