Georgia State's Darren Grainger is one of 33 quarterbacks named to the preseason watch list for the Manning Award, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

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.

Grainger and the Panthers open the 2023 season on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. vs. Rhode Island at Center Parc Stadium.

Grainger was also named to the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award as the collegiate player of the year. The super senior from Conway, S.C., enters his third season as the Panthers' starting quarterback. The 2022 All-Sun Belt Conference selection has started GSU's last 23 games and accounted for 46 touchdowns (37 passing, nine rushing). He also earned Preseason All-Sun Belt recognition by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.

Grainger passed for 2,433 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2022 while completing 58.6 percent of his passes with just seven interceptions. He was second in the Sun Belt and No. 10 in FBS with 14.04 yards per completion.

Also GSU's leading rusher, Grainger gained 734 yards (No. 9 in Sun Belt) on the ground while scoring six touchdowns; making him third in the Sun Belt in total offense with 264.8 yards per game.

Grainger enters his final seaosn ranked second in program history in TD passes and TD responsibility, fourth in passing yards (4,158) and total offense (5,552) and seventh in rushing yards (1,394 yards, first among quarterbacks). Including two seasons at Furman, he has 5,561 career yards passing and 52 touchdowns, along with 1,747 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns for 7,308 yards of total offense and 66 TDR in 42 games.