Oregon's Bo Nix named as finalist for Johnny Unitas Award
Oregon quarterback Bo Nix is in the midst of one of the greatest seasons in program history and has now been recognized as a finalist for one of the more prestigious awards in all of college football.
On Tuesday, the finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given annually to the top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class, were announced.
Nix made the cut.
He joins Stetson Bennett IV (Georgia), Max Duggan (TCU), Hendon Hooker (Tennessee), and CJ Stroud (Ohio State) as one of the five finalists.
Nix becomes the seventh Duck ever to be named a finalist for the award, joining Anthony Brown Jr. (2021), Justin Herbert (2019), Marcus Mariota (2014), Dennis Dixon (2007), Kellen Clemens (2005), and Joey Harrington (2001).
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Mariota became the first Duck to win the award in 2014.
Nix is tied for the FBS lead with 39 total touchdowns — 24 passing, 14 rushing, and 1 receiving. He also leads the nation with a 72.8 completion percentage and ranks fifth with a 173.16 passer rating.
“I don’t think anybody can sit here and watch football right now and watch our quarterback play and tell me he’s not an elite quarterback,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said following the Ducks’ win over UCLA. “This guy’s playing at an extremely high level and he makes great decisions for our team. He’s an elite competitor, an elite leader, he has phenomenal character, he’s throwing the ball really well and he’s making great decisions. He’s humble and I think everybody on our team is excited about his success.”
The 2022 award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy by The Johnny Unitas Educational Foundation President, John Unitas, Jr., at the Golden Arm Award banquet and celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022.
| Winner | School | |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Don McPherson | Syracuse |
| 1988 | Rodney Peete | USC |
| 1989 | Tony Rice | Notre Dame |
| 1990 | Craig Erickson | Miami |
| 1991 | Casey Weldon | Florida State |
| 1992 | Gino Torretta | Miami |
| 1993 | Charlie Ward | Florida State |
| 1994 | Jay Barker | Alabama |
| 1995 | Tommie Frazier | Nebraska |
| 1996 | Danny Wuerffel | Florida |
| 1997 | Peyton Manning | Tennessee |
| 1998 | Cade McNown | UCLA |
| 1999 | Chris Redman | Louisville |
| 2000 | Chris Weinke | Florida State |
| 2001 | David Carr | Fresno State |
| 2002 | Carson Palmer | USC |
| 2003 | Eli Manning | Ole Miss |
| 2004 | Jason White | Oklahoma |
| 2005 | Matt Leinart | USC |
| 2006 | Brady Quinn | Notre Dame |
| 2007 | Matt Ryan | Boston College |
| 2008 | Graham Harrell | Texas Tech |
| 2009 | Colt McCoy | Texas |
| 2010 | Scott Tolzien | Wisconsin |
| 2011 | Andrew Luck | Stanford |
| 2012 | Collin Klein | Kansas State |
| 2013 | AJ McCarron | Alabama |
| 2014 | Marcus Mariota | Oregon |
| 2015 | Connor Cook | Michigan State |
| 2016 | Deshaun Watson | Clemson |
| 2017 | Mason Rudolph | Oklahoma State |
| 2018 | Gardner Minshew | Washington State |
| 2019 | Joe Burrow | LSU |
| 2020 | Mac Jones | Alabama |
| 2021 | Kenny Pickett | Pittsburgh |
