JJ McCarthy is looking to make a big jump in his second season as starting quarterback for Michigan. Along the way, he has a shot to be among the best QBs in the country this fall.

The Manning Award revealed a preseason watch list on Tuesday with McCarthy in the mix. The award is voted on by the Sugar Bowl Committee and is awarded to the best QB in the country. It is the only major QB award that takes into account postseason performances in the ballot process.

“We have another outstanding group of quarterbacks on our Watch List,” Archie Manning said in a press release. “We’re excited to get a new season rolling to see who will rise up and establish themselves as the best in the country. We’ll add another batch of quarterbacks to the Watch List midway through the season to allow us to recognize transfers and young QBs who have become stars in their new roles or with their new schools.”

The award was first given for the 2004 season, and the most recent winner of the award was Georgia’s Stetson Bennett.