New Orleans, La.—Twice during the 2020 football season, San Jose State University's Nick Starkel was named as one of the eight NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Manning Award Stars of the Week.
First, there was the New Mexico win when he passed for a season-high 467 yards and a career best five touchdowns in the Spartans' 38-21 victory over New Mexico. Six weeks later in the final Star of the Week selections at the end of the regular season, the San Jose State signal caller received the nod again for tossing a pair of touchdown passes in the 30-20 second-half comeback win over Nevada that propelled San Jose State into the Mountain West championship against Boise State.
For leading the Spartans to a conference championship and projecting as one of the top quarterbacks in 2021, Starkel is one of 32 players named to the Manning Award preseason watch list. He finished the Spartans conference championship season passing for 2,174 yards and 17 touchdowns, a 64.2 completion percentage, and an 152.64 rating in an eight-game season.
Created by the Sugar Bowl and named after the Manning family of outstanding quarterbacks – Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning, the award honors the top college quarterback on an entire season which includes a candidate's performance in bowl games. Father Archie was the second overall selection in the 1970 National Football League draft. His sons, Peyton and Eli, were selected #1 overall. Together, they combined to pass for more 25,000 yards and 201 touchdown passes and played in 10 bowl games.
Finalists will be named before the start of postseason action and the winner will be announced after the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Previously, Starkel was named to the 2021 Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, and the College Football Performance Award National Performer of the Year watch lists.
The Spartans begin their 2021 season, Saturday, August 28, hosting Southern Utah in CEFCU Stadium, at 7:00 p.m. (PT). For ticket information, visit https://am.ticketmaster.com/sjsuathletics/21football or call 408-924-7589.