Campus briefs: Utah State

FOOTBALL: Senior quarterback Diondre Borel was announced as a member of the Manning Award Watch List on Saturday, as he is the fifth player named by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in its daily release of honorees.

The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in 2004 to honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that takes into consideration the candidates' bowl performances. Ten finalists will be selected in late-November and the winner will be announced after the bowls in January and will be honored at a ceremony in New Orleans.

The award, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, will release one name each day from mid-July through early August, on its website, allstatesugarbowl.org/ManningAward and via facebook and twitter. Votes will be tabulated following the completion of every bowl game in January.

"It's an amazing honor to be among the top 30 quarterbacks in the country. I never thought I would be among the top 30 and just didn't expect to be named with some of the great quarterbacks in the NCAA. It is also amazing to be on a watch list for an award named for the terrific Manning quarterbacks. I wouldn't be on this list without the help from my team, and I share this honor with them," Borel said.

Borel, a native of Oakley, Calif. (Freedom HS), enters his senior season with hopes of continuing last season's breakout and record-setting year and continue his ascent up the USU record books. He also enters his senior season with six school records in his pocket, as he is the USU record holder for single-season total offense (3,343 yards, 2009), single-season rushing yards by a QB (632 in 2008), career rushing yards for a QB (1,098 yards, 2007-pres.), single-season fewest interceptions thrown (four in 2009), consecutive passes without an interception (228 in 2009) and single-game passing yards per completion (21.1 on 316 yards on 15 completions vs. Southern Utah, 2009).

"It's a great accomplishment for Diondre to be on the preseason national watch list. It is another step to him reaching his goals and an honor for him to be recognized among the best quarterbacks in the country. He will be the first to say that it is from the support and success of his team that he get an individual honor like this preseason watch list," USU head coach Gary Andersen said.

Last season, Borel led the WAC and ranked 15th in the FBS in total offense at 278.6 ypg, setting the USU record for single-season total offense with 3,343 yards. Borel was also third in the conference in passing average per game (204.4 ypg) as well as fifth in the league and 35th in the nation in passing efficiency (137.83). Additionally, Borel set the school record for fewest interceptions thrown with four, a mark that tied for second-fewest in FBS. Last season, he threw for 2,885 yards on 214-of-366 passing and threw 17 TD passes on the year.