Colorado's Shedeur Sanders wins Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as top college quarterback

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders added some hardware to his trophy case on Saturday, as he was announced as the winner of the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. It’s been given annually to the nation’s top quarterback since 2000.

And Sanders — the first Colorado quarterback to win the award — has enjoyed a sterling 2024 season leading the Buffaloes to the fringe of College Football Playoff contention and more. He’s also emerged as arguably the top draft-eligible quarterback this year.

Sanders, entering Colorado’s regular-season finale against Oklahoma State on Friday, had completed 73.4% of his passes for 3488 yards and 30 touchdowns with seven interceptions. On top of that, he had four rushing touchdowns as the Buffaloes entered the matchup with the Cowboys at 8-3 and ranked in the Top 25.

Entering the final weekend of the regular season, Sanders ranked in the Top 5 nationally in completion percentage, passes attempted, passing yards, passing touchdowns and ranks No. 8 nationally in passing efficiency.

And Sanders has been no shrinking violet about his talents and abilities.

There is talk that Sanders could be the top quarterback off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft. He was asked in November if he should be and made his stance clear.

“I think I was the best quarterback in the last draft, too,” Sanders said, according to Bryan Fischer.

There were plenty of talented quarterbacks in last year’s NFL Draft. Former USC star Caleb Williams went No. 1 overall to the Bears, while former LSU star Jayden Daniels was selected by the Commanders with the No. 2 overall pick.

Other quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft were Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix. That is certainly a talented group of young QBs, but Sanders believes he is better than all of them.

As for the 2025 NFL Draft, other quarterbacks joining Sanders in a battle for the top spot are Cam Ward of Miami, Carson Beck of Georgia and Jalen Milroe of Alabama. All four of those quarterbacks were listed as first-round picks in ESPN’s latest mock draft, with Sanders leading the way at No. 1 overall.