NEW ORLEANS - The Manning Award, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, announced 15 additions to its 2021 Watch List on Friday, including Charlotte QB Chris Reynolds and WKU QB Bailey Zappe. The duo joins UTSA QB Frank Harris, who was on the award's initial watch list, as the three representatives for Conference USA. Finalists for the honor will be determined by a selected panel of national media covering college football, as well as each of the Mannings. That list will be released on Thursday, December 2 and the winner is scheduled to be announced following the College Football Playoff National Championship.
 
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.
 
After announcing 32 quarterbacks to watch during the preseason, the Manning Award opted to increase its spotlighted players based on the many outstanding performances during the first half of the year. While these players have been added to the Watch List, every quarterback in the nation remains eligible to win the honor.

Reynolds has completed 127-192 (66.1%) of his passes this season for 1,537 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions in seven appearances for the 49ers. Additionally, Reynolds has rushed for 198 yards and three more touchdowns.

Entering play this week, Zappe is the national leader in passing yards per game (438.7), and is second only to SMU's Tanner Mordecai (who played Thursday night and now has 29) in passing touchdowns, with 26. Zappe has completed 207-298 passes (69.5%, which ranks 10th in the FBS) for 2,632 yards (which ranks 2nd in the FBS) with the 26 scoring tosses to just four interceptions. Zappe is averaging 34.5 completions per game, which ranks 2nd nationally, and his passing efficiency of 169.8 ranks eighth in the FBS. The Hilltoppers take on FIU on the road Saturday night at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+.