AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn’s Payton Thorne has been selected as a candidate for the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually to college football’s top senior quarterback, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation Inc. announced Wednesday.
One of 63 quarterbacks on the preseason watch list, the 6-2, 203-pounder passed for 1,755 yards with 16 touchdowns in 2023 in his first season on the Plains. Thorne added 425 yards rushing, the 10th most by an Auburn quarterback.
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 year’s award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy at the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award celebration the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland, on Friday, Dec. 6.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
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