Allen Named To Manning Award Watch List

USC quarterback Cody Kessler was named to the Manning Award watch list for 2015 Thursday as a potential candidate to be named Quarterback of the Year in college football.

“We’re very excited about the group of quarterbacks on our Watch List”, said Archie Manning, who along with his sons Peyton and Eli are the namesakes of the annual award. The victor will be determined by a voting panel, which includes media and each of the Manning’s, and announced January 13.

Armstrong is one of three Big Ten quarterbacks on the watch list. He ranked third in the Big 12 and 13th nationally in completions per game (23.1), setting the school record for completions in a season with 254. Midseason additions to the Watch List will be announced Wednesday., October 14.

Doughty (Manning/Walter Camp/Davey O’Brien/Maxwell) brings WKU’s watch list total to 11 during the 2015 preseason as he joins Leon Allen (Walker), Jared Dangerfield (Biletnikoff), Taywan Taylor (Biletnikoff), Tyler Higbee (Mackey), Max Halpin (Rimington), Forrest Lamp (Rotary Lombardi) and Nick Holt (Rotary Lombardi) as Hilltoppers recognized this summer. There are 16 seniors on the list while the junior class is represented by 11 quarterbacks and the sophomore class has three.

Watson is one of five ACC players on the list. Boykin had a TCU single-game record seven touchdown passes with a career-best 433 yards passing against Texas Tech.

The Maxwell and Camp are given to the top players in college football. The list of 10 finalists will be released on November 25. The Palmyra, Virginia native is only 1,281 yards away from becoming the all-time passing leader, a stat he should break at home as Penn State has a five consecutive home games after opening up in Philadelphia against Temple to start the season. Sixty-two players from 58 different schools were honored during the 2014 season. For his effort against the Hoosiers, he was named one of eight quarterback “Stars of the Week” by The Manning Award.