San Diego State senior Christian Chapman (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad HS) has been named a candidate for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award, which goes out to the quarterback with the best accomplishments on and off the field. Chapman, who was also on the preseason list last year, is one of 49 candidates for the award.
Criteria to be considered for the award include character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, leadership qualities and athletic accomplishments. This year marks the 31th anniversary of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation. The presentation of the Golden Arm Award will be held on Friday, Dec. 7 at the Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor & Grand.
Chapman enters his senior season with a 23-6 record as the starting quarterback, including a 4-1 mark in postseason play. Among the all-time quarterbacks at SDSU, Chapman ranks first in Division I winning percentage (.793, min. 15 starts), tied for first in wins (23) and second in DI pass efficiency (144.2). Additionally, Chapman has gone 29 games without throwing more than one interception as a starter, which is the longest active streak in FBS and the second-longest streak since 2012 (Keenan Reynolds (Navy), 45). Chapman also has the fourth-best winning percentage (.793, min. 15 starts) by active starting quarterbacks and the fifth-most wins (23).
Last year, Chapman was 146-for-243 for 1,873 yards and 13 touchdowns against four interceptions. Among the MW Leaders, Chapman ranked first in touchdown-to-interception percentage (3.3, T-27th nationally), second in interception percentage (1.6, 21st nationally), third in pass efficiency rating (139.13, 46th nationally), fourth in touchdown percentage (5.3) and yards per completion (12.83, 47th nationally) and fifth in yards per attempt (7.71, 35th nationally).
San Diego State finished 2017 with a 10-3 record, its school-record third consecutive season with at least 10 victories. The Aztecs are one of just seven schools in the nation to win at least 10 games in three straight seasons (also Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Wisconsin). SDSU is scheduled to return seven starters on offense and seven on defense, along with its kicker and punter.
The Aztecs kick off their season at Stanford on Friday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. PT, followed by a three-game homestand, beginning Saturday, Sept. 8 against Sacramento State at 6 p.m. PT.
Fans can purchase tickets (single-game, mini-plan and season) at GoAztecs.com, over the phone by calling (619) 283-7378, or by visiting SDCCU Stadium's Window E, Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. PT and 5 p.m. PT.
Chapman Named a Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Candidate
