From SMUMustangs.com:
Padron Named To Manning Award Watch List
Mustang Sophomore Named To Prestigious List
July 18, 2010
DALLAS (SMU) - SMU sophomore-to-be Kyle Padron has been named to the Manning Award Watch List, the Manning Award and Allstate Sugar Bowl revealed today.
Padron last outing was an MVP performance in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, where he passed for a school-record 460 yards and two TDs in leading SMU to a 45-10 win over Nevada. On the year, Padron posted a 159.9 passer rating to rank fifth in the nation and finished the year with a 5-1 record as a starter.
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in 2004 to honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that takes into consideration the candidates' bowl performances.
The preseason Watch List recognizes some of the top quarterbacks in the nation based on previous collegiate performance, however, every quarterback in the nation remains eligible for the honor. Additional quarterbacks may be added to the Watch List after the start of the season. The list of 10 finalists will be released on Monday, Nov. 29, and the winner will be announced on Wednesday, Jan. 19. The members of the Watch List are being released in a completely random order in a process that began Tuesday, July 13.
The Manning Award will be recognizing its seventh winner this year. USC's Matt Leinart was the inaugural winner of the award in 2005, followed by Texas' Vince Young in 2006. Both went on to be top 10 NFL draft picks. In 2007, LSU's JaMarcus Russell earned the award and was the NFL's No. 1 draft pick. Boston College's Matt Ryan claimed the award in 2008 and was drafted No. 3, quickly becoming the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. In 2009, Florida star Tim Tebow earned the honor - he also went on to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Last year's winner was Texas signal-caller Colt McCoy, the winningest quarterback in college football history. McCoy was picked by the Cleveland Browns in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Padron is also among the 30 quarterbacks on the 2010 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List. The Mustangs open the season on Sept. 5, in an ESPN-televised game at Texas Tech before hosting UAB in Dallas on Sept. 11.