NEW ORLEANS – The Manning Award, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, announced its preseason Watch List on Thursday. The list includes 30 of the top quarterbacks in the nation heading into the 2018 season and features two Sun Belt quarterbacks – Arkansas State’s Justice Hansen and ULM’s Caleb Evans.
The winner will again be selected by a voting panel, which includes national media and each of the Mannings, after the bowls.
Hansen started every game at quarterback in 2017, setting new single-season A-State and Sun Belt Conference records for passing touchdowns (37), touchdown responsibility (44) and total offense (4,389 yards). He ranked among the top 10 players in the nation in seven statistical categories, and he was the only player in the country to rank among the top five in points responsible for per game, total offense, passing touchdowns, completions per game and passing yards per game.
An honorable mention All-Sun Belt selection in 2017, Evans completed 61 percent (211 of 344) of his throws for 2,868 yards, 17 touchdowns and six interceptions. He ranked among the conference leaders in 300-yard passing games (third with 5), total offense (third at 287.2 yards per game), passing ef?ciency (fifth with a 144.2 rating) and passing yards (?fth at 239.0 ypg.). Evans also ranked second on the team in rushing with 137 carries for 579 yards (4.2 avg.) and a school single-season record 13 rushing TDs for a QB. His 13 rushing TDs led the Sun Belt and ranked No. 26 in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision.
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’re very excited to jump into another college football season and to have the opportunity to watch all of the tremendous quarterbacks around the country,” said Archie Manning. “While these 30 quarterbacks have been selected to our Watch List, every quarterback in the nation remains eligible to earn the honor. We will make some midseason additions which will allow us to recognize some new faces as well as some of the standout quarterbacks that are still in the midst of preseason competition.”
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 Thursday, October 11. The list of 10 finalists will be released on Thursday, November 29. The winner will be announced in the week following the College Football Playoff National Championship.
One of the more unique aspects of the Manning Award is the fact that it takes account of the quarterbacks’ bowl performances, in addition to the regular season. Twelve of the 14 Manning Award winners won bowl games during the season they won the honor. Nine Manning Award honorees led their teams to the CFP Semifinals or a BCS Championship game appearance (Matt Leinart, Mariota, Mayfield, McCoy, Newton, Tebow, Watson, Winston and Young). Six won national championships (Leinart, Newton, Tebow, Watson, Winston and Young).
Previous Manning Award winners have also factored prominently in the NFL Draft as they all heard their names called on Draft Day. Four honorees were selected No. 1 overall (Mayfield, Newton, Russell and Winston), while four others went No. 2 or No. 3 (Griffin, Mariota, Ryan and Young).
All the Manning Award winners follow in the footsteps of the Mannings themselves. In college, Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning combined for over 25,000 passing yards and 201 touchdowns while playing in 10 bowl games and earning four bowl MVP awards. Archie was the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft, while both Peyton and Eli were selected No. 1 overall.
In addition to the Manning Award's yearly honor, each week during the regular season, eight quarterbacks are recognized as Manning Quarterbacks of the Week. Sixty-three players from 60 different schools were honored during the 2017 season.