The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation Inc. is proud to unveil the Watch List for the 2025 Golden Arm Award, presented annually to the top senior or upperclassman quarterback who is on track to graduate with their class. This year’s list showcases 58 of the nation’s premier collegiate quarterbacks, including a mix of returning standouts and rising stars.

Now in its 39th year, the Golden Arm Award continues to honor excellence both on and off the field. The award is presented by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation in partnership with A. O. Smith Corporation, whose mission aligns with the Foundation’s commitment to advancing the game of football while promoting character, leadership, and academic achievement among young athletes.

This year, the Foundation is proud to announce a new partnership with Leveling the Playing Field (LPF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access and equity in youth sports. LPF provides sports equipment to underserved communities, giving every child the chance to experience the life-changing benefits of athletic participation. Together, the Foundation, A. O. Smith and LPF are working to ensure that the next generation of leaders has the tools and opportunities to succeed — on the field and beyond.

About the 2025 Watch List

The 2025 Golden Arm Watch List shines a spotlight on 58 quarterbacks from across the country, including:

  • Joey Aguilar, Tennessee
  • Drew Allar, Penn State
  • Luke Altmyer, Illinois
  • Steve Angeli, Syracuse
  • Jackson Arnold, Auburn
  • Robby Ashford, Wake Forest
  • Alonza Barnett III, James Madison
  • Rocco Becht, Iowa State
  • Carson Beck, Miami
  • Zach Calzada, Kentucky
  • Thomas Castellanos, Florida State
  • Aidan Chiles, Michigan State
  • Jalon Daniels, Kansas
  • Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech
  • Billy Edwards Jr., Wisconsin
  • Walker Eget, San Jose State
  • Noah Fifita, Arizona
  • Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, Colorado State
  • JC French IV, Georgia Southern
  • Tucker Gleason, Toledo
  • Taylen Green, Arkansas
  • Eli Holstein, Pittsburgh
  • Josh Hoover, TCU
  • Blake Horvath, Navy
  • Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
  • Grayson James, Boston College
  • Keyone Jenkins, Florida International
  • Kevin Jennings, SMU
  • Avery Johnson, Kansas State
  • Athan Kaliakmanis, Rutgers
  • Haynes King, Georgia Tech
  • Cade Klubnik, Clemson
  • Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
  • Brendon Lewis, Memphis
  • Maddux Madsen, Boise State
  • Arch Manning, Texas
  • John Mateer, Oklahoma
  • Owen McCown, UTSA
  • Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
  • Darian Mensah, Duke
  • Chandler Morris, Virginia
  • Behren Morton, Texas Tech
  • Miller Moss, Louisville
  • Maalik Murphy, Oregon State
  • Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
  • Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
  • Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
  • Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
  • LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
  • Blake Shapen, Mississippi State
  • Ty Simpson, Alabama
  • Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati
  • Gunner Stockton, Georgia
  • Preston Stone, Northwestern
  • Nicholas Vattiato, Middle Tennessee
  • Caden Veltkamp, Florida Atlantic
  • E.J. Warner, Fresno State
  • Conner Weigman, Houston

As the 2025 college football season unfolds, the watch list will be narrowed to semifinalists, finalists and one standout quarterback will take home the Golden Arm Award in December. The winner will be celebrated at our annual Golden Arm Award ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Johnny Unitas’ hometown of Baltimore — an unforgettable night honoring leadership, legacy, and the best in college football.

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 more than a century. A. O. Smith offers its customers an additional advantage in that the company designs, builds, distributes and supports the world’s broadest and deepest line of residential and commercial water heaters, as well as commercial boilers. This single-source concept simplifies ordering, installation and service and is backed by more than 80 years of research and innovation. 

For more information on the Golden Arm Award, please visit GoldenArmFoundation.com. Fans and media are encouraged to follow the conversation throughout the college football season on the Golden Arm Award’s official social media channels:

Join the discussion using the hashtags #GoldenArmAward and #InnovationLeaders.

Golden Arm Award Partners: MedStar Sports Medicine, The Babe Ruth Museum, Comcast, Dunbar Security Solutions, Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore, Wilson, Haddock Investments, Silver Star Properties, Encore, TRAY, AE2 Creative, Jostens, Leveling the Playing Field, Yates, Wolf Professional Security, and Extraordinar Luxury Transportation.