Klubnik Named Preseason Candidate for Prestigious Award

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc., along with presenting sponsor A. O. Smith Corporation, announced on Wednesday the 2024 Golden Arm Award candidates.

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik was among the quarterbacks named to the preseason watch list for the prestigious Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

This season’s list acknowledges 63 of the nation’s leading quarterbacks, representing all 10 FBS conferences as well as football independent.

The preseason Watch List, semifinalists, finalists, and award recipient are selected by the distinguished Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, and former players. The award annually recognizes the top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class.

2023 Golden Arm Award Watch List Presented by A. O. Smith

• Joey Aguilar, App State
• Drew Allar, Penn State
• Luke Altmyer, Illinois
• Rocco Becht, Iowa State
• Carson Beck, Georgia
• Alan Bowman, Oklahoma State
• Max Brosmer, Minnesota
• Byrum Brown, South Florida
• Hudson Card, Purdue
• Thomas Castellanos, Boston College
• Brady Cook, Missouri
• Jalon Daniels, Kansas
• Ashton Daniels, Stanford
• Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
• Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech
• Billy Edwards Jr., Maryland
• Quinn Ewers, Texas
• Noah Fifita, Arizona
• TJ Finley, Western Kentucky
• Dequan Finn, Baylor
• Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, Colorado State
• Brett Gabbert, Miami (OH)
• Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
• Ethan Garbers, UCLA
• Garrett Greene, West Virginia
• Seth Henigan, Memphis
• Will Howard, Ohio State
• KJ Jefferson, UCF
• Athan Kaliakmanis, Rutgers
• Mikey Keene, Fresno State
• Haynes King, Georgia Tech
• Cade Klubnik, Clemson

• Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
• Grayson McCall, NC State
• Kyle McCord, Syracuse
• Cade McNamara, Iowa
• Fernando Mendoza, Cal
• Graham Mertz, Florida
• Jalen Milroe, Alabama
• Behren Morton, Texas Tech
• Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
• Andrew Peasley, Wyoming
• Cameron Rising, Utah
• Will Rogers, Washington
• Kurtis Rourke, Indiana
• Kaidon Salter, Liberty
• Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
• Brayden Schager, Hawai’i
• Blake Shapen, Mississippi State
• Tyler Shough, Louisville
• Donovan Smith, Houston
• Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati
• Preston Stone, SMU
• Payton Thorne, Auburn
• DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State
• Tyler Van Dyke, Wisconsin
• Brock Vandagriff, Kentucky
• Nicholas Vattiato, Middle Tennessee
• Cam Ward, Miami
• Conner Weigman, Texas A&M
• Hayden Wolff, Western Michigan
• Nate Yarnell, Pittsburgh
• Jacob Zeno, UAB

The namesake of the Golden Arm Award has a storied history. Johnny Unitas was an 18-year veteran of the NFL, who played his collegiate career at the University of Louisville before joining the Baltimore Colts in 1958. His career passing figures include 2,830 pass completions for 40,239 yards, 290 touchdowns and throwing a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games.

This year’s award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy at the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award celebration the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland on Friday, December 6, 2024.

Giving life to the commitment to give back, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. and presenting sponsor A. O. Smith continue to promote football on all levels by providing financial aid to deserving young scholar athletes.

Sharing a tradition of innovation with Johnny Unitas, who invented football’s two-minute drill, A. O. Smith has been an innovator in its industry for 150 years. What began as a small machine shop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1874, has evolved into a leading global water technology company committed to improving the lives of its customers by ensuring access to clean, safe, hot water.

The learn more about the 2024 Watch List and to watch the full reveal, please visit: 2024 Golden Arm Award Watch List . For more information on the Golden Arm Award, please visit: Golden Arm Award . Additionally, follow the conversation throughout the college football season on Twitter, @GoldenArmAward , and use the hashtags #GoldenArmAward and #InnovationLeaders.

A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 class are still available.  Get yours while supplies last!  Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!