Oklahoma State University Athletics
Robinson A Unitas Award Finalist
November 18, 2009 | Cowboy Football
Nov. 18, 2009
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State's Zac Robinson is one of five finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which is presented to the nation's top senior quarterback, it was announced today.
Robinson joins Texas' Colt McCoy, Florida's Tim Tebow, Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour and Duke's Thaddeus Lewis as signal-callers who made the cut from the original list of 22 candidates down to the five finalists.
The 2009 winner will be presented with the Golden Arm Award on Friday, December 11 at the Tremont Grand Meeting & Banquet Facility in Downtown Baltimore. Joining the evening's festivities will be a number of former Baltimore Colts teammates of Johnny Unitas, along with NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr.
"This is a great honor to be included on the list of finalists for the Johnny Unitas Award," Robinson said. "You look at the other names on the list and you see some of the best quarterbacks out there, so I'm flattered to be considered on that level. Any time you're a finalist for a big award like the Unitas, it means that you play for a good team. Any recognition you get should be looked at as a team honor instead of an individual one."
Through 10 games this year, Robinson has completed 158-of-249 passes for 1,922 yards and 15 touchdowns in leading the Cowboys to an 8-2 overall record and a 5-1 mark in Big 12 play. Perhaps more important than any of his statistics is the fact that he has led the way for an OSU team that has kept winning despite facing significant adversity during the course of the season.
The 2009 season has been one of milestones for the Littleton, Colo., native, as he set OSU career records for passing yards, touchdown passes and total offense.
Robinson is also one of 12 semifinalists for the Davey O'Brien Award and is on the watch list for the Manning Award. Both of those awards are presented to the nation's top quarterback, regardless of eligibility year.
Last year's winner of the Golden Arm Award was Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell. Other past winners include Matt Ryan (Boston College), who is now with the Atlanta Falcons; Brady Quinn (Notre Dame, 2006), now with the Cleveland Browns; the Arizona Cardinals' Matt Leinart (USC, 2005), Eli Manning (Ole Miss, 2003) of the New York Giants; the Cincinnati Bengals' Carson Palmer (USC, 2002); and the Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997).
"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.
