NEW ORLEANS - Arkansas State's Justice Hansen and Troy's Brandon Silvers were named two of the 20 finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation announced Wednesday. The award, presented annually, goes to the nation’s top college quarterback for his accomplishments both on and off the field.
Both quarterbacks were part of the 47 initial Golden Arm Award nominees announced this past July and now remain two of the top-20 candidates who “have continued to demonstrate skill and talent that have catapulted them to the next level,” according to the announcement made today by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation.
Hansen is ranked among the top 20 players in the nation in six statistical categories, including points responsible for per game (4th), passing touchdowns (11th), passing yards per game (11th), completions per game (11th), total offense (11th) and passing efficiency (15th). He is the only player in the Sun Belt Conference to rank among the top two players in the league for passing efficiency (1st), total offense (2nd), passing yards average (2nd) and passing touchdowns (2nd).
The Edmond, Okla., native was named the College Sports Madness Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week following each of A-State’s first two games this season. He recorded a school-record 46 completions for 415 yards and three touchdowns against Nebraska. He completed 67 percent of his passing attempts against the Huskers, while his 46 completions also tied the second most in Sun Belt history and are currently the most in the nation this season for a single game.
Hansen has thrown multiple touchdown passes 10 times during his career, including the last six games in a row dating back to last season. His 14 scoring passes this season are already tied for the 11th most in school history and just 10 shy of the most ever by an A-State player. He has increased his career total to 33, which stands as the fifth most all-time at Arkansas State.
Silvers has completed 64.8 percent of his passes this year for 248.2 yards per game. The senior from Orange Beach, Ala., has a pair of touchdown passes and has attempted 141 consecutive passes without an interception heading into Wednesday night's game against South Alabama.
He ranks fourth among all active players in the country with 804 career completions, fifth with 8,635 career passing yards and 10th with 56 career touchdown passes. Silvers was one of just four quarterbacks nationally this year to start a season opener for the fourth consecutive season.
Silvers will finish his career among the best in Sun Belt history as he currently ranks sixth in career passing yards, fourth in completions and sixth in touchdown passes.
The 2017 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award will be presented at a ceremony Friday, Dec. 8, at the Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor & The Grand in Baltimore, Md.
Johnny Unitas Award Final 20
J. T. Barrett, Ohio State
David Blough, Purdue
Jesse Ertz, Kansas State
Luke Falk, Washington State
Riley Ferguson, Memphis
Ryan Finley, NC State
Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi St.
Quinton Flowers, South Florida
Justice Hansen, Arkansas St.
Kenny Hill, TCU
Stephen Johnson, Kentucky
Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
Trace McSorley, Penn St.
Josh Rosen, UCLA
Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
Brandon Silvers, Troy
Nick Stevens, Colorado St.
Clayton Thorson, Northwestern
Mike White, Western Ky.
Logan Woodside, Toledo