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Marcus Stokes was added to the Manning Award Watch List
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- Marcus Stokes was added to the Manning Award Watch List
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
On Friday, the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced it was adding 15 quarterbacks to the Manning Award Watch List, and Memphis' Marcus Stokes was one of the 15 added to the watch list.
It comes after Stokes put together an impressive performance Thursday night against East Carolina.
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The Manning Award is an award presented annually by the Allstate Sugar Bowl to the top collegiate quarterback at the FBS level. The award honors "the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning," and it's the only quarterback award that includes bowl games in it's decision process.
The Sugar Bowl announced 40 quarterbacks to the watchlist before the year started and added 15 more mid-season additions.
In the preseason, 35 of the 40 quarterbacks were Power Four starters, including the big names like Arch Manning, Dante More and Trinidad Chambliss. Hawaii's Micah Alejado, Texas State's Brad Jackson, UTSA's Owen McCown, Delaware's Nick Minicucci and FAU's Caden Veltcamp were the only five Group of Six quarterbacks on the initial list.
Stokes is one of six Group of Six players to be added to the list, joining Oregon State's Braden Atkinson, Georgia Southern's Max Johnson, Sam Houston's Landyn Locke, Toledo's John Alan Richter and Appalachian State's Malachi Singleton.
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Several SEC quarterbacks were also added to the list. Kentucky's Kenny Minchey, Alabama's Keelon Russell, Missouri's Austin Simmons and Mississippi State's Kamario Taylor were all mid-season additions.
Stokes transferred to Memphis during the offseason after starting his career at Division II West Florida. Last year with the Argonauts, Stokes 3,297 yards, 30 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, and he was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is the D2 Heisman equivalent.
This season, Stokes has thrown for 2,161 yards, 21 touchdowns and six interceptions, and he ranks No. 2 in passing yards and passing touchdowns entering the weekend. He also is in the top 20 in passing yards per completion, passing efficiency points responsible for and total offense, according to Memphis' press release.
The starting quarterback had his worst performance as a Tiger during the week 7 game against Tulane. He threw for 306 yards, but he recorded five turnovers, including three interceptions and a pair of fumbles.
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He bounced back Thursday night with an impressive showing against the Pirates. He threw for 320 yards, most of which came in the second half, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and he added two touchdowns with his legs.
He scored the game-winning touchdown on a quarterback keeper that resulted in him flipping over a defender into the end zone.
Stokes and the Tigers return to action next Saturday against Army.
