CHICAGO – The votes are in for the 2021 Walter Payton Award and ETSU running back Quay Holmes is one of the top three vote-getters for the award. The Walter Payton Award is presented to the National Offensive Player of the Year in Division I FCS. The winner will be announced on Friday, Jan. 7, in Frisco, Texas, the night before the FCS National Championship at the National Awards Banquet.
Holmes, one of 25 finalists for the award, will be joined at the banquet by Eric Barriere (Eastern Washington) and Cole Kelley (Southeastern Louisiana) and the winner of the prestigious award will be announced among the trio of candidates. The banquet will be broadcast and aired the next day on Jan. 8 on Bally Sports Regional Networks.
Holmes is the lone candidate still competing in the FCS playoffs, having a date with FCS Goliath North Dakota State this weekend in Fargo, North Dakota, at 12 p.m. (ET) on Dec. 11. The Powder Springs, Georgia, native is first in FCS football in rushing yards per game (126.5) and he ranks second in: rushing touchdowns (17), total rushing yards (1,518) and total touchdowns with 20. Holmes is also fourth in FCS football in all-purpose yards per game (151.42).
Holmes has etched his name atop the ETSU record book, holding the program records for rushing yards (4,229), total touchdowns (51), career points (306) and single-season rushing yards (1,518) and is tied with George Searcy for the most rushing touchdowns in a single season in ETSU history with 17.
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2021 Walter Payton Award Voting Results
A first-place vote was worth five points, a second-place vote four points, a third-place vote three points, a fourth-place vote two points and a fifth-place vote one point.
1. TBA
2. TBA
3. TBA
4. Cole Johnson, QB, James Madison: 4-6-9-5-5-86
5. Pierre Strong Jr., RB, South Dakota State: 1-3-7-4-8-54
6. Cameron Ward, QB, UIW: 0-2-4-3-2-28
7.(tie) Xavier Gipson, WR, Stephen F. Austin: 0-1-2-3-5-21
7.(tie) Isaiah Ifanse, RB, Montana State: 0-3-0-3-3-21
9. Aqeel Glass, QB, Alabama A&M: 1-2-0-0-2-15
10.(tie) Trevor Penning, LT, Northern Iowa: 0-1-1-1-1-10
10.(tie) Jason Shelley, QB, Missouri State: 0-0-2-0-4-10
12.(tie) Keon Howard, QB, UT Martin: 0-0-1-1-3-8
12.(tie) Eric Schmid, QB, Sam Houston: 0-0-1-1-3-8
14.(tie) BJ Byrd, WR, Morehead State: 0-1-0-1-1-7
14.(tie) Xavier Shepherd, QB, Kennesaw State: 0-0-0-2-3-7
14.(tie) Liam Welch, QB, Samford: 0-0-1-2-0-7
17.(tie) Juwan Carter, QB, Norfolk State: 0-0-0-1-1-3
17.(tie) Tim DeMorat, QB, Fordham: 0-0-1-0-0-3
19. Jake Chisholm, RB, Dayton: 0-0-0-1-0-2
20.(tie) Dai’Jean Dixon, WR, Nicholls: 0-0-0-0-1-1
20.(tie) Malik Grant, RB, Sacred Heart: 0-0-0-0-1-1
20.(tie) E.J. Perry, QB, Brown: 0-0-0-0-1-1
23.(tie) Davis Cheek, QB, Elon: 0-0-0-0-0-0
23.(tie) Geno Hess, RB, Southeast Missouri: 0-0-0-0-0-0
23.(tie) Tyler Hudson, WR, Central Arkansas: 0-0-0-0-0-0