KALAMAZOO — Alex Carder was named to the third preseason watch list of 2012 when he was selected as one of 29 quarterbacks to watch for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

The prestigious award bears the name of the man who many refer to as the finest quarterback to ever play the game of football. Established in 1987, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award has previously honored 25 outstanding young men.

This acknowledgment is the fourth for the Shawnee, Kan., native after earning a spot on Davey O’Brien, Walter Camp Player of the Year and All State Sugar Bowl’s Manning Award watch lists.

Carder is the nation’s top returning QB in terms of total offense heading into 2012, having averaged 345.25 yards per game as a junior.  He threw for 400 yards in a game a program best five times in 2011 en route to setting WMU’s mark for passing yards in a season at 3,873 yards.

Carder is one of two Mid-American Conference signal callers to make the list.  The only opposing QB to show up on the Golden Arm list is Illinois’ Nathan Scheelhaase.