Patterson Among Five Finalists for Unitas Golden Arm Award
11/15/2018 10:28:00 AM | Football
BALTIMORE, Md. -- The 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award candidates have been reduced to five of the country's top college quarterbacks, and junior quarterback Shea Patterson of the No. 4-ranked University of Michigan football team is among them, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. announced on Thursday (Nov. 15).
The Golden Arm Award has been presented since 1987. At the end of each season, the honor is awarded to the nation's top college quarterback based on his accomplishments on and off the field. Patterson is the first U-M quarterback to become a finalist for the honor since John Navarre in 2003 and the third finalist overall (Elvis Grbac, 1992).
Patterson has led one of the nation's most efficient offensive attacks, and the highest-scoring unit in Big Ten play (37.3 points per game), with a conference-best 33 touchdowns in seven games. The Wolverines are potent in the red zone with 28 touchdowns and 36 scores in 42 trips, and U-M converts on third down at a clip over 50 percent (71-of-141).
If the season ended today, Patterson's touchdown rate (13.34 percent), completion percentage (67 percent) and interception rate (1.32 percent) all would be single-season Michigan records. He is rated No. 2 in the league in pass efficiency rating (160.3), No. 2 in yards per attempt (8.49) and No. 3 in completion percentage (67 percent).
The Shreveport, Louisiana, native has padded a 17:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio with five starts of three touchdowns or more in 10 games at U-M, and has added another two rushing TDs. Patterson has thrown touchdown passes to seven different players and has connected on at least one deep ball of 35 yards or more in eight games.
The junior signal-caller has been recognized as Michigan's Offensive Player of the Week on three occasions this season (at Northwestern, Wisconsin, at Rutgers) and has been hailed by Pro Football Focus College as the Big Ten's best on two occasions (Maryland, at Rutgers). His performance at Rutgers earned him National Offensive Team of the Week honors and the publication credits him as the No. 2 passer in the conference.
The winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award will be announced on Dec. 7.
