CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Sports Network) - Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards was named the 22nd winner of the Walter Payton Award on Thursday at The Sports Network's Football Championship Subdivision Awards Banquet, held at the Chattanooga Marriott on the eve of the NCAA Division I Football Championship title game.
The Payton Award, named for the legendary Jackson State and Chicago Bears running back, is presented annually to the top player in FCS.
Also announced, Eastern Washington defensive end Greg Peach was named the 14th winner of the Buck Buchanan Award.
The Buchanan Award, named for the legendary Grambling and Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle, is presented annually to the top defensive player in FCS.
James Madison coach Mickey Matthews was named the 22nd winner of the Eddie Robinson Award.
Matthews is the first two-time winner of the Robinson Award, which is presented annually to the top coach in FCS. Matthews also won the Robinson Award in 1999, his first season at James Madison.
"It's a great accomplishment and a great feeling," Edwards said. "I always congratulate my team, because without them, I wouldn't (even) be a finalist."
The 6-foot-tall, 184-pound junior signal-caller rushed for 941 yards and 11 touchdowns, while completing 64 percent of his passes for 2,902 yards and 30 touchdowns. He ranked second nationally in passing efficiency, seventh in total offense (296 yards per game, 3,843 total yards) and 11th in passing yards.
Edwards, one of the team captains for the Mountaineers, saved his best games for the brightest spotlight. Facing South Carolina State in the first round of this year's playoffs, Edwards completed 29-of-41 passes for a school-record 433 yards and four touchdowns, breaking predecessor Richie Williams' mark of 413 in 2004 in a 37-21 win.
In a nationally televised game against Wofford for first place in the Southern Conference earlier in the year, Edwards was 17-of-19 passing for 367 yards and five touchdowns and added 73 yards and one TD rushing on just 11 carries. Edwards played only one series of the fourth quarter in that game, as he led the Mountaineers to a 70-24 victory.
"He's made a huge difference in our football program from the beginning," Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore said. "He's been a great example on the field and in the classroom. Our team really rallies around him."
Edwards finished first in one of the most lopsided Payton Award races in history with 53 first-place votes and 398 points. James Madison quarterback Rodney Landers was second with 17 first-place votes and 290 points, with Western Illinois running back Herb Donaldson placing third with 209 points.
The Walter Payton Award was established in 1987 by The Sports Network and previous winners of the honor include current NFL players such as Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (2002, Eastern Illinois) and Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook (2001, Villanova), and former Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair (1994, Alcorn State).
Edwards is the second straight SoCon player and fifth overall to win the Payton Award as Georgia Southern’s Jayson Foster claimed the 2007 award.
Southern Conference Payton Award Winners
1992 Michael Payton, QB, Marshall
1999 Adrian Peterson, RB, Georgia Southern
2000 Louis Ivory, RB, Furman
2007 Jayson Foster, QB, Georgia Southern
2008 Armanti Edwards, QB, Appalachian State