NEW ORLEANS – The Manning Award, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, announced its preseason watch list on Thursday. UCF sophomore Dillon Gabriel was listed among the 30 top quarterbacks in the nation heading into the 2020 season.
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates' bowl performances in its balloting.
The Mililani, Hawaii native set the UCF freshman record and ranks fourth overall on UCF's single-season passing list with 3,653 passing yards in 2019. Starting the final 12 games, he led the UCF offense that ranked second nationally in total offense (540.5), fifth in scoring (43.4) and eighth in passing (316.7).
Gabriel was fourth nationally in passing yards per completion (15.48) and 13th in passing efficiency (156.9), 13th in passing yards (3,653) and 17th in passing touchdowns (29). He threw at least one touchdown pass in all 13 games last season, with multiple touchdown passes in 10 games.
Thursday's nod marked the third time Gabriel has earned a spot on a preseason watch list this summer. Earlier this month, he was named to the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List and 84th Maxwell Award Watch List.
Gabriel is no stranger to national accolades, including the Manning Award. As a rookie in 2019, he was named the Manning Star of the Week, as well as Walter Camp National Player of the Week, CSM National Player of the Week, PFF GameDay Player of the Week. Gabriel also earned a spot on PFF National Team of the Week and Davey O'Brien Great 8.
Ten finalists for the Manning Award will be selected prior to the postseason and the winner will be announced following the College Football Playoff National Championship.
2020 Watch Lists
June 5 – Grant, Lott IMPACT Trophy
July 13 – Grant, Bednarik Award
July 14 – Gabriel, Davey O'Brien Award
July 16 – Nixon, Biletnikoff Award
July 20 – Grant and Robinson, Jim Thorpe Award
July 21 – Schneider, Outland Trophy
July 21 – Grant and Robinson, Nagurski Award
July 23 – Anderson, Hornung Award
July 23 – Jackson, Wuerffel Trophy
July 24 – Gabriel, Maxwell Award
July 30 – Gabriel, Manning Award