CHICAGO – Stats Perform on Thursday announced 20 additions to the watch list for the Walter Payton Award, which is presented annually to the national offensive player of the year in college football’s Division I subdivision, and Mercer quarterback Fred Payton was added to the list.
Payton joins ETSU running back Jacob Saylors, Furman tight end Ryan Miller and Chattanooga running back Ailym Ford, who were on the initial watch list.
Payton is off to an impressive start to the season, as he ranks third in the FCS in passing efficiency at 187.8. He threw for a school-record five touchdowns and 383 yards in last weekend’s 55-33 win over ETSU and has thrown for 21 TDs against just one interception so far this season. The senior from Lilburn, Georgia, leads the SoCon with 1,846 passing yards and an average of 263.7 per game.
Payton has Mercer off to a 6-1 start to the season and a No. 11 national ranking, its highest in program history.
More players can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner following the regular season. First awarded in 1987, the Payton has watched past recipients such as Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Kupp and Trey Lance move on to the NFL.
Also this season, Stats Perform will present the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman player of the year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) and FedEx Ground Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Walter Payton Award Watch List additions
Quarterbacks
Bret Bushka, Butler (Pioneer)
Sean Chambers, Montana State (Big Sky)
Mike DiLiello, Austin Peay (ASUN)
Nolan Henderson, Delaware (CAA)
Fred Payton, Mercer (Southern)
Davius Richard, North Carolina Central (MEAC)
Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross (Patriot)
Dresser Winn, UT Martin (Ohio Valley)
Nominated in Preseason: Nic Baker, Southern Illinois; Tim DeMorat, Fordham; Nick Howard, Dartmouth; Parker McKinney, Eastern Kentucky; Tommy Mellot, Montana State; Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State; Lindsey Scott Jr., UIW; Trae Self, Stephen F. Austin; Jason Shelley, Missouri State; Xavier Shepherd, Kennesaw State; Reece Udinski, Richmond
Running Backs
Aidan Borguet, Harvard (Ivy)
Jermiah Dobbins, Abilene Christian (WAC)
Jarveon Howard, Alcorn State (SWAC)
ShunDerrick Powell, North Alabama (ASUN)
Jaden Shirden, Monmouth (CAA)
Cameron Skattebo, Sacramento State (Big Sky)
Bhayshul Tuten, North Carolina A&T (Big South)
Nominated in Preseason: Jake Chisholm, Dayton; Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State; Juwon Farri, Monmouth;
Ailym Ford, Chattanooga; Narii Gaither, Gardner-Webb; Ulonzo Gilliam Jr., UC Davis; Malik Grant, Sacred Heart; Julien Gums, Nicholls; Darius Hale, Central Arkansas; Geno Hess, Southeast Missouri; Isaiah Ifanse, Montana State; Hunter Luepke, North Dakota State; Jaleel McLaughlin, Youngstown State;
Jacob Saylors, ETSU
Wide Receivers
Andrew Armstrong, Texas A&M-Commerce (Southland)
Andrei Iosivas, Princeton (Ivy)
Fotis Kokosioulis, Fordham (Patriot)
Nominated in Preseason: Avante Cox, Southern Illinois; Shaquan Davis, South Carolina State; Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin; Taylor Grimes, UIW; Jakob Herres, Richmond; Jaxon Janke, South Dakota State; Xavier Smith, Florida A&M
Tight Ends
Nominated in Preseason: Kemari Averett, Bethune-Cookman; Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State;
Ryan Miller, Furman
Offensive Linemen
Mark Evans II, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC)
Cody Mauch, North Dakota State (MVFC)