BALTIMORE, Mary. – Gus Ragland, a fifth-year senior quarterback for the Miami University football team, has been named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Preseason Watch List. Named after one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, the prestigious award has been presented annually since 1987 to the nation's top college quarterback.
 
Candidates must be a college senior or fourth-year junior on schedule to graduate with their class. Criteria to be considered for the award include character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, leadership qualities and athletic accomplishments.
 
Ragland started nine games for the RedHawks last season, throwing for 2,032 yards and 19 touchdowns, while adding 135 yards and three scores on the ground. He threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns at Marshall and had three touchdown passes in a win over Austin Peay.
 
It was recently announced that A. O. Smith will be presenting the 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award®, which will be hosted on December 7 at the Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel & The Grand. Proceeds from the event help support the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, which provides assistance to underprivileged and deserving student-athletes throughout Maryland and Kentucky.
 
"A. O. Smith has a legacy of innovation and performance in the water heating and water treatment industries, much like Johnny Unitas did on the football field," said Jeff Storie, A. O. Smith's director of marketing. "Both of these iconic names have been around for decades and share many of each other's values. For A. O. Smith, partnering with the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation and the Golden Arm Award makes perfect sense. We're excited to tie our own efforts to further education in our trade with the Foundation's efforts to help further the education of youths interested in football around the country."