The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Webb Named Candidate For Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
7/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 16, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- UAB's Joe Webb has been named as a candidate for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually to the nation's top senior collegiate quarterback.
Webb, who last season tossed for 2,367 yards and rushed for a Conference USA record 1,021 yards, is one of 21 candidates for the prestigious award. Included in the elite group of senior quarterbacks are Tim Tebow of Florida and Colt McCoy of Texas.
Webb and East Carolina's Patrick Pinkney, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA in January, are the two Conference USA quarterbacks on the Unitas list.
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award bears the name of who many refer to as the finest quarterback to ever play the game of football. Established in 1987, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award has previously honored 22 outstanding young men.
The 2008 winner was Texas Tech's Graham Harrell. Two seasons ago, Matt Ryan of Boston College was the recipient of the prestigious honor.
The award takes into consideration these candidates impressive collegiate careers to this point, as well as their off-the-field values of good character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, and strong leadership qualities.
The Blazers' Webb, a product of Birmingham's Wenonah High School, has established himself among the top dual-threat signal-callers in the country. He is one of only two returning quarterbacks in the nation who passed for more than 2,000 yards and ran for more than 1,000 in 2008. His rushing total shattered the league record for rushing yards in a season by a quarterback by more than 300 yards. Webb accounted for 21 touchdowns in 2008, 11 on the ground and 10 through the air.
A career 59 percent passer, Webb will lead a UAB this fall that opens its season Sept. 5 at home against C-USA foe Rice at Legion Field.
2009 JOHNNY UNITAS GOLDEN ARM AWARD CANDIDATES
Jarrett Brown, West Virginia
Daryll Clark, Penn State
Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State
Max Hall, BYU
Tim Hiller, Western Michigan
Mike Kafka, Northwestern
Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan
Thaddeus Lewis, Duke
Corey Leonard, Arkansas State
Colt McCoy, Texas
Tony Pike, Cincinnati
Patrick Pinkney, East Carolina
Todd Reesing, Kansas
Zac Robinson, Oklahoma State
Tyler Sheehan, Bowling Green
Riley Skinner, Wake Forest
Rusty Smith, Florida Atlantic
Tim Tebow, Florida
Chris Turner, Maryland
JOE WEBB, UAB
Juice Williams, Illinois
