Watch List Central: Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Selects Armstrong

Cavaliers on 2022 Preseason Watch Lists

August 24 – Brennan Armstrong – Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

A top-10 finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm a year ago, Armstrong returns to the awards watch list for the 2022 season. 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.

The 2022 award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy by The Johnny Unitas Educational Foundation President, John Unitas, Jr., at the Golden Arm Award banquet and celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland on Wednesday, December 7, 2022.

August 24 – Brennan Armstrong, Billy Kemp IV, Keytaon Thompson, Chico Bennett Jr., Nick Jackson, Anthony Johnson – 2023 Senior Bowl Watch List

Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong, DL Chico Bennett Jr., WR Billy Kemp IV, LB Nick Jackson, DB Anthony Johnson and WR Keytaon Thompson were all included on the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List. A total of 484 seniors were featured on the game’s first initial list. Every player on this list is eligible to participate in an all-star game as either a 2018 high school graduate or true four-year player (with five or more games played in three previous seasons).

The Reese’s Senior Bowl is widely regarded as the preeminent college football all-star game and the first stage in the NFL Draft process. The longest continual-running all-star game has taken place in Mobile, Alabama the past 73 years. The Cavaliers have had a participant in the Reese’s Senior Bowl Game 11 of the last 13 years.

The 2023 Senior Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 4 at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Ala. The game will be aired live on NFL Network at 1:30 p.m. CT.

Armstrong is up for a bevy of preseason accolades including the Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, and the Manning Award after his record-setting junior campaign. The Cavalier signal caller threw for 4,449 yards and 31 touchdowns while accumulating 4,700 yards of total offense, all UVA single season records. He averaged 404.4 yards passing per game, the most ever in a single season by a UVA quarterback and was just 145 yards shy of breaking the league’s single season passing record in just 11 games played.

Bennett is seeking his first action as a Cavalier this fall after transferring to UVA from Georgia Tech prior to the 2021 season. With the Yellow Jackets he led all freshman GT tacklers with 17 and had 0.5 tackles for loss in 2019 before suffering an injury.

Kemp is coming off a career year for UVA, hauling in 74 passes for 725 yards and six touchdowns. The Highland Springs, Va. native has caught a pass in 27-straight games dating back to the 2019 season, tied for the sixth-longest streak in the nation entering the 2022 season. Kemp earned Third Team All-ACC honors for the first time in his career.

Jackson was the ACC’s top tackler in 2021, totaling 117 stops and was credited with 2.5 sacks in 12 games. He recorded six tackles for loss, broke up two passes and had six quarterback hurries. Jackson’s 9.8 tackles per game also led the ACC and were the 14th most in the country. The Atlanta, Ga. native went on to earn Second Team All-ACC honors for the second year in-a-row.

Johnson, a transfer from Louisville prior to the 2021 season, made an immediate impact on the Cavalier secondary last year. Pro Football Focus listed him as a Third Team All-ACC selection after ranking seventh in the ACC in interceptions with three and eighth in passes broken up with nine. He played in all 12 games and was fifth on the team with 44 tackles.

Thompson enters his third season at Virginia and sixth year of college football after transferring to UVA prior the fall of 2020. The 6-5 wideout led all UVA pass catchers last season with 78 receptions. He was 10 yards shy of becoming the sixth UVA player ever to record 1,000 yards in a season. His versatility allowed him also to rack up 247 yards rushing and four touchdowns in 2021. according to Pro Football Focus, had the second-best elusive rating (a stat that measures the success and impact of a runner with the ball independently of the blocking) – 175.5 of any non-running back with 20 or more rush attempts.

August 22 – Brennan Armstrong – Manning Award & CFPA National Performer of the Year Watch List

The senior was included on both watch lists last season and was one of 10 finalists for the Manning Award in 2021.

Of the 10 finalists for the Manning Award last season, Armstrong is one of five to return to college football in 2022. The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates’ bowl performances in its balloting.

Armstrong is one of 38 players included on the CFPA National Performer of the Year Trophy watch list. The trophy is a 22-inch K-9 optic crystal tower with eight-inch crystal football on top.

The UVA senior has already been featured on the Davey O’Brien and Maxwell Award Watch lists this summer. He’s also garnered preseason All-ACC accolades from Athlon Sports (Third Team) and Phil Steele (Fourth Team).

