PULLMAN, Wash. (October 31, 2023) – Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward was named a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and to the Davey O'Brien Award Class of 2023.
 
Ward is one of 10 finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award given to the quarterback who is a college senior or fourth-year junior. Ward is joined on the list by Pac-12 Conference quarterbacks Bo Nix (Oregon), Michael Penix Jr. (Washington) and Caleb Williams (USC). Cougar quarterback Gardner Minshew II won the award in 2018.
 
Ward is one of 35 quarterbacks named to the 2023 Davey O'Brien Award 2023 Class, the award presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The next step in the process will be to select the award's 16 semifinalists from the 35 quarterbacks. The semifinalists will be chosen based on voting from the Davey O'Brien National Selection Committee as well as bonus ballots awarded from the first round of the Davey O'Brien Fan Vote.
 
The junior quarterback enters the week fifth in the NCAA in passing (316.5), fourth in the country in total offense (337.2) and completions (216), and No. 23 in passing touchdowns (16). Through eight games, Ward has completed 216-of-309 pass attempts for 2,532 yards and 16 touchdowns, and also rushed for five touchdowns while recording five 300-yard games.
 
Following the win over No. 14 Oregon State earlier in the season, Ward was named the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback of the Week, Pac-12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week, The Reese's Senior Bowl Offensive Player of the Week and the College Football Performance Awards National Performer of the Week after throwing for 404 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, and also rushed for a touchdown.
 
For the fourth straight year, the Davey O'Brien Award Fan Vote will take place on the award's three social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (X)—and the top five vote getters on each platform will receive bonus committee member ballots which will be added to the votes cast by the National Selection Committee. To participate in the Fan Vote, fans must like the original Davey O'Brien Award post highlighting their quarterback. The first round is open now until Friday, Nov. 10 at noon (CT). The semifinalists will be named on Tuesday, Nov. 14. Looking ahead, the three finalists will be tabbed on Tuesday, Nov. 28, while the winner will be announced live on Friday, Dec. 8, on The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
 
In 1938, O'Brien, who was a star quarterback for TCU, became the first player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award in the same year. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955. The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is The 47th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
 
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.

The 2023 award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy by The Johnny Unitas Educational Foundation President, John Unitas, Jr., as well as other notable attendees at the Golden Arm Award banquet and celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland on Thursday, December 7, 2023.