Buffalo's Jackson and Miami's Ragland Named To 2018 Johnny Unitas Watch List
Buffalo's Tyree Jackson and Miami's Gus Ragland Named To 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List
BALTIMORE, MD. - The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. is proud to announce the Watch List for the 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award® Presented by A. O. Smith. Named after one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, the prestigious award has been presented annually since 1987 to the nation’s top college quarterback. Representing the MAC are Buffalo junior quarterback Tyree Jackson and Miami senior quarterback Gus Ragland.
Jackson, a native of Norton Shores, Mich., led Buffalo to a 6-6 overall record last season, including 4-4 in the MAC. In 2017, Jackson started eight games and threw for 2,096 yards on 143-237 passing (60.3%) with 12 touchdowns for an average of 262.0 yards per game. Jackson added 47 carries for 197 yards (4.2 avg.), including a long of 75 yards and four rushing touchdowns.
Ragland, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, started nine games during the 2017 season as the RedHawks posted a 5-7 overall record, 4-4 in the MAC. Last season Ragland threw for 2,032 yards on 150-269 passing (55.8%) with 19 touchdowns for an average of 225.8 yards per game. Ragland posted 73 carries for 135 yards (1.8 avg.) and three rushing touchdowns.
Candidates must be a college senior or fourth-year junior on schedule to graduate with their class. Criteria to be considered for the award include character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, leadership qualities and athletic accomplishments. It was recently announced that A. O. Smith will be presenting the 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award®, which will be hosted on December 7 at the Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel & The Grand. Proceeds from the event help support the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, which provides assistance to underprivileged and deserving student-athletes throughout Maryland and Kentucky.
“A. O. Smith has a legacy of innovation and performance in the water heating and water treatment industries, much like Johnny Unitas did on the football field," said Jeff Storie, A. O. Smith’s director of marketing. "Both of these iconic names have been around for decades and share many of each other’s values. For A. O. Smith, partnering with the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation and the Golden Arm Award makes perfect sense. We’re excited to tie our own efforts to further education in our trade with the Foundation’s efforts to help further the education of youths interested in football around the country.”
Past standout winners of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award® include: Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997); Carson Palmer (USC, 2002); Eli Manning (Ole Miss, 2003); Brady Quinn (Notre Dame, 2006); Matt Ryan (Boston College, 2007); Colt McCoy (Texas, 2009); Andrew Luck (Stanford, 2011); Marcus Mariota (University of Oregon, 2014); Connor Cook (Michigan State, 2015); Deshaun Watson (Clemson, 2016) and the 2017 winner, Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma State).
The hashtag #InnovationLeaders will be visible on all Johnny Unitas Educational Foundation and Golden Arm Award® advertising, marketing, social media, website, and public relations materials and represents the commitment to always being leaders through innovation. To learn more about the Golden Arm Award, please visit: Golden Arm Foundation or Golden Arm Award. Additionally, please follow the conversation throughout the season on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and use the hashtags #GoldenArmAward and #InnovationLeaders.
