Nick Marshall named to Manning Award Watch List

AUBURN -- Nick Marshall earned another preseason accolade as the Auburn quarterback was among the 32 players named to the Manning Award Watch List, the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced Thursday.

The Tigers signal caller now has four preseason honors, along with the Maxwell,Davey O'Brien and Walter Camp award watch lists and a preseason First Team All-SEC selection.

The only preseason watch list Marshall did not make was for the Unitas Award, which recognizes feats on the field as well as "character, citizenship, integrity and those who honor the game." That list was released after Marshall was cited for possession of marijuana and Auburn coach Gus Malzahn declared he would not start the season opener.

Marshall threw for 1,976 yards and 14 touchdowns and has 1,068 rushing yards and 12 scores while helping lead Auburn to a 12-2 record, the SEC Championship and a berth in the BCS National Championship.

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.

"This is always a great time of year with college football ramping up once again,"Archie Manning said in a statement. "We have a very strong group of 32 quarterbacks on our Watch List this year and we've seen them all in action, but every year there are new guys who jump right in and become stars. That's what makes college football such a wonderful sport - you never know what might happen once the teams get out on the field."

The 10 finalists will be released on Nov. 26 and the winner will be announced on Jan. 14, 2015. The winner is selected by a voting panel, which includes national media and each of the Mannings, after the bowls.