Texas Tech QB Behren Morton on preseason watchlist for prestigious award

Texas Tech football fans are excited for the Behren Morton era to begin in earnest this season. Sure, Morton made eight starts last year but this is the first season that he will have gone through the entire offseason knowing that he's the unquestioned starter. What's more, the hope is that we will finally see him remain healthy for a full season in 2024.

Now, we know that not only Red Raider fans are paying attention to Morton. That's because he's been named to the preseason watchlist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

According to the award's website, "The Golden Arm Award, presented annually to the top upperclassmen quarterback by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation encapsulates all that is positive in college sports. The award acknowledges performance on the field for sure, but it goes beyond completion percentage and touchdown strikes. The award values character, citizenship, integrity and those who honor the game."

Morton is one of ten Big 12 quarterbacks on this preseason watchlist. That's a sign of how deep the conference is at that position.

This year, Morton will look to build upon a 2023 season that was challenging at best. Suffering a sprained throwing shoulder in the fourth game of last year, he would not make a single start while being 100% healthy.

He threw for 1,757 yards and 15 TDs while completing 62.1% of his passes. Those numbers are pedestrian at best but keep in mind that most weeks, Morton was held out of practice to allow his shoulder to rest.

Thus, it had to have been difficult for him to develop any type of timing with his receivers. Missing that much practice also had to hinder his ability to feel completely comfortable executing the entire game plan.

This year, Morton could be one of the national breakout players. With a new and improved set of skill players, he should be able to put up career-best numbers provided that he stays healthy.

Of course, Morton's health has been an issue. In fact, we haven't seen him play an entire game at full health. In addition to last year's injury, in 2022 he suffered a high ankle sprain in his first career start, an injury that would limit his mobility for the remainder of that season and cause him to lose the starting job.

Morton has all the talent to succeed at the highest level of the game. However, he must finally show that on Saturdays this year. Hopefully, he will avoid the type of nagging injuries that have slowed him thus far. If he does, he could be one of the best QBs in the country and be a candidate to win the Golden Arm Award.