10/12/2017 football Edit

Josh Jackson added to Manning Award watchlist

Virginia Tech Media Relations

Press release

Not a HokieHaven.com subscriber? Join now for access to all our premium content!

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech freshman QB Josh Jackson has added to the Manning Award Watch List. Jackson ranks first among FBS freshman in passing yards (1,700) and ranks second among FBS freshman with a 158.2 passer rating. Only Georgia’s Jake Fromm (164.4) owns a better rating among freshmen passers. Jackson’s passer rating leads the ACC, while his 13 TD passes are second in the conference.

Jackson has completed 67.2 percent of his passes (129 of 192) for 1,700 yards 13 touchdowns along with one rushing touchdown. The Ann Arbor, Michigan native has led Tech to the No.15 spot in The Associated Press Top 25.

He has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Week twice so far this season and CBS Sports Freshman of the Week once. His five touchdown passes against East Carolina tied for the most in a single game in program history. Jackson is also only 141 passing yards from breaking the Tech freshman record set by Michael Vick (1,840 in 1999). Jackson’s 13 TD passes are already the most by a Tech freshman.

In its first 13 years, the Manning Award has recognized the top names in college football. It has honored quarterbacks from 11 different schools and from four different conferences. The Southeastern Conference (Johnny Manziel, Cam Newton, JaMarcus Russell and Tim Tebow) and the Atlantic Coast Conference (Deshaun Watson twice, Matt Ryan and Jameis Winston) lead the way with four Manning Award wins each, while Texas is the only school with two different winners (Colt McCoy and Vince Young).

All the Manning Award winners follow in the footsteps of the Mannings themselves. In college, Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning combined for over 25,000 passing yards and 201 touchdowns while playing in 10 bowl games and earning four bowl MVP awards. Archie was the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft, while both Peyton and Eli were selected No. 1 overall. In addition to the Manning Award's yearly honor, each week during the regular season, eight quarterbacks are recognized as Manning Quarterbacks of the Week. Sixty-one players from 59 different schools were honored during the 2016 season.