Quarterbacks Devin Gardner of Michigan, Hutson Mason of Georgia, and Taylor Kelly of Arizona State were among 12 who missed the latest cut for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually to college football's top quarterback.
Gardner has struggled this season, as have the Wolverines, throwing six interceptions and only five touchdown passes as UM lost three games in the month of September for the first time in program history. Kelly's season has been put on hold due to an injury, and he is questionable to play this week against USC. Mason has been adequate, but pedestrian, in his first year as a starter, throwing for just 566 yards over four games as Georgia has started the season 3-1 on the strength of a dominant rushing attack. Others missing the cut included Florida's Jeff Driskel, Alabama's Jacob Coker and Ohio State's Braxton Miller, who is out for the season with a shoulder injury.
Oregon's Marcus Mariota, Baylor's Bryce Petty and UCLA's Brett Hundley are among the top quarterbacks still in the running for the honor. Candidates were reduced from 27 initial names on a watch list to 15 semifinalists. Others still in contention include Connor Halliday (Washington State), Anthony Boone (Duke), Shane Carden (East Carolina), Cody Fajardo (Nevada), Connor Cook (Michigan State), Rakeem Cato (Marshall), Kevin Hogan (Stanford), Cody Kessler (USC), Sean Mannion (Oregon State), Dak Prescott (Mississippi State), Jake Rudock (Iowa) and Bo Wallace (Ole Miss).
Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston of Florida State was not named to the original watch list.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread.*
