Mestemaker Added to Manning Award Watch List
10/23/2025 11:00:00 AM | Football
DENTON - UNT redshirt quarterback Drew Mestemaker was added on Thursday to the Manning Award Watch List after his red-hot start to the 2025 season.
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates' bowl performances in its balloting.
Mestemaker, who burst onto the scene in last year's bowl game when he threw for 393 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for a 70-yard touchdown in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, has continued his success on the field this season. The Austin native has completed 66.67% of his pass attempts and thrown for 1,860 yards, 17 touchdowns and just three interceptions. His yardage total and passing touchdowns are the most in the nation among freshmen. He's also second on the team with four rushing touchdowns while piloting the nation's top scoring offense, which is also fifth nationally in first downs, 16th in red zone offense and 24th in total offense.
The Mean Green have scored 30 points or more in its first seven games of the season for the first time in program history and are tied with Indiana for the most 50-plus point games at home this season.
Mestemaker famously was a backup quarterback and starting safety and punter in high school at Austin Vandegrift, and before his start in last season's bowl game, he hadn't started a game under center since his days on the Freshman B-Team in 2020.
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The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates' bowl performances in its balloting.
Mestemaker, who burst onto the scene in last year's bowl game when he threw for 393 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for a 70-yard touchdown in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, has continued his success on the field this season. The Austin native has completed 66.67% of his pass attempts and thrown for 1,860 yards, 17 touchdowns and just three interceptions. His yardage total and passing touchdowns are the most in the nation among freshmen. He's also second on the team with four rushing touchdowns while piloting the nation's top scoring offense, which is also fifth nationally in first downs, 16th in red zone offense and 24th in total offense.
The Mean Green have scored 30 points or more in its first seven games of the season for the first time in program history and are tied with Indiana for the most 50-plus point games at home this season.
Mestemaker famously was a backup quarterback and starting safety and punter in high school at Austin Vandegrift, and before his start in last season's bowl game, he hadn't started a game under center since his days on the Freshman B-Team in 2020.
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