Plitt and Crum named to Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award®, along with presenting sponsor A. O. Smith Corporation, announced the 2020 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List on Wednesday.
This award is presented annually to the top senior and upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Selection Committee. Candidates are chosen based on player performance on and off the field. Representing the MAC on the list is Kent State's Dustin Crum & Ball State's Drew Plitt.
Crum burst onto the scene in 2019, earning the start in the week two win over Kennesaw State and never looking back. The rising senior finished the season with over 2600 yards passing, 700 yards rushing and was responsible for 26 touchdowns. His 20:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio was one of the best in the FBS last season. Crum's 2019 stats put him in elite company amongst the other 29 quarterbacks on the watch list. His 69.2 completion percentage is second to only USC's Kedon Slovis and his two interceptions tie him with Arizona State's Jayden Daniels (who threw 17 touchdowns) for the top spot amongst FBS quarterbacks on the list. His dual-threat abilities also put him in the list's top tier, only Charlotte's Chris Reynolds ran for more than Crum's 707 yards amongst FBS quarterbacks.
Plitt took over the Ball State starting quarterback role late in the 2018 season and truly blossomed in 2019. Last year, Plitt directed an offense that led the Mid-American Conference in scoring (34.8 points per game) and total offense (463.0 yards per game). His 24 touchdown passes were tops in the league while his passing yards per game (243.2) ranked second. Over the last five games of the 2019 campaign, Plitt tossed eight touchdown passes to just one interception.
To learn more about the Golden Arm Award, please visit: Golden Arm Foundation or Golden Arm Award. Additionally, please follow the conversation throughout the college football season on Twitter (@GoldenArmAward) and use the hashtags #GoldenArmAward and #InnovationLeaders.
