June 13, 2008

EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern rising senior quarterback C.J. Bachér is among 26 quarterbacks nationally earning preseason consideration for the 2008 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award presented by Transamerica Insurance and Investment Group.

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is presented annually to the nation's top senior collegiate quarterback, by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. This prestigious award bears the name of who many refer to as the finest quarterback to ever play the game of football.

The award takes into consideration his impressive collegiate career to this point, as well as his off-the-field values of good character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, and strong leadership qualities.

Bachér was named an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection in 2007 after setting a Northwestern single-season record with 3,656 passing yards, the seventh-best mark in Big Ten history. He enters his senior season ranked seventh on NU's career passing yardage list (4,887).

His top performance a year ago came in a 48-41 overtime win at Michigan State Oct. 6 during which he threw for a school-record 520 yards, completing 38 of 48 passes for five touchdowns and no interceptions.

Last season, Bachér ranked 12th nationally in total offense (307.3 ypg), 10th in passing yards (304.7 ypg) and eighth in completions per game (26.5). He has also excelled in the classroom throughout his time at Northwestern, earning three Academic All-Big Ten honors, while being named a first-team ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District V pick in 2007.

The 2008 Unitas Award winner will be presented with the honor on December 5 at the Tremont Grand Meeting & Banquet Facility in Baltimore, Md. The award was established in 1987 with Matt Ryan of Boston College being named last year's recipient.