Grier Named To Manning Award Watch List
October 12, 2017 04:29 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia redshirt junior Will Grier is one of 11 additions to the Manning Award Watch List as announced by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, today
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.
After announcing 30 quarterbacks to watch during the preseason, the Manning Award opted to increase its focus on players based on the many outstanding performances during the first half of the year. While these players have been added to the Watch List, every quarterback in the nation remains eligible to win the honor.
In 2017, Grier has completed 119-of-189 passes for 1,740 yards and 16 touchdowns, and added 140 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He was named the Manning Player of the Week and the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for his 352-yard and five touchdown performance, including four in the first half against East Carolina. He also was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for his performance in the Virginia Tech season-opening game.
Ten finalists will be determined by a select panel of national media covering college football, as well as each of the Mannings. That list will be released on Thursday, November 30 and the winner is scheduled to be announced following the College Football Playoff National Championship.
In its first 13 years, the Manning Award has recognized the top names in college football. It has honored quarterbacks from 11 different schools from four different conferences. The Southeastern Conference (Johnny Manziel, Cam Newton, JaMarcus Russell and Tim Tebow) and the Atlantic Coast Conference (Deshaun Watson twice, Matt Ryan and Jameis Winston) lead the way with four Manning Award wins each, while Texas is the only school with two different winners (Colt McCoy and Vince Young).
One of the more unique aspects of the Manning Award is the fact that it takes into account the quarterbacks' bowl performances, in addition to the regular season. Twelve of the 13 Manning Award winners won bowl games during the season they won the honor; the lone loss was by McCoy in the 2010 BCS Championship game when he suffered an early injury. In addition to Watson and McCoy, six other Manning honorees (Matt Leinart, Mariota, Newton, Tebow, Winston and Young) led their teams to the national championship game (BCS or CFP). Watson accomplished that feat twice, winning the title this season.
All the Manning Award winners follow in the footsteps of the Mannings themselves. In college, Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning combined for more than 25,000 passing yards and 201 touchdowns while playing in 10 bowl games and earning four bowl MVP awards. Archie was the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft, while Peyton and Eli were selected No. 1 overall.
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.
After announcing 30 quarterbacks to watch during the preseason, the Manning Award opted to increase its focus on players based on the many outstanding performances during the first half of the year. While these players have been added to the Watch List, every quarterback in the nation remains eligible to win the honor.
In 2017, Grier has completed 119-of-189 passes for 1,740 yards and 16 touchdowns, and added 140 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He was named the Manning Player of the Week and the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for his 352-yard and five touchdown performance, including four in the first half against East Carolina. He also was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for his performance in the Virginia Tech season-opening game.
Ten finalists will be determined by a select panel of national media covering college football, as well as each of the Mannings. That list will be released on Thursday, November 30 and the winner is scheduled to be announced following the College Football Playoff National Championship.
In its first 13 years, the Manning Award has recognized the top names in college football. It has honored quarterbacks from 11 different schools from four different conferences. The Southeastern Conference (Johnny Manziel, Cam Newton, JaMarcus Russell and Tim Tebow) and the Atlantic Coast Conference (Deshaun Watson twice, Matt Ryan and Jameis Winston) lead the way with four Manning Award wins each, while Texas is the only school with two different winners (Colt McCoy and Vince Young).
One of the more unique aspects of the Manning Award is the fact that it takes into account the quarterbacks' bowl performances, in addition to the regular season. Twelve of the 13 Manning Award winners won bowl games during the season they won the honor; the lone loss was by McCoy in the 2010 BCS Championship game when he suffered an early injury. In addition to Watson and McCoy, six other Manning honorees (Matt Leinart, Mariota, Newton, Tebow, Winston and Young) led their teams to the national championship game (BCS or CFP). Watson accomplished that feat twice, winning the title this season.
All the Manning Award winners follow in the footsteps of the Mannings themselves. In college, Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning combined for more than 25,000 passing yards and 201 touchdowns while playing in 10 bowl games and earning four bowl MVP awards. Archie was the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft, while Peyton and Eli were selected No. 1 overall.
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