ESTABLISHED IN 1987, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award bears the name of the man many consider the finest quarterback to ever play football. Candidates for the award must be completing their college eligibility this season. In addition to on-field performance the nominees are judged on good character, morals and values that Johnny Unitas upheld in his lifetime.

Past award winners include Peyton and Eli Manning, Carson Palmer, Matt Ryan, Colt McCoy, Matt Leinart, Jason White, David Carr and Brady Quinn. Wisconsin's Scott Tolzien was the 2010 recipient. Stanford's Andrew Luck won in 2011.

The initial list of 2012 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award nominees included Ryan Aplin, Arkansas State; Matt Barkley, USC; Tajh Boyd, Clemson; Alex Carder, Western Michigan; Derek Carr, Fresno State; B.J. Daniels, South Florida; Seth Doege, Texas Tech; Nick Florence, Baylor; Mike Glennon, NC State; Landry Jones, Oklahoma; Collin Klein, Kansas State; EJ Manuel, Florida State; AJ McCarron, Alabama; Aaron Murray, Georgia; Ryan Nassib, Syracuse; Casey Pachall, TCU; Keith Price, Washington; Sean Renfree, Duke; Bryn Renner, North Carolina; Jordan Rodgers, Vanderbilt; Denard Robinson, Michigan; Nathan Scheelhaase, Illinois; Geno Smith, West Virginia; Brad Sorensen, So. Utah; Tyler Tettleton, Ohio; Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech; Jeff Tuel, Washington State; James Vandenberg, Iowa; Tyler Wilson, Arkansas.

(The name "Johnny Unitas" and the term "Golden Arm Award" are registered trademarks and are being used with permission of Unitas Management Corporation and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation.)