Aug. 28, 2002

LAS VEGAS - UNLV quarterback Jason Thomas is one of 14 candidates for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top senior signal-caller.

Thomas also is on the official watch list of the Davey O'Brien Quarterback Award and the Football Writers Association All-American Team.

Organized by the Golden Arm Educational Fund, which is located in Louisville, Ky., the Unitas award was established in 1987. A committee of football experts will choose five finalists October 23. The 2002 winner will be announced December 4 with the award being presented at a banquet in Louisville on December 13.

The prestigious honor bears the name of arguably the finest quarterback to ever play the game, NFL Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas.

Last year's winner was Fresno State quarterback David Carr.

CANDIDATES FOR 2002 JOHNNY UNITAS GOLDEN ARM AWARD
PLAYER                  SCHOOL
Marquel Blackwell   South FloridaBrooks Bollinger    WisconsinKen Dorsey          MiamiJason Gesser            Washington StateKliff Kingsbury         Texas TechByron Leftwich          MarshallGrant Noel          Virginia TechCorey Jenkins           South CarolinaCarson Palmer           USCDave Ragone         LouisvilleBrian St. Pierre    Boston CollegeChris Simms         TexasJason Thomas         UNLVSeneca Wallace          Iowa State