A former Michigan State quarterback is gaining some big time preseason steam ahead of the 2025 season.

Katin Houser, a now senior at East Carolina, has been named to the 2025 Manning Award Watch List according to an announcement by the Allstate Sugar Bowl. He is one of 27 quarterbacks named to the award's watch list.

The Manning Award has been given annually since 2004 to the best collegiate quarterback as judged by the Sugar Bowl Committee. Uniquely, it is the only quarterback award that includes each candidate's postseason-bowl performance in its balloting.

After two seasons in East Lansing, Houser moved on to ECU, where he played in nine games last season, completing just over 60-percent of his passes for 2,006 yards and 18 touchdowns, with 11 interceptions.

The Pirates will open their 2025 season with a road game against NC State on Thursday, Aug. 28 in a Military Bowl rematch.

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