Tulsa’s Zach Smith Added to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List

FORT WORTH, Texas –– The University of Tulsa quarterback Zach Smith was added to the prestigious Golden Arm Award Watch List, it was announced today by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation along with presenting sponsor A.O. Smith.

The Golden Arm Award is presented annually to the top upperclassman quarterback.

Smith, a 6'3" senior from Grandview, Texas, has completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 438 yards and four touchdowns in two games.

Smith led the Hurricane to an 18-point come-from-behind 34-26 victory over No. 11 UCF on Saturday as he connected on the go-ahead TD pass in the fourth quarter. He also led Tulsa on a drive that set up the game-clinching field goal with 1:30 remaining against the Knights. Smith completed 17-of-29 passing for 273 yards and three touchdowns, covering 48, 34 and 13 yards.

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.

Often times college football fans and the media become so enthralled with touchdown passes, elusive runs, ferocious tackles and quarterback sacks that we lose sight of other important matters of college athletics. The Golden Arm Award encapsulates all that is positive in college sports. The award acknowledges performance on the field, but it goes beyond completion percentage and touchdown strikes. The award values character, citizenship, integrity and those who honor the game.

Smith is also on the watch lists for the Davey O'Brien Award and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award.

Tulsa’s Zach Smith Added to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List

Players Mentioned

Zach Smith

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