Dear Old Gold
Fansided

Iowa Football: Nate Stanley could win Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

By Cole Gross

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - NOVEMBER 03: Nate Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes drops back to throw during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on November 3, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - NOVEMBER 03: Nate Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes drops back to throw during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on November 3, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Iowa football team’s senior quarterback Nate Stanley was recognized on another watch list, and this one he could actually win.

Pre-season watch and awards list keep getting bigger for the Iowa football team. Yesterday, senior quarterback Nate Stanley was named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list, which is given to the top quarterback that is a senior or fourth-year junior quarterback for their respected team.

This is Stanley’s fourth preseason award watch list nomination along with the Davey O’Brien Award, Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Award. For Stanley and the Iowa football team, it’s a pretty big honor to be represented on each of these award lists.

Since the award was established in 1987, there has not been an Iowa quarterback to win this award, but Nate Stanley has all the tools to change that and win this award not only for himself but for the Iowa football program.

Going into his senior season and 3rd year as a starter, Stanley only needs 23 passing touchdowns to break the great Chuck Longs career touchdown record. And he has an arsenal of weapons at his disposal. I personally cannot remember a time where the offense has this much talent on the receiving side of the ball (especially of Oliver Martin’s waiver is granted), and the run game should be much more effective with three experienced junior running backs returning. Tight ends are still a question mark but it is Iowa and they seemingly turn tight ends into stars with ease.

To add to all of this, the familiarity of Nate Stanley in Brian Ferentz’s offense gives the Hawks possibly the highest offensive ceiling they’ve had in years.

Last but not least, the field is significantly shrunk down with the senior and fourth-year junior designation. That means no Jake Fromm, Trevor Lawrence, Tua Togavolia, Adrian Martinez, or Justin Fields.

Next. Breaking down each B1G West contender's x-factor. dark

With solid wide receivers, a three-headed monster at running back, and a smaller pool of candidates, I believe Nate Stanley has a great chance of winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. His quest to win the Golden Arm Award kicks off in just over 10 days when the Iowa football team takes on Miami of Ohio.

Home/Iowa Football