Washington State Football: Connor Halliday Named To Manning Award Watch List

Connor Halliday has been getting all sorts of recognition this off-season and has now been named to another award watch list. The Allstate Sugar Bowl announced earlier on Thursday that Halliday was one of 32 quarterbacks to be named to the watch list. Halliday is also one of seven quarterbacks from the PAC-12 that made the list.

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Halliday has definitely backed up his elite status and proves it with his numbers. Last season Halliday went 449-714 for 4,597 yards and 34 touchdowns with 22 interceptions and led the Cougars to their first bowl game since 2003.

Of the 32 quarterbacks listed Halliday only trailed 3 other quarterbacks for touchdowns thrown last season; Sean Mannion (37), Jameis Winston (40), and Rakeem Cato (39). Mannion was also the only quarterback selected who threw more yards than Halliday did, Mannion threw for 4,662 yards, 65 more yards than Halliday.

Dec 21, 2013; Albuquerque, NM, USA; Washington State Cougars quarterback Connor Halliday (12) throws a pass in the second quarter against the Colorado State Rams during the Gildan New Mexico Bowl at University Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

One of the statistics that stood out the most is also a statistic that us Cougar fans have known all too well, interceptions. Halliday led the list of quarterbacks in interceptions with 22, 5 more than second-most, Mannion who had 15.

Halliday and the Cougars can throw the ball and are not afraid to air it out. Here is a number for you… 165. That is number of more passing attempts that Halliday took than Shane Carden who had the 4th most passing attempts in D1 football. Of the top 4 quarterbacks on that list, Mannion, Halliday, and Carden are the only ones returning this next year. Derek Carr, who was drafted by the Oakland Raiders, had the second most attempts at 659.

With Halliday and the Cougars not being afraid to air the ball out it is no surprise that he is named for the award and with another season like he did last year, minus a few interceptions, we could be seeing Halliday presented with this award.

The Manning Award is presented by the Allstate Sugar Bowl and is in honor of legendary quarterbacks Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning who all had stellar college performances. The award is presented after the bowl games and is one of the only awards that takes into consideration the play in the bowl games.

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