Thompson-Robinson Named to Unitas Golden Arm Watch List

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc., along with presenting sponsor A. O. Smith Corporation, has named UCLA's Dorian Thompson-Robinson to the 2021 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List.
 
The Golden Arm Award annually recognizes the top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class. The semifinalists, finalists, and award recipient are selected by the distinguished Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, and former players. Candidates are chosen based on player performance on-and-off the field.
 
Thompson-Robinson is coming off a season in which he posted a pass efficiency rating of 156.29 which was the highest by a Bruin starting quarterback since 2005. He became the first Bruin to rush for at least 100 yards (109) and pass for at least 300 yards (303) in the same game (at Colorado). Thompson-Robinson completed 30 of his 36 passing attempts against USC last season for an .833 completion percentage which was the highest mark by any Bruin signal caller in a game with at least 30 passing attempts. The senior tossed a season-high four touchdowns in games against both Colorado and USC. He rushed for 306 yards on the season with a 5.6 yards per attempt average. The league coaches named him to the second-team All-Pac-12 squad.

In 2019, Thompson-Robinson established a new school record with 564 yards of total offense in a come-from-behind win at Washington State. He joins Josh Rosen, Cade McNown and Brett Hundley as the only Bruins to record multiple 400-yard total offense games for their careers. Thompson-Robinson enters the 2021 season among the Top 10 at UCLA in career passing yards (9th-5,132 yards), career completions (7th-418 completions) and career total offense (7th-5,704 yards).
 
The namesake of the Golden Arm Award, Johnny Unitas, has a storied history. 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.
 
The 2021 award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy by The Johnny Unitas Educational Foundation President, John Unitas, Jr., at the Golden Arm Award banquet and celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, MD on Friday, December 10, 2021.