On Monday, 18 finalists for the FCS Stats Perform Walter Payton Award were announced. The award is presented to the national offensive player of the year in the FCS Spring Football season. This year will be the 34th year that the award has been handed out. A 40-member national media panel will announce the winner of the Walter Payton Award on May 15th.
The award is named after the legendary NFL running back who played his college football at Jackson State