Aug. 15, 2011
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State senior quarterback Ryan Lindley has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2011 Manning Award, the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced on Monday. The honor is presented annually to the nation's top quarterback.
The 6-4 signal-caller is among 31 honorees and he is one of two players from the Mountain West who were selected based on their previous collegiate performances. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates' bowl performances in its balloting.
Lindley, a candidate for the Davey O'Brien Award and Maxwell Award, returns for his fourth year as SDSU's starter and has already amassed 9,537 career passing yards and 67 touchdowns in 36 contests. The Alpine, Calif., product had his best season a year ago, throwing for 3,830 yards and 28 TDs to lead the Mountain West in passing (294.6 ypg.) and total offense (292.2 ypg.). Lindley was a second-team all-conference selection as a junior and enters 2011 within striking distance of the school's all-time career passing record currently held by Todd Santos (11,425).
The Manning Award, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, honors the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. The list of 10 finalists will be released on Monday, Nov. 28, with the winner announced at a ceremony in New Orleans on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012.