Louisiana Tech quarterback J’Mar Smith named to Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List

BALTIMORE – Louisiana Tech quarterback J’Mar Smith has been named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List, it was announced by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation on Tuesday.

Smith, who is entering his redshirt junior season in 2018, is one of 49 FBS quarterbacks named to the 2018 watch list and one of six Conference USA signal callers on the preseason list. Smith was also named to the 2018 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List in July.

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is named after one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, while the prestigious award has been presented annually since 1987 to the nation’s top college quarterback.

During his sophomore campaign last season, Smith threw for 2,974 passing yards, making him just the third underclassmen quarterback in Louisiana Tech history to throw for 2,500 yards in a season (first since 2001). Smith ranked fourth in C-USA and 29th among FBS quarterbacks in passing yards and threw just five interceptions in 409 passing attempts with 16 passing touchdowns.

Additionally, Smith was third on the team in rushing with 371 yards and six rushing touchdowns, while he ranked third in C-USA and 36th in FBS in total offense (257.3) in 2017.

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.

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2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List

Jake Bentley, South Carolina
David Blough, Purdue
Ross Bowers, Cal
Jake Browning, Washington
Kelly Bryant, Clemson
K.J. Carta-Samuels, Colorado State
Christian Chapman, San Diego State
Keller Chryst, Tennessee
Taylor Cornelius, Oklahoma State
Eric Dungey, Syracuse
A.J. Erdely, UAB
Ryan Finley, NC State
Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State
Ty Gangi, Nevada
Will Grier, West Virginia
Justice Hansen, Arkansas State
Justin Herbert, Oregon
Alex Hornibrook, Wisconsin
Tyler Huntley, Utah
Tyree Jackson, Buffalo
Daniel Jones, Duke
Kyle Kempt, Iowa State
Hasaan Klugh, UTEP
Brian Lewerke, Michigan State
Drew Lock, Missouri
Jake Luton, Oregon State
Trace McSorley, Penn State
Marcus McMaryion, Fresno State
McKenzie Milton, UCF
Gardner Minshew, Washington State
Steven Montez, Colorado
Hayden Moore, Cincinnati
James Morgan, FIU
Shea Patterson, Michigan
Bryce Perkins, Virginia
Gus Ragland, Miami of Ohio
Malik Rosier, Miami
Brett Rypien, Boise State
Kyle Shurmur, Vanderbilt
J’Mar Smith, Louisiana Tech
Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
Brent Stockstill, Middle Tennessee
Jordan Ta’amu, Ole Miss
Khalil Tate, Arizona
Alex Thomson, Marshall
Clayton Thorson, Northwestern
Brady White, Memphis
Manny Wilkins, Arizona State
Brandon Wimbush, Notre Dame