Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List

BALTIMORE, Md. — Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker added yet another honor to his long list of preseason accolades, earning a spot on the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list as announced by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc.

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. Candidates are chosen based on player performance on-and-off the field during the 2022 college football 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.

This marks the fourth national award list that Hooker has been named to this preseason after also being selected for the Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award and Manning Award watch lists.

Hooker set single-season program records for completion percentage (68.0) and passer efficiency rating (181.4) last fall in his debut season on Rocky Top. The redshirt senior produced 3,561 yards of total offense and 36 total touchdowns during the 2021 campaign, his first at UT after transferring to Knoxville from Virginia Tech.

The Greensboro, North Carolina, native played in all 13 games with 11 starts in 2021, completing 206-of-303 passes for 2,945 yards and 31 touchdowns with three interceptions. His 2,945 passing yards were fourth-most in the SEC, while his 9.7 yards per passing attempt ranked second in the league and fourth in the nation.

The 2022 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm 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, Dec. 7, 2022.

The complete Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award preseason watch list can be seen HERE.

Hooker and the Volunteers open their 2022 season in primetime on Thursday, Sept. 1 against Ball State. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast nationally on the SEC Network. Tickets for the contest can be purchased HERE.

2022 Tennessee Football Preseason Honors

R-Sr. LB Jeremy Banks
Butkus Award Watch List
Lott Trophy Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Coaches)
All-SEC Third Team (Media)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List

Jr. DL Tyler Baron
All-SEC Third Team (Athlon)

Sr. P Paxton Brooks
Ray Guy Award Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Athlon, Coaches, Media, Phil Steele)

Sr. OL Jerome Carvin
All-SEC Third Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List

R-Sr. TE Princeton Fant
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List

Sr. DB Trevon Flowers
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List

R-Sr. QB Hendon Hooker
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List
Manning Award Watch List
Davey O’Brien Award Watch List
Maxwell Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Coaches, Media, Phil Steele)
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List

Jr. OL Cooper Mays
All-SEC Third Team (Media)

Jr. RB Jabari Small
Doak Walker Award Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Phil Steele)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)

R-Sr. WR Cedric Tillman
Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
Maxwell Award Watch List
Third-Team All-American (Athlon, Phil Steele)
All-SEC First Team (Athlon, Coaches, Phil Steele)
All-SEC Second Team (Media)
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List

R-Sr. TE Jacob Warren
John Mackey Award Watch List
Wuerffel Trophy Watch List

Sr. OL Darnell Wright
All-SEC Second Team (Coaches, Media)
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List

Sr. DL/LB Byron Young
All-SEC First Team (Athlon, Coaches, Media)
All-SEC Second Team (Phil Steele)
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List