Trask named among 30 of the top quarterbacks in the nation
NEW ORLEANS – Gators quarterback Kyle Trask was named to the preseason watch list for the Manning Award, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced Thursday. Trask, who was named one of 12 finalists for the award in 2019, has now appeared in three national watch lists this preseason.
The Manvel, Texas native led the Gators to an 11-2 record in 2019 after stepping in to take over Florida’s offense at the start of the fourth quarter during UF’s victory over Kentucky. Trask finished the season with 237-of-354 passes completed (66.9%) for 2,941 yards, 25 touchdown throws and only seven interceptions (156.09 rtg).
Trask was one of only 27 FBS quarterbacks to have at least 25 touchdown passes in 2019, while his 156.09 passer rating was the ninth-highest rating for a season in school history and the highest by a Gator since Tebow’s nation-leading 164.2 in 2009.
Regarded as one of the top returning quarterbacks in the SEC, Trask became the first Gator to record three-plus touchdown passes in consecutive outings against conference opponents since Rex Grossman in 2001 after throwing for three at LSU and following it up with a career-high four touchdowns at South Carolina.
Trask is one 30 signal-callers nationwide to make the list and one of three SEC quarterbacks, joining Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond and Auburn’s Bo Nix.
Presented annually to the top names in college football, the Manning Award honors the college accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning, and it’s the only quarterback award that takes into account the candidates’ bowl performance in addition to the regular season.
The 2020 Manning Award winner will be selected after the bowls by a voting panel, which includes national media members, and each of the Mannings.
Trask’s appearance on the Manning Award Watch List is the 10th among Florida players this preseason. For a full list, please see below.
2020 Gators Preseason Watch List
Player
Watch List
Date
Kyle Trask
Davey O’Brien National QB Watch List
July 14
Kyle Pitts
Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List
July 16
Kyle Pitts
Mackey Award Watch List
July 17
Ventrell Miller
The Butkus Award Watch List
July 20
Kaiir Elam
Jim Thorpe Award Watch List
July 20
Evan McPherson
Lou Groza Award Watch List
July 22
Kadarius Toney
Paul Hornung Award Watch List
July 23
Dante Lang
Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
July 23
Kyle Trask
Maxwell Award Watch List
July 24
Kyle Trask
Manning Award Watch List
July 30
2020 Manning Award Preseason Watch List (2019 stats)
Name, Cl., School
Cmp-Att
Pct.
Yards
TDs
INT
QBR
Rushing
Kyle Trask, Sr., Florida
237-354
0.669
2,941
25
7
81.3
4 TDs
Jack Abraham, Jr., Southern Miss
275-405
0.679
3,496
19
15
64.1
6 TDs
Holton Ahlers, Jr., East Carolina
264-442
0.597
3,387
21
10
57.8
359 yds, 6 TDs
Ian Book, Sr., Notre Dame
240-399
0.602
3,034
34
6
76.3
546 yds, 4 TDs
Charlie Brewer, Sr., Baylor
251-389
0.645
3,161
21
7
69.2
344 yds, 11 TDs
Shane Buechele, Sr., SMU
307-490
0.627
3,929
34
10
72.5
105 yds, 2 TDs
Sean Clifford, Jr., Penn State
189-319
0.592
2,654
23
7
76.8
402 yds, 5 TDs
Jack Coan, Sr., Wisconsin
236-339
0.696
2,727
18
5
82
4 TDs
Dustin Crum, Sr., Kent State
216-312
0.692
2,622
20
2
73.7
707 yds, 6 TDs
Micale Cunningham, Jr., Louisville
112-179
0.626
2,065
22
5
83.9
482 yds, 6 TDs
Jayden Daniels, So., Arizona State
205-338
0.607
2,943
17
2
64.4
355 yds, 3 TDs
Sam Ehlinger, Sr., Texas
296-454
0.652
3,663
32
10
77.6
663 yds, 7 TDs
Justin Fields, Jr., Ohio State
238-354
0.672
3,273
41
3
92.1
484 yds, 10 TDs
Dillon Gabriel, So., UCF
236-398
0.593
3,653
29
7
68
4 TDs
Sam Howell, So., North Carolina
259-422
0.614
3,641
38
7
72.3
NA
Trey Lance, So., North Dakota State
192-287
0.669
2,786
28
0
—
1,100 yds, 14 TDs
Trevor Lawrence, Jr., Clemson
268-407
0.658
3,665
36
8
87.3
563 yds, 9 TDs
Levi Lewis, Sr., Louisiana
243-378
0.643
3,050
26
4
72.5
195 yds, 3 TDs
Kellen Mond, Sr., Texas A&M
258-419
0.616
2,897
20
9
73.5
500 yds, 8 TDs
Tanner Morgan, Jr., Minnesota
210-318
0.66
3,253
30
7
84.2
NA
Bo Nix, So., Auburn
217-377
0.576
2,542
16
6
63.8
313 yds, 7 TDs
Drew Plitt, Sr., Ball State
238-370
0.643
2,918
24
7
55.3
171 yds, 5 TDs
Brock Purdy, Jr., Iowa State
312-475
0.657
3,982
27
9
71.2
249 yds, 8 TDs
Chris Reynolds, Jr., Charlotte
181-291
0.622
2,564
22
11
67.3
767 yds, 6 TDs
Chris Robison, Jr., FAU
291-471
0.618
3,701
28
6
58.8
2 TDs
Kedon Slovis, So., USC
282-392
0.719
3,502
30
9
81.1
NA
Zac Thomas, Sr., Appalachian State
225-359
0.627
2,718
28
6
69
440 yds, 7 TDs
Skylar Thompson, Sr. Kansas State
177-297
0.596
2,315
12
5
70.2
405 yds, 11 TDs
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Jr., UCLA
216-362
0.597
2,701
21
12
56.6
198 yds, 4 TDs
Brady White, Sr., Memphis
269-420
0.64
4,014
33
11
74.3
4 TDs
