Plitt Earns Spot on 2021 Golden Arm Watch List

BALTIMORE, MD - - Ball State quarterback Drew Plitt added another watch list to his resume Thursday (Aug. 19), earning a spot on the 2021 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List.

The Golden Arm Award, presented by A. O. Smith Corporation, annually recognizes the top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class.

The semifinalists, finalists, and award recipient are selected by the distinguished Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, and former players. Candidates are chosen based on player performance on-and-off the field.

Plitt is entering his sixth season with the Ball State football program in 2021, taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

A redshirt for the Cardinals in 2016, Plitt has evolved into one top quarterback in the nation over the past four seasons and was also named to the prestigious Manning Award Watch List for the second time in his career.

Plitt, a native of Loveland, Ohio, enters his third year as Ball State's full-time starter after guiding the program to its first MAC Championship since 1996 and its first-ever bowl victory in 2020.

The former Wing-T quarterback in high school accounted for 21 touchdowns over the shortened 2020 campaign (17 passing and four rushing). He capped a spectacular 2020 season by being named the offensive player of the game for both the MAC Championship and the Arizona Bowl.

Plitt ranked 18th nationally in passing efficiency (155.6) in 2020 and was 23rd in completion percentage (.656). He also helped the offense rank 27th nationally in yards per game (447.2) and 25th in scoring (34.2).

With his 273 passing yards in the MAC Championship, Plitt moved past head coach Mike Neu and into fourth place in BSU history for career passing yards and currently maintains the spot at 6,520. He is also third in school history with 50 career touchdown passes.

The team's fourth string QB as a redshirt freshman in 2017, Plitt was forced into action with three starts that year because of injuries. He was the backup in 2018, again starting three games, before taking over the reins full time in 2019 and directing the MAC's top offense.

The namesake of the Golden Arm Award has a storied history. Johnny Unitas was an 18-year veteran of the NFL, who played his collegiate career at the University of Louisville before joining the Baltimore Colts in 1958. His career passing figures include 2,830 pass completions for 40,239 yards, 290 touchdowns and throwing a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games.

The 2021 award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy by The Johnny Unitas Educational Foundation President, John Unitas, Jr., at the Golden Arm Award banquet and celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, MD on Friday, December 10, 2021.

The Cardinals are looking to "run it back" as the favorite to win the MAC West Division and the Rocket Mortgage MAC Football Championship Game in the league's annual preseason media poll.

The 2021 Ball State football season is set to begin Thursday, Sept. 2, with a 7 p.m. kickoff versus Western Illinois at Scheumann Stadium. Season tickets, six-ticket flex plans, and single-game tickets are available now.

Season ticket and flex plan holders enjoy the best available prices on Cardinals tickets along with additional benefits, including primary access to away games and postseason events. Fans can also purchase tickets via phone at 888.BSU.TICKET.

For those interested in making a further impact on the Ball State student-athlete experience, we invite you to INVEST, IMPACT and INSPIRE through our United In Flight initiative. Visit www.cardinalvarsityclub.com to see how you can help sustain the department's recent momentum and prepare our student-athletes for a lifetime of success by joining the Cardinal Varsity Club.

Players Mentioned

Drew Plitt

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