BALTIMORE, Md. – University of Hawai'i quarterback Cole McDonald is one of 20 finalists for the 2019 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. The award is presented annually to the top senior or fourth-year junior quarterback set to graduate with their class.
 
McDonald was the only Mountain West quarterback selected as a finalist. Former UH signal callers Timmy Chang and Colt Brennan were also finalists for the award in 2004 and 2007, respectively. 
 
The La Mirada, Calif., native is also on the watch list of the Maxwell Award and Davey O'Brien Award. The 2019 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award® presented by A. O. Smith will be presented on Wednesday, Dec. 11, in Baltimore, Md.
 
McDonald ranks No. 4 nationally in passing (325.8) and is No. 5 in passing touchdowns (17) and leads the Mountain West in eight individual categories. He has thrown for four touchdowns and eclipsed 300-yards in four of five games.
 
Past standout winners of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award include: Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997); Carson Palmer (USC, 2002); Eli Manning (Ole Miss, 2003); Brady Quinn (Notre Dame, 2006); Matt Ryan (Boston College, 2007); Colt McCoy (Texas, 2009); Andrew Luck (Stanford, 2011); Marcus Mariota (University of Oregon, 2014); Connor Cook (Michigan State, 2015); Deshaun Watson (Clemson, 2016), 2017 winner, Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma State) and last year's winner Gardner Minshew, II (Washington State).
 
McDonald and the Rainbow Warriors will travel to Boise, Idaho this week for a key Mountain West match-up against No. 14 Boise State Saturday.