Haynes King makes the cut as Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award finalist

Five quarterbacks were named finalists for the 2025 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, each earning recognition for leadership and the ability to elevate their teams through the season’s defining moments.

Georgia Tech’s Haynes King, a dynamic dual-threat, has powered the No. 16 Yellow Jackets to a 9-1 record, which is their best mark in more than a decade. King has accounted for 24 total touchdowns, including 14 on the ground, while combining for more than 3,000 yards of offense.

While King is the only ACC passer on list, he stands out for his athleticism. If things turned out differently, Miami's Carson Beck would likely be with him as well. The remaining four is dominated by the SEC, but there is one undeniable force who is tearing up the Big Ten.

Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza has been one of the nation’s most efficient passers, guiding the No. 2 Hoosiers to an 11-0 start and posting the third-best FBS passer rating (184.8). Mendoza is the only quarterback in the country with 30 passing touchdowns this season.

Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia has pushed the No. 14 Commodores to historic heights, delivering 21 passing touchdowns and seven more on the ground in an 8-2 campaign that has kept Vanderbilt ranked for eight straight weeks.

Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed has the third-ranked Aggies in the national-title hunt. Reed has totaled 28 touchdowns and engineered comeback wins at Notre Dame, LSU and against South Carolina. As for Georgia’s Gunner Stockton, he rounds out the field after posting 27 total touchdowns and leading the No. 4 Bulldogs to a 9-1 mark.

The Golden Arm Award winner will be announced Dec. 12 in Baltimore.

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