Aug. 30, 2001

University of Illinois quarterback Kurt Kittner is one of 20 outstanding senior quarterbacks that have been selected as candidates for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually by the Golden Arm Educational Foundation.

Kittner has 5,466 yards passing and 43 touchdowns in his three years at Illinois. He led the Illini to the highest scoring offense in school history in 1999 with 388 points and took Illinois to its first bowl game in five seasons. ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr. ranks Kittner No. 21 on his "Big Board" of the top-25 senior prospects for the 2002 NFL Draft as well as being ranked the No. 1 quarterback and third-highest rated Big Ten athlete.

A committee will choose five finalists plus any ties and announce the list on Oct. 24. The 2001 recipient will be announced Nov. 20, with the award presentation to be made in Louisville on December 7. NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas will attend the ceremony to make the official presentation at the Grand Ballroom of the Galt House East Hotel in Louisville.

Kittner is included among the following elite candidates: Major Applewhite (Texas), Dusty Bonner (Valdosta State), Seth Burford (Cal Poly), David Carr (Fresno State), Eric Crouch (Nebraska), Ronald Curry (North Carolina), Woodrow Dantzler (Clemson), Rohan Davey (LSU), K.C. Enzminger (New Mexico State), Randy Fasani (Stanford), David Garrard (East Carolina), George Godsey (Georgia Tech), Zak Kustok (Northwestern), Wayne Madkin (Mississippi State)J.T. O'Sullivan (Cal Davis), Phil Petty (South Carolina), Patrick Ramsey (Tulane), Antwaan Randle El (Indiana), and Jonathan Smith (Oregon State).