The Cavalier signal caller broke UVA’s single season passing yards (4,449), passing touchdowns (31), completions (326) and total offense (4,700) records in 2021. His 404.4 passing yards per game were the most ever by an ACC quarterback and he was only 145 yards shy of breaking the ACC’s all-time single season passing record in just 11 games played.

Armstrong is one of three players in College Football history to throw for more than 4,400 yards in just 11 games played (David Klinger – 5,140 in 1990 & Andre Ware – 4,699 in 1989). The 4,000-yard season was one of 10 ever by an ACC quarterback. Armstrong joins Jameis Winston (Florida State), Deshaun Watson (Clemson) and Sam Hartman (Wake Forest) as the only ACC quarterback to return the next season after passing for 4,000 yards.

Entering the 2022 season, Armstrong needs 679 yards to break UVA legend and 17-year NFL QB Matt Schaub’s career passing record and six touchdowns away from eclipsing his career touchdown record at Virginia. After a school record 4,700 yards of total offense last season, Armstrong is 191 total yards away from breaking Bryce Perkins’ career mark.

Armstrong owns seven of the top-10 passing performances in UVA history including his school-record 554-yard, four touchdown game against North Carolina last season. It was one of nine 550+ yard games against power-5 programs in all of college football since the 2015 season. He passed for 300 or more yards 10 times in 2021 and 400 yards on six different occasions. Prior to the season, only two UVA quarterbacks threw for 400 or more yards in a game.

August 18 – Aaron Faumui – Polynesian Player of the Year Award Watch List

Presented by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award is annually bestowed on the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry that epitomizes great ability and integrity. The watch list is composed of 85 players from 43 different FBS schools.

A native of Kapolei, Hawaii, Faumui appeared in all 12 games for the Cavaliers in 2021 and made six starts the the UVA defensive line. He recorded 23 tackles, including 13 solo stops last season. He was also credited for 3.5 tackles for loss three quarterback hurries and one sack.

Faumui enters the 2022 season having played in 38 games the past four seasons and has 15 career starts, the second-most amongst UVA’s defensive returners. Faumui had a career-high four sacks as a sophomore in 2019 and has six total sacks in his time at Virginia.

Virginia linebacker Nick Jackson was one of 90 defensive players across the country that comprised the Bednarik Award Watch List on Monday (Aug. 1). The honor is presented annually by the Maxwell Football Club to the outstanding defensive player in college football.

Jackson led the ACC in tackles with 117 last season, one year after finishing second in the league with 105 stops. His defensive prowess led to Second Team All-ACC accolades in 2021, the second-straight year he earned an All-ACC distinction. In his junior campaign last year, he compiled six tackles for loss, broke up two passes and was credited with six quarterback hurries. He recorded seven double-digit tackling efforts and his 9.8 tackles per game ranked 14^th in the country.

Jackson, also included on the 2022 preseason Butkus Award Watch List, has been one of the ACC’s most consistent defensive players. He has started 23-straight games in the middle of the Cavalier defense, the most of any UVA returning player on either side of the ball. In three seasons, Jackson has appeared in 36 games for the Cavaliers and accumulated 250 tackles, 56 shy of cracking UVA’s all-time top-15. Jackson has the chance to join Charles McDaniel (1982-84), Jon Copper (2006-08) and Micah Kiser (2015-17) as the only Cavaliers to lead the team in tackles for three consecutive seasons.

The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.

Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced November 1, 2022, while the three finalists for the Bednarik Award will be unveiled November 22, 2022. The winners of the 28th Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 8, 2022. The formal presentations of the award will be made at the 86th Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala live from Atlantic City, N.J. on March 10, 2023

July 28 – Chayce Chalmers – Wuerffel Trophy 

The Wuerffel Trophy, College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service, announced 115 players from college football’s FBS teams on Thursday (July 28). The trophy honors college football players who serve others, celebrate their positive impact on society and inspire greater service in the world.

Chalmers is recognized for the second time in the preseason for his work off the football field. Earlier this month he was nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Hands team. Last season he took home two of UVA highest honors at the annual Hoos Choice Awards. He was a recipient of the ACC Top VI award, annually given to student-athletes who have given the most in terms of service to the University and the Charlottesville communities. Additionally, Chalmers was presented with the UVA Distinguished Student-Athlete Scholarship Award which is given to a rising fourth year student-athlete who has distinguished themselves for their efforts within the athletics department and community.

Originally a member of the UVA Groundskeepers, Chalmers is now the leader of the group made up of student-athletes and coaches as they fight for social justice and equity. He has volunteered at The Equity Center as a mentor to middle school students in the Charlottesville area, is a weekly visitor at the Brooks YMCA Afterschool Program as a mentor and speaker, helped organize non-profit bake sales for Challah for Hunger and a volunteer at Camp Holiday Trails helping clear trails for campers all in his time at UVA.

Chalmers has seen action in 21 games for the Cavalier defense over the last two seasons and last year was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll.

July 25 – Nick Jackson – Butkus Award 

For the second-straight season, Virginia linebacker Nick Jackson is included on the Dick Butkus Award Watch List. A total of 51 student-athletes were included on the award annually presented to the nation’s top linebacker.

The 51 is a nod to the award’s namesake, Dick Butkus, who wore No. 51 during his professional career with the Chicago Bears and was recognized by NFL Films as the best defensive player in NFL history.

Jackson was the ACC’s top tackler in 2021, totaling 117 stops and was credited with 2.5 sacks in 12 games. He recorded six tackles for loss, broke up two passes and had six quarterback hurries. Jackson’s 9.8 tackles per game also led the ACC and were the 14th most in the country. The Atlanta, Ga. native went on to earn Second Team All-ACC honors for the second year in-a-row. Jackson has started 23-straight games on the Cavalier defense, the most of any returning UVA player on offense or defense.

In three seasons, Jackson has appeared in 36 games for the Cavaliers and accumulated 250 tackles, 56 shy of cracking UVA’s all-time top-15. Jackson has the chance to join Charles McDaniel (1982-84), Jon Copper (2006-08) and Micah Kiser (2015-17) as the only Cavaliers to lead the team in tackles for three consecutive seasons.

The award semifinalists are expected to be named on Oct. 31 with finalists to follow Nov. 21. The winner will be named on or before Dec. 7. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award.

All 2022 Butkus Award winners will be honored at a televised event on Jan. 21, 2023, at the Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage, California. CBS Sports Network aired the event last season, featuring Butkus and numerous noted NFL Alumni.

July 21 – Dontayvion Wicks & Keytaon Thompson – Biletnikoff Award

The award, presented by The Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation, Inc., recognizes the college football season’s outstanding FBS receiver. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back, and running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award.

Virginia is one of three schools (Penn State & Texas) with multiple student-athletes on the 43-player list.

Wicks, who was added to the Maxwell Award Watch list midseason last year, lands on his second watch list of the week. The Plaquemine, La. native was one of 14 receivers on the Maxwell Award Preseason watch list on Monday.

Wicks set the Virginia single-season receiving yardage record with 1,203 yards in 2021, surpassing Herman Moore’s record of 1,190 yards set in 1990. His 21.1 yards per catch last season led the ACC and was the fifth highest in the nation. He totaled six, 100-yard receiving efforts last year tied with Germane Crowell (1997) for the most in a season in UVA history. Against North Carolina he hauled in seven passes for 183 yards, the sixth-most yards in a single season in school history.

Wicks was a First Team All-ACC selection in 2021 and won the Richmond Touchdown Club Offensive End of the Year Award. He is a preseason Fourth Team All-American according to Phil Steele and a preseason All-ACC First Team offense by Athlon Sports.

Thompson led the Cavaliers with 78 receptions last season and totaled 990 yards, the sixth most in a single season in UVA history. He finished the 2021 season with five-straight games of five or more receptions and finished with three, 100-yard receiving efforts. From his position as a “FBP – Football Player”, he also rushed for 247 yards with four carries going for touchdowns. Thompson earned a spot on the ACC All-Academic team for his performance in the classroom and on the field.

July 20 – Chayce Chalmers – Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee

The award recognizes student-athletes with exemplary community service, academic dedication and impact on and off the field

Chalmers was rewarded for his extensive work off the gridiron when he was one of six UVA student-athletes presented the ACC Top VI award, annually given to student-athletes who have given the most in terms of service to the University and the Charlottesville communities. In addition, he took home the UVA Distinguished Student-Athlete Scholarship Award which is given to a rising fourth year student-athlete who has distinguished themselves for their efforts within the athletics department and community.

Originally a member of the UVA Groundskeepers, Chalmers is now the leader of the group made up of student-athletes and coaches as they fight for social justice and equity. He has volunteered at The Equity Center as a mentor to middle school students in the Charlottesville area, is a weekly visitor at the Brooks YMCA Afterschool Program as a mentor and speaker, helped organize non-profit bake sales for Challah for Hunger and a volunteer at Camp Holiday Trails helping clear trails for campers all in his time at UVA.

Chalmers has seen action in 21 games for the Cavalier defense over the last two seasons and last year was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll.

July 19 – Davey O’Brien Award – Brennan Armstrong

Armstrong is one of 35 quarterbacks on the 2022 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Preseason Watch List. The award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award.

Armstrong is one of 12 semifinalists from last year to be featured on the preseason watch list. On Monday (July 18), the Cavalier quarterback was included on the Maxwell Award Watch List and has already garnered preseason All-ACC honors from Athlon Sports (third team) and by Phil Steele (fourth team).

The UVA signal caller is coming off a record-breaking year in which he broke UVA’s single season passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions and total offense records. His 404.4 passing yards per game were the most ever by an ACC quarterback and he was only 145 yards shy of breaking the ACC’s all-time single season passing record in just 11 games played.

Armstrong owns seven of the top-10 passing performances in UVA history including his school-record 554-yard, four touchdown game against North Carolina last season. It was one of nine 550+ yard games against power-5 programs in all of college football since the 2015 season. He passed for 300 or more yards 10 times in 2021 and 400 yards on six different occasions. Prior to the season, only two UVA quarterbacks threw for 400 or more yards in a game.

Entering the 2022 season, Armstrong needs 679 yards to break UVA legend and 17-year NFL QB Matt Schaub’s career passing record and six touchdowns away from eclipsing his career touchdown record at Virginia. After a school record 4,700 yards of total offense last season, Armstrong is 191 total yards away from breaking Bryce Perkins’ career mark.

In addition to being a semifinalist for the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien Award last season, Armstrong was a top-10 finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and a finalist for the Manning Award. He garnered Third Team All-ACC honors and was an honorable mention on both the Pro Football Focus and the Phil Steele All-America Teams.

July 18 – Maxwell Award – Brennan Armstrong & Dontayvion Wicks

Awarded to America’s College Player of the Year since 1937. Maxwell’s contributions to the game of football were extensive, including time as a player, a sportswriter and an official.

Armstrong is one of seven semifinalists for last year’s Maxwell Award to be featured on the 2022 watch list. The watch list is comprised of 85 players, including 42 quarterbacks from a broad spectrum of FBS programs. Wicks is one of 14 wideouts on the watch list. Virginia and Wake Forest are the only ACC schools with multiple players on the list.

In 2021, Armstrong established single-season program records for passing yards (4,449), passing touchdowns (31), completions (326) and total offense (4,700). His 404.4 passing yards per game were the most ever by an ACC quarterback and he was only 145 yards shy of breaking the ACC’s all-time single-season passing record in just 11 games played.

In addition to being a Maxwell Award semifinalist in 2021, Armstrong was a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, a top-10 finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and a finalist for the Manning Award. The dual-threat signal caller was a third-team All-ACC selection and received honorable mention All-America honors from Pro Football Focus and Phil Steele.

Entering the 2022 season, Armstrong needs 679 yards to break UVA legend Matt Schaub’s career passing record and six touchdowns away from eclipsing his career touchdown record. After a school record 4,700 yards of total offense last season, Armstrong is 191 total yards away from breaking Bryce Perkins’ career mark. Armstrong has garnered preseason All-ACC honors from Athlon Sports (third team) and by Phil Steele (fourth team).

Wicks emerged as one of the top receivers in college football last season and broke Herman Moore’s single season record for receiving yards with 1,203. He caught 57 passes and nine touchdowns for the high-flying Cavalier attack in 2021. His 21.1 yards per reception, was the highest the ACC and fifth highest in the nation. In his record-setting season, Wicks accumulated six, 100-yard games, tied for the most in a single-season in UVA history, including a seven catch, 183-yard performance against North Carolina.

Wicks earned First Team All-ACC honors and an All-America nod from Pro Football Network.