Cato named 2013 Player to Watch

HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University quarterback Rakeem Cato was named as one of 12 Players to Watch for 2013 by the Touchdown Club of Columbus on Saturday.

Cato and the other honorees will be presented during the 58th Touchdown Club of Columbus Awards Banquet on Feb. 9, 2013, at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion.

The announcement added to an already full week for Cato, who was named Conference USA's Most Valuable Player, along with receiving C-USA first team quarterback honors by the league's coaches and by College Sports Madness, who also had him as the C-USA Offensive Player of the Year.

Cato's inclusion on the Touchdown Club of Columbus list puts him with several other Marshall greats, including 1999 award winner Chad Pennington as well as wide receiver Randy Moss (1997) and quarterback Byron Leftwich (2002), who were also named players to watch.

In addition to being named a 2013 Player to Watch, the Touchdown Club of Columbus considers Cato as a prime candidate for the 2013 Sammy Baugh Award, presented to the nation's top passer.

Cato leads the FBS in completions per game (33.83) and passing yards per game (350.1) while placing third in touchdown passes (37) and fifth in total offense per game (352.67) and completion percentage (69.5).

He finished the season with 4,201 passing yards and is currently on pace to break the all-time Marshall quarterback completion percentage record, held by Pennington (65.1). Cato's current career completion percentage is 66.2 percent.

Other 2013 Players to Watch as named by the Touchdown Club of Columbus include Fresno state quarterback Derek Carr, Louisiana Tech running back Kenneth Dixon, San Jose State quarterback David Fales, Toledo running back David Fluellen, Nevada running back Stefphon Jefferson, Miami running back Duke Johnson, Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch, Northwestern running back Venric Mark, Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier and Boise State quarterback Joe Southwick.