Columbia, Mo. - University of Missouri senior quarterback Chase Daniel (Southlake, Texas) has been named as one of 26 standout signal callers who are eligible to win the 2008 Johnny Unitas Gold Arm Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top senior collegiate quarterback.

The award, which began in 1987, takes into consideration on-field accomplishments, as well as off-the-field traits of character, citizenship, scholastic achievement and leadership qualities.  Daniel broke numerous records in 2007 as he helped lead the Tigers to one of the best seasons in school history, which included an MU-record 12 wins (12-2 overall), and a program-best No. 4 final ranking in the Associated Press Top-25 poll.  Mizzou also claimed its first-ever Big 12 North Division championship, and won its first New Year's Day bowl game since 1966, with a dominating 38-7 triumph over 25^th-ranked Arkansas in the 2008 AT&T Cotton Bowl.  Daniel finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting in 2007.

Other senior college quarterbacks in the top 26  are: C.J. Bacher of Northwestern, Todd Boeckman of Ohio State, Rhett Bomar of Sam Houston State, Tom Brandstater of Fresno State, Hunter Cantwell of Louisville, Rudy Carpenter of Arizona State, Chase Clement of Rice, Chase Daniel of Missouri, Joe Ganz of Nebraska, Sean Glennon of Virginia Tech, Cullen Harper of Clemson, Graham Harrell of Texas Tech, Chase Holbrook of New Mexico State, Brian Hoyer of Michigan State, Will Hudgens of Memphis, Brian Johnson of Utah, Nate Longshore of California, Tyler Lorenzen of Connecticut, Stephen McGee of Texas A&M, Ben Olson of UCLA, Curtis Painter of Purdue, John Parker Wilson of Alabama, Mike Teel of Rutgers, Willie Tuitama of Arizona, Pat White of West Virginia, and Drew Willy of University of Buffalo.  These quarterbacks were selected by a committee of well-recognized football experts from across the United States.

The 2008 winner will be presented with the award on December 5^th at the Tremont Grand Meeting & Banquet Facility, in downtown Baltimore, Maryland.

Boston College Quarterback Matt Ryan won the award last year. Other past recipients include Don McPherson (Syracuse, 1987), Rodney Peete (USC, 1988), Tony Rice (Notre Dame, 1989), Craig Erickson (Miami, Fla., 1990), Casey Weldon (Florida State, 1991), Gino Torretta (Miami, Fla., 1992), Charlie Ward (Florida State, 1993), Jay Barker (Alabama, 1994), Tommie Frazier (Nebraska, 1995), Danny Wuerffel (Florida, 1996), Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997), Cade McNown (UCLA, 1998), Chris Redman (Louisville, 1999), Chris Weinke (Florida State, 2000), David Carr (Fresno State, 2001) Carson Palmer (USC, 2002), Eli Manning (Ole Miss, 2003), Jason White (University of Oklahoma, 2004), Matt Leinart (USC, 2005), and Brady Quinn (Notre Dame, 2006).