Devin Leary, the senior quarterback for the University of Kentucky, has been named to the watch list for the prestigious Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. This award is given annually to the top senior or upperclassman quarterback in college football who is set to graduate with their class. Leary’s inclusion on the list is a recognition of his exceptional talent and potential.
Leary is among 48 quarterbacks who have made the cut for this year’s watch list. The selection process involved evaluating the quarterbacks’ career performance and expectations for the upcoming 2023 college football season. The final winner of the award will be chosen from the list of semifinalists, finalists, and the distinguished committee tasked with making the decision.
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is named after the legendary quarterback Johnny Unitas, who had a remarkable career both in college and in the NFL. Unitas played for the University of Louisville before joining the Baltimore Colts in 1958. Throughout his career, Unitas achieved impressive passing figures, including 2,830 completions for 40,239 yards and 290 touchdowns.
Devin Leary, originally from Sicklerville, New Jersey, transferred to Kentucky earlier this year after spending four seasons at NC State. During his time at NC State, Leary showcased his skills by completing 568-of-944 passes for 62 touchdowns. He also amassed 6,807 passing yards, which ranks him sixth on NC State’s all-time career list. In addition, his 60.2 percent completion rate places him fourth on the school’s chart. Leary had a winning record as a starter, going 17-9 overall.
Despite suffering a season-ending injury in 2022, Leary’s performances before the setback were outstanding. He led NC State to a 5-1 record and secured a spot in the top 15 rankings. These accomplishments led to him being recognized as the Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason Player of the Year.
Aside from being named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list, Leary has also earned spots on the watch lists for the Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, and the Comeback Player of the Year. These accolades demonstrate Leary’s talent and potential impact on the field.
