TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita was named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List, as announced today by the organization. This season's list acknowledges 63 of the nation's leading quarterbacks, representing all 10 FBS conferences as well as football independent.
 
Fifita joins the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award preseason watch list for the first time in his collegiate career. He adds another preseason honor to his growing list of accolades including the Unitas Golden Arm Award, Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-American, and Phil Steele Third-Team All-American.
 
The redshirt sophomore quarterback from Huntington Beach, California, posted a single-season program-best completion percentage (72.4%) in 2023. He threw for a single-game record 527 yards against Arizona State to cap the regular season and then led the Wildcats to their 7th win in a row with a victory over No. 12 Oklahoma in the Valero Alamo Bowl while passing for 354 yards marking the second-most in a bowl game in program history.
 
After the 2023 season, he was named FWAA Offensive Freshman of the Year for his record-setting performances.

An Arizona quarterback has never won the Unitas Golden Arm Award. The 2023 winner was quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Heisman Trophy winner, from LSU. The last former Pac-12 team to have a Golden Arm Award winner was Washington State with Gardner Minshew in 2018. The last Big 12 team to have a winner was TCU with Max Duggan taking home the honor in 2022. 

This year's award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy at the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award celebration the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland on Friday, December 6, 2024.

Giving life to the commitment to give back, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. and presenting sponsor A. O. Smith continue to promote football on all levels by providing financial aid to deserving young scholar athletes. 

Sharing a tradition of innovation with Johnny Unitas, who invented football's two-minute drill, A. O. Smith has been an innovator in its industry for 150 years. What began as a small machine shop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1874, has evolved into a leading global water technology company committed to improving the lives of its customers by ensuring access to clean, safe, hot water. 

The learn more about the 2024 Watch List and to watch the full reveal, please visit: 2024 Golden Arm Award Watch List. For more information on the Golden Arm Award, please visit: Golden Arm Award. Additionally, follow the conversation throughout the college football season on Twitter, @GoldenArmAward, and use the hashtags #GoldenArmAward and #InnovationLeaders.

The namesake of the Golden Arm Award has a storied history. Johnny Unitas was an 18-year veteran of the NFL, who played his collegiate career at the University of Louisville before joining the Baltimore Colts in 1958. His career passing figures include 2,830 pass completions for 40,239 yards, 290 touchdowns, and throwing a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games.

Arizona opens the 2024 season against New Mexico on Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. MST inside Arizona Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.