The all-important quarterback battle at Washington State camp, appears to be a three arm race, and may be narrowed down even further this week. But one of the competitors picked up a major national honor on Tuesday.

Graduate transfer Gardner Minshew has been named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watchlist. The award, which honors the top fourth year junior or fifth year senior quarterback, named their list of 49 candidates on Tuesday. Minshew was one of nine Pac-12 candidates named to the list. Other conference finalists include Washington’s Jake Browning, Arizona’s Khalil Tate and Oregon State’s Jake Luton.

Minshew joins the Cougs after throwing for 2,140 yards last season in 10 games with East Carolina. He is currently the only quarterback that has taken a single FBS snap behind center.

Minshew is the odds on favorite in the quarterback battle, and he helped his own case during the team’s scrimmage on Friday. “I thought (Gardner) had the best scrimmage,” Mike Leach told the media after practice. “I think Gardner looked real sharp. Missed some balls down there, but other than that, he drove the group pretty well.”

For even more evidence that Leach loves the play of his grad transfer, he compared him to some pretty good company Tuesday afternoon. “He kind of reminds me of a cross between Brett Favre and Jim McMahon, maybe. Something like that.”

The Unitas Award will be presented on December 7 in Baltimore.

Minshew

Washington State QB Gardner Minshew named to Johnny Unitas Golden Arm watch list | The Spokesman-Review
The award, which dates back to 1987, recognizes the best quarterback in the country and Minshew was one of nine Pac-12 quarterbacks featured on the 49-player watch list.

Minshew II Named to Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List - Washington State University
Washington State senior quarterback Gardner Minshew II has been named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List presented by A.O. Smith, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation announced Tuesday.

WSU Camp

Observations and notes from day 10 of Washington State camp: Max Borghi, Calvin Jackson Jr. provide offensive fireworks | The Spokesman-Review
After a scrimmaging Friday, resting Saturday, practicing Sunday and catching their breath again Monday, the Washington State football team returned to Martin Stadium Tuesday for an afternoon practice. We’re back with notes, observations and a quarterback evaluation from the 10th day of Cougars camp.

Video: Washington State coach Mike Leach post practice Aug. 20 | The Spokesman-Review
WSU coach Mike Leach assesses Gardner Minshew’s play during Tuesday’s practice and talks about Calvin Jackson Jr.

Cougars football practice schedule this week | WSU Insider | Washington State University
If you want to catch a sneak preview of the coming football season, WSU football continues its fall camp practice this week at Rogers Practice Field and Martin Stadium.