WSU's Ward named to Manning Award watch list

by CONTRIBUTED REPORT/WSU ATHLETICS
| August 15, 2023 2:17 PM

NEW ORLEANS – Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward was named to the 2023 Manning Award Watch List, the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced Tuesday.

The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates' bowl performances in its balloting.

Last season, in his first season with the Cougars, Ward was named All-Pac-12 Conference Honorable Mention after starting all 13 games, leading WSU to its seventh straight bowl game and throwing for 3,231 yards and 23 touchdowns. The junior from West Columbia, Texas recorded four 300-yard games, rushed for five touchdowns, had five games with one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown and was named a semifinalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, given to the top offensive player from Texas. Last season, Ward completed 320 passes, the eighth-most in WSU single-season history while his 64.4 completion percentage was ninth-best in WSU single-season history. Cougar quarterback Gardner Minshew II was a Maxwell Award semifinalist in 2018.

"We have another outstanding group of quarterbacks on our Watch List," said Archie Manning. "We're excited to get a new season rolling to see who will rise up and establish themselves as the best in the country. We'll add another batch of quarterbacks to the Watch List midway through the season to allow us to recognize transfers and young QBs who have become stars in their new roles or with their new schools."

Inclusion on the Watch List is not necessary for the quarterbacks to be selected for the honor. Transfers and other newcomers at schools were not eligible for the preseason Watch List, but additional quarterbacks will be added to the Watch List during the season. Finalists will be selected prior to the postseason and the winner will be announced following the College Football Playoff National Championship.

"It's an honor for the Allstate Sugar Bowl to partner with the Manning family to recognize outstanding achievements by quarterbacks from around the country," said Jeff Hundley, the CEO of the Allstate Sugar Bowl. "We're looking forward to another exciting season of college football and the opportunity to welcome the nation's best quarterback to New Orleans next spring."

Ward was also named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, presented annually to the outstanding player in college football.