BALTIMORE – Cal junior quarterback Ross Bowers was selected Tuesday to the watch list for the 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award® Presented by A.O. Smith. The prestigious award has been given annually since 1987 to the nation's top college quarterback.

The 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award® will be presented December 7 at the Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel & The Grand.

Candidates must be a college senior or fourth-year junior on schedule to graduate with their class. Criteria to be considered for the award include character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, leadership qualities and athletic accomplishments.

Bowers is one of nine Cal players to have totaled 15 spots on preseason watch lists or be recognized as candidates for national awards in 2018. The others include junior safety/kick returner Ashtyn Davis (Paul Hornung Award), senior tight end Ray Hudson (John Mackey Award), senior inside linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk (Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award®, Lott IMPACT Trophy), senior running back Patrick Laird (Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, Doak Walker Award, Maxwell Award, Wuerffel Trophy), senior offensive tackle Patrick Mekari (Outland Trophy), wide receiver Kanawai Noa (Biletnikoff Award, Polynesian College Football Player of the Year), senior center Addison Ooms (Rimington Trophy) and senior wide receiver Vic Wharton III (Biletnikoff Award).

Below are notes on Bowers with an extended bio available by clicking on his name.
 
Ross Bowers, QB, 6-1, 200, Jr., 2L, Bothell, WA (Bothell HS)
• Became the seventh quarterback in Cal history to throw for over 3000 yards in a season and recorded the sixth-highest total in school history with 3039 passing yards in 2017 while ranking among Pac-12 and national leaders in completions per game (22.67 cpg, 3rd Pac-12, 15th NCAA), passing yards per game (253.3 ypg, 4th Pac-12, 28th NCAA), passing yards (5th Pac-12, 33rd NCAA) and passing TDs (18, T6th Pac-12, T44th NCAA)
• Completed 272-of-461 passes (59.0%) in 2017 for 3039 yards with 18 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 122.06 quarterback rating
 
2018 Cal Football Coverage
• Television/External Media Outlets: Multiple
• Radio: KGO 810 AM, Cal Bears Sports Network powered by Learfield, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, CalBears.com via TuneIn
• Web: CalBears.com
• Twitter: @CalFootball, @CalAthletics, @CalRecruiting
• Instagram: Cal_Football, CalAthletics
• Facebook: CalAthletics
• Hashtags: #GoBears, #CalFamily, #EarnIt
• Tickets: CalBears.com