Texas QB Sam Ehlinger named to Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list

Another day, another preseason watch list featuring Texas Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger’s name.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Longhorns star field general was named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list, which is unsurprising given his prolific efforts throughout the previous two seasons, as detailed per the release from UT.

“Ehlinger, an Austin native, has started all 27 games for UT over the past two seasons and leads all active FBS quarterbacks in completions (571), attempts (879), passing yards (6,955), total offense (8,100) and total touchdowns (80) since the start of the 2018 season. He also ranks second among active FBS quarterbacks in touchdown passes (57) and fifth in completion percentage (65.0) during that stretch. Ehlinger is the only FBS player to account for at least 50 passing touchdowns and 20 rushing touchdowns over the last two seasons.”

Ehlinger’s most recent. effort in 2019 saw him total 4,326 yards of total offense and 39 total touchdowns, which cemented Ehlinger as the only player in school history to record multiple 35-touchdown seasons.

A mainstay on preseason award watch lists, Ehlinger has also been recognized as a preseason First-Team All-Big 12 selection and been named to the Davey O’Brien Award’s preseason watch list, the Manning Award watch list, the Maxwell Award watch list, and the Wuerffel Trophy watch list.

If Ehlinger can ultimately capture the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, he’ll become just the second Longhorn to do so, joining Colt McCoy, who won in 2009.