Indiana junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been named to the 2025 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. announced Tuesday. Presented annually to the top senior or upperclassman quarterback who is on track to graduate with their class.
This year’s list showcases 58 of the nation’s premier collegiate quarterbacks, including a mix of returning standouts and rising stars.
Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards, 16 touchdowns and 6 interceptions last season for the California Golden Bears. He also ran for 105 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground in 2024. Mendoza's season produced just the ninth 3,000-yard passing season in Cal history (3,004 yards) and a berth in the Las Vegas Bowl.
In a press release made earlier today: The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award continues to honor excellence both on and off the field, now in it's 39th year.
The award is presented by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation in partnership with A. O. Smith Corporation, whose mission aligns with the Foundation’s commitment to advancing the game of football while promoting character, leadership, and academic achievement among young athletes.
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.
As the 2025 college football season unfolds, the watch list will be narrowed to semifinalists, finalists and one standout quarterback will take home the Golden Arm Award in December. The winner will be celebrated at the annual Golden Arm Award ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Johnny Unitas’ hometown of Baltimore—an unforgettable night honoring leadership, legacy, and the best in college football.
Below is the full list of quarterbacks on the list:
The 2025 Golden Arm Watch List shines a spotlight on 58 quarterbacks from across the country, including:
Joey Aguilar, Tennessee
Drew Allar, Penn State
Luke Altmyer, Illinois
Steve Angeli, Syracuse
Jackson Arnold, Auburn
Robby Ashford, Wake Forest
Alonza Barnett III, JMU
Rocco Becht, Iowa State
Carson Beck, Miami
Zach Calzada, Kentucky
Thomas Castellanos, Florida State
Aidan Chiles, Michigan State
Jalon Daniels, Kansas
Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech
Billy Edwards Jr., Wisconsin
Walker Eget, San Jose State
Noah Fifita, Arizona
Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, Colorado State
JC French IV, Georgia Southern
Tucker Gleason, Toledo
Taylen Green, Arkansas
Eli Holstein, Pittsburgh
Josh Hoover, TCU
Blake Horvath, Navy
Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
Grayson James, Boston College
Keyone Jenkins, FIU
Kevin Jennings, SMU
Avery Johnson, Kansas State
Athan Kaliakmanis, Rutgers
Haynes King, Georgia Tech
Cade Klubnik, Clemson
Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
Brendon Lewis, Memphis
Maddux Madsen, Boise State
Arch Manning, Texas
John Mateer, Oklahoma
Owen McCown, UTSA
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Darian Mensah, Duke
Chandler Morris, Virginia
Behren Morton, Texas Tech
Miller Moss, Louisville
Maalik Murphy, Oregon State
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
Blake Shapen, Mississippi State
Ty Simpson, Alabama
Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati
Gunner Stockton, Georgia
Preston Stone, Northwestern
Nicholas Vattiato, Middle Tenn
Caden Veltkamp, FAU
E.J. Warner, Fresno State
Conner Weigman, Houston