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Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

Given every year since 1987 to the top upperclassman quarterback, judged on play, character, scholarship and leadership. Alabama, Florida State and USC have won it most, three times each.

Every winner

SeasonPlayerPositionSchool
2025Diego PaviaQBVanderbilt
2024Shedeur SandersQBColorado
2023Jayden DanielsQBLSU
2022Max DugganQBTCU
2021Kenny PickettQBPittsburgh
2020Mac JonesQBAlabama
2019Joe BurrowQBLSU
2018Gardner MinshewQBWashington State
2017Mason RudolphQBOklahoma State
2016Deshaun WatsonQBClemson
2015Connor CookQBMichigan State
2014Marcus MariotaQBOregon
2013A.J. McCarronQBAlabama
2012Collin KleinQBKansas State
2011Andrew LuckQBStanford
2010Scott TolzienQBWisconsin
2009Colt McCoyQBTexas
2008Graham HarrellQBTexas Tech
2007Matt RyanQBBoston College
2006Brady QuinnQBNotre Dame
2005Matt LeinartQBUSC
2004Jason WhiteQBOklahoma
2003Eli ManningQBOle Miss
2002Carson PalmerQBUSC
2001David CarrQBFresno State
2000Chris WeinkeQBFlorida State
1999Chris RedmanQBLouisville
1998Cade McNownQBUCLA
1997Peyton ManningQBTennessee
1996Danny WuerffelQBFlorida
1995Tommie FrazierQBNebraska
1994Jay BarkerQBAlabama
1993Charlie WardQBFlorida State
1992Gino TorrettaQBMiami (FL)
1991Casey WeldonQBFlorida State
1990Craig EricksonQBMiami (FL)
1989Tony RiceQBNotre Dame
1988Rodney PeeteQBUSC
1987Don McPhersonQBSyracuse

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.