Rocco Becht, a redshirt sophomore at Iowa State, and Cade McNamara, a graduate student at Iowa State, have both been named to the preseason watch list for the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation announced.

The award is given annually to the best quarterback in college football graduating from his class.

Becht is coming off a redshirt freshman season in which he was named the 2023 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and a second-team Freshman All-American by The Athletic last year.

The Wesley Chapel, Florida, native completed 231 passes for 3,120 yards and 23 touchdowns, breaking the Iowa State freshman record in each category, and led the Cyclones to a 7-6 record, including a 6-3 mark in Big 12 Conference play.

McNamara’s 2023 season as Iowa’s signal caller was cut short when he suffered a season-ending injury in the fifth game. Before his injury, he completed 46 of 90 passes for 505 yards and four touchdowns.

The winner of the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award will be honored at the Golden Arm Award Banquet and Ceremony in Baltimore on December 6.