2019 Manning Award Preseason Watch List

NEW ORLEANS – Two candidates from the Sun Belt Conference were included among the preseason candidates for the 2019 Manning Award, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, announced on Wednesday.

Appalachian State’s Zac Thomas and ULM's Caleb Evans were among the 30 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.

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 17. The list of 10 finalists will be released on Thursday, November 28. The winner will be announced in the week following the College Football Playoff National Championship.

This year’s Watch List includes players from all 10 Football Bowl Subdivision conferences. The SEC leads the way with six selections, while the Pac-12 and the Big Ten each have four selections, followed by the ACC and the Big 12 with three each. There are 16 seniors on the list while the junior class is represented by 10 quarterbacks and the sophomore class has four.

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.