RENO — Nevada quarterback Carson Strong was named to his fourth preseason watch list of the summer, being tabbed a candidate for the Manning Award.
Ahead of the 2021 campaign, Strong has already been named a candidate for the Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, and CFPA National Performer of the Year Trophy.
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning.
It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates’ bowl performances in its balloting.
Strong is one of just two Mountain West quarterbacks included on the watch list, along with San Jose State’s Nick Starkel.
Strong, a consensus pick to the Preseason All-Mountain West First Teams of Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, and Pro Football Focus (PFF), was the Mountain West’s top offensive player and the quarterback of the All-Mountain West First Team in 2020.
He paced the conference in passing yards (2,858), passing touchdowns (27), completion percentage (70.1), and ranked in the FBS top 10 in completions per game (27.7, second), passing yards per game (317.6, seventh), completion percentage (seventh), and touchdown passes (ninth), while coming in 11th in passing yards.
He also finished the year with an interception rate of just 1.13, throwing just four picks over 355 attempts.
Nevada opens the 2021 season Saturday, Sept. 4 at California, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. on FS1.
The Wolf Pack’s home opener takes place the following weekend, as it hosts Idaho State Saturday, Sept. 11, at 7:30 p.m.
2021 Nevada
Preseason Award Candidates
WR Elijah Cooks
Biletnikoff Award
WR Romeo Doubs
Maxwell Award
Biletnikoff Award
Paul Hornung Award
LB Lawson Hall
Bednarik Award
OL Jermaine Ledbetter
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
C Tyler Orsini
Rimington Trophy
DB Berdale Robins
Jim Thorpe Award
QB Carson Strong
Maxwell Award
Davey O’Brien Award
Manning Award
CFPA National Performer of the Year Trophy
K Brandon Talton
Lou Groza Award
TE Cole Turner
Biletnikoff Award
Mackey Award
