We’ll take a break for just a brief minute or two from the “As the Aggies Turn” soap opera to bring you word of yet another preseason watch list being released.
Handed out annually since 2004, the Manning Award honors the nation’s top quarterback at the Div. 1-A level. This year’s preseason watch list consists of 31 players.
Included in that list are five of the finalists for the 2010 award: Stanford’s Andrew Luck, Boise State’s Kellen Moore, Michigan’s Denard Robinson, Oregon’s Darron Thomas and Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden.
Tennessee’s Tyler Bray, Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez (no relation), Georgia’s Aaron Murray and Troy’s Corey Robinson are the only sophomores on the preseason list.
The Manning Award is named in honor of the three quarterbacking Mannings: Archie, Peyton and Eli. Last year’s winner was Auburn’s Cam Newton.
Below is the full list of Manning preseason watch listers:
Matt Barkley, JR, USC
Tyler Bray, SO, Tennessee
Alex Carder, JR, Western Michigan
Zach Collaros, SR, Cincinnati
Kirk Cousins, SR, Michigan State
Austin Davis, SR, Southern Miss
Dominique Davis, SR, East Carolina
Nick Foles, JR, Arizona
Robert Griffin III, JR, Baylor
Chandler Harnish, SR, Northern Illinois
Landry Jones, JR, Oklahoma
Case Keenum, SR, Houston
G.J. Kinne, JR, Tulsa
Ryan Lindley, SR, San Diego State
Andrew Luck, JR, Stanford
Taylor Martinez, SO, Nebraska
Bryant Moniz, SR, Hawaii
Kellen Moore, SR, Boise State
Aaron Murray, SO, Georgia
Danny O’Brien, SO, Maryland
Kyle Padron, JR, SMU
Dan Persa, SR, Northwestern
Chris Relf, SR, Mississippi State
Corey Robinson, SO, Troy
Denard Robinson, JR, Michigan
Geno Smith, JR, West Virginia
Tino Sunseri, JR, Pittsburgh
Ryan Tannehill, SR, Texas A&M
Darren Thomas, JR, Oregon
Brandon Weeden, SR, Oklahoma State
Jordan Wynn, JR, Utah