Dampier Named to Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 15
10/8/2026 12:58 PM | Football
The Golden Arm Award recognizes quarterbacks who demonstrate excellence both on and off the field
BALTIMORE — Utah senior quarterback Devon Dampier has been named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 15, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation Inc. announced on Thursday.
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Dampier is off to a strong start in the 2026 season, leading the Big 12 in passing efficiency (172.2) while sitting second in the conference in completion percentage (.703). He ranks in the top half of the conference in passing touchdowns (9, 5th) and passing yards per game (224.0, 7th).Â
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Through four games Dampier is 71-of-101 passing for 896 yards (9 TD), while racking up 135 rushing yards on 34 carries (2 TD). He has passed for 200-plus yards in three straight games, owns a pair of 250-yard games on the season and has thrown multiple touchdown passes in all four games.
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The Golden Arm Award recognizes quarterbacks who demonstrate excellence both on and off the field. The award is presented by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation alongside presenting partner A. O. Smith Corporation. The Foundation's mission is to promote the game of football while cultivating strong character, citizenship and academic commitment among young athletes.
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The 15 quarterbacks advancing from the original 27-player Watch List represent programs from across the country and have continued to distinguish themselves through their performance, leadership and contributions to their teams during the 2026 season. The original Watch List was announced Aug. 19 and was selected under the Golden Arm Award's refined eligibility criteria for the 2026 season.
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The 2026 Golden Arm Award Top 15:
Rocco Becht, Penn State
CJ Carr, Notre Dame
Devon Dampier, Utah
Noah Fifita, Arizona
Kevin Jennings, SMU
Avery Johnson, Kansas State
Sam Leavitt, LSU
Jayden Maiava, USC
Arch Manning, Texas
Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State
Dante Moore, Oregon
Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Gunner Stockton, Georgia
Conner Weigman, Houston
Demond Williams Jr., Washington
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The field will narrow in the coming weeks before finalists are selected and one quarterback is named the 2026 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award recipient. The winner will be celebrated at the annual Golden Arm Award ceremony in Baltimore on Wednesday, Dec. 9.
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FOLLOW THE UTES
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.  Â
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Dampier is off to a strong start in the 2026 season, leading the Big 12 in passing efficiency (172.2) while sitting second in the conference in completion percentage (.703). He ranks in the top half of the conference in passing touchdowns (9, 5th) and passing yards per game (224.0, 7th).Â
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Through four games Dampier is 71-of-101 passing for 896 yards (9 TD), while racking up 135 rushing yards on 34 carries (2 TD). He has passed for 200-plus yards in three straight games, owns a pair of 250-yard games on the season and has thrown multiple touchdown passes in all four games.
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The Golden Arm Award recognizes quarterbacks who demonstrate excellence both on and off the field. The award is presented by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation alongside presenting partner A. O. Smith Corporation. The Foundation's mission is to promote the game of football while cultivating strong character, citizenship and academic commitment among young athletes.
Â
The 15 quarterbacks advancing from the original 27-player Watch List represent programs from across the country and have continued to distinguish themselves through their performance, leadership and contributions to their teams during the 2026 season. The original Watch List was announced Aug. 19 and was selected under the Golden Arm Award's refined eligibility criteria for the 2026 season.
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The 2026 Golden Arm Award Top 15:
Rocco Becht, Penn State
CJ Carr, Notre Dame
Devon Dampier, Utah
Noah Fifita, Arizona
Kevin Jennings, SMU
Avery Johnson, Kansas State
Sam Leavitt, LSU
Jayden Maiava, USC
Arch Manning, Texas
Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State
Dante Moore, Oregon
Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Gunner Stockton, Georgia
Conner Weigman, Houston
Demond Williams Jr., Washington
Â
The field will narrow in the coming weeks before finalists are selected and one quarterback is named the 2026 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award recipient. The winner will be celebrated at the annual Golden Arm Award ceremony in Baltimore on Wednesday, Dec. 9.
Â
FOLLOW THE UTES
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.  Â
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