(BCSNN) — East Carolina senior quarterback Katin Houser has been named to the 2025 Manning Award Watch List, becoming just the fourth player in program history to receive the preseason honor. The award, presented annually by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, recognizes the nation’s top quarterback and includes postseason performance in its voting criteria.

Houser transferred to ECU from Michigan State in January 2024 and quickly emerged as the Pirates’ starter midway through last season. He threw for 2,006 yards and 18 touchdowns in nine games, guiding East Carolina to a 5–2 record as a starter and a Military Bowl victory over NC State. His back-to-back five-touchdown performances against Temple and Florida Atlantic earned him national recognition and a spot atop ESPN’s Total QBR rankings for Week 11.

The Anaheim, California native completed 60.8% of his passes and added 170 rushing yards with four scores on the ground. He became just the third quarterback in ECU history to throw five touchdown passes in consecutive games, joining Dominique Davis and Shane Carden. Houser also earned American Offensive Player of the Week honors and was named a Manning Star of the Week in November.

Houser’s inclusion on the Manning Award Watch List places him among 27 quarterbacks nationally, including Drew Allar (Penn State), Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), and Cade Klubnik (Clemson). He joins former ECU standouts Davis, Carden, and Holton Ahlers as Pirates to be recognized by the Manning Award committee.

East Carolina will open the 2025 season on Thursday, Aug. 28, with a road matchup against NC State at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on the ACC Network. The game marks a rematch of last year’s bowl showdown, which ECU won 26–21.

With Houser firmly entrenched as QB1 and entering his final collegiate season, expectations are high in Greenville. The Pirates hope to build on last year’s momentum and contend in the American Athletic Conference, with Houser leading the charge.