Wilson One Of Five For Unitas Award

Alabama senior quarterback John Parker Wilson was selected as one of five finalists for the 2008 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award on Monday.

The prestigious Golden Arm Award is presented annually to the nation’s top senior quarterback by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. and Transamerica.

“It is a great honor to be named a finalist,” Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson said. “The Johnny Unitas is one of those very recognizable awards. The other guys on the list are just outstanding quarterbacks. To be in that same group and recognized like that is a real honor.”

The list of five finalists for the 2008 Golden Arm Award is: Wilson, Chase Daniel (Missouri); Graham Harrell (Texas Tech); Brian Johnson (Utah); Pat White (West Virginia).

Alabama has a rich tradition of signal callers and Wilson has eclipsed nearly all of their records. He is the Crimson Tide’s season and career leader in completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns and attempts.

Ten games into his senior season, Wilson has guided the Crimson Tide to a 10-0 record and a No. 1 national ranking. The Hoover native has passed for 1,627 yards while completing 59.1 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns. Wilson has been even better on the road in hostile environments this season, completing 63.4 percent of his passes with four touchdowns and a 136.18 passing efficiency rating.

The 2008 winner will be presented with the Golden Arm Award at the Tremont Grand Meeting & Banquet Facility in downtown Baltimore, Md., on Dec. 5.

Boston College’s Matt Ryan captured last year’s Golden Arm Award before becoming the No. 1 overall draft pick of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and their starting quarterback. Alabama’s Jay Barker captured the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in 1994.

“When you consider how many great college QBs have won the Golden Arm Award and have gone on to play in the NFL, it is clear that this award has become a significant barometer for future success in the professional ranks,” says John C. Unitas, Jr., President of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation.

The namesake of the Golden Arm Award has a storied history, which earned him the recognition of being one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL. He had an 18-year career in the NFL that included 17 years with the Baltimore Colts and 40,239 passing yards with 290 touchdowns. He played his collegiate career at Louisville (1951-54) where he passed for 3,007 yards and 27 touchdowns.