Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Class of 2019 Candidates

NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference has two preseason candidates for the 2019 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually to the top senior or fourth-year junior quarterback set to graduate with their class, as announced by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation on Thursday.

Appalachian State’s Zac Thomas and ULM's Caleb Evans were among the 49 candidates listed.

Thomas, the Sun Belt's reigning Offensive Player of the Year, completed his first season as Appalachian State's starting quarterback in 2018 with 2,039 passing yards, 504 rushing yards and a combined 31 touchdowns (21 through the air). Evans ranked second the Sun Belt in passing yards (239.1 per game) and total offense (297.1 ypg.) a season ago, passing for 2,869 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushing for a team-high 110 scores.

The Golden Arm Award is entering the second year of its partnership with A. O. Smith. “We are very proud and honored to continue this partnership with A. O. Smith,” commented John Unitas Jr., President of the Johnny Unitas Educational Foundation. “The entire A. O. Smith organization has truly embraced all that the award represents and we look forward to continuing that momentum for many years to come.”