Keller Named to Manning Award Watch List

Nebraska senior quarterback Sam Keller continued earning preseason recognition Wednesday when the Allstate Sugar Bowl named him one of 35 finalists for the Manning Award, which is annually presented to college football’s top quarterback.

 

Named in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning, the Manning Award is the only quarterback award that takes bowl game performances into consideration. The three Manning’s will help determine the winner, in addition to a panel of national media covering college football.

 

Joining Keller on the list are four other Big 12 quarterbacks, including Chase Daniel (Missouri), Graham Harrell (Texas Tech), Colt McCoy (Texas) and Bobby Reid (OklahomaState). Previous winners of the award include USC’s Matt Leinart (2005), Texas’ Vince Young (2006) and LSU’s JaMarcus Russell (2007).

 

“We are excited about this year’s Manning Award Watch List class,” said Raymond Jeandron Jr., President of the Allstate Sugar Bowl. “In our season of crowning college football’s best team, it will be another honor to announce college football’s best quarterback in our home city following the Allstate BCS National Championship Game.”

 

Finalists for the Manning Award will be announced prior to the bowl season.

 

Manning Award Watch List

Eric Ainge (Tennessee)

Taylor Bennett (Georgia Tech)

John David Booty (USC)

Colt Brennan (Hawaii)

Alex Brink (Washington St.)

Brian Brohm (Louisville),

Rudy Carpenter (Arizona St.)

Brandon Cox (Auburn)

Chase Daniel (Missouri)

Nate Davis (Ball St.)

Dennis Dixon (Oregon)

Matt Flynn (LSU)

Matt Groethe (South Florida)

Graham Harrell (Texas Tech)

Chad Henne (Michigan)

Rocky Hinds (UNLV)

Chase Holbrook (New Mexico St.)

Sam Keller (Nebraska)

Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan)

Nate Longshore (California)

Colt McCoy (Texas)

Blake Mitchell (South Carolina)

Anthony Morelli (Penn St.)

Curtis Painter (Purdue)

Bobby Reid (Oklahoma St.)

Matt Ryan (BostonCollege)

Paul Smith (Tulsa)

Matt Stafford (Georgia)

Adam Tafralis (San Jose St.)

Tim Tebow (Florida)

Patrick White (West Virginia)

Juice Williams (Illinois)

Justin Willis (SMU)

John Parker Wilson (Alabama)

Andre Woodson (Kentucky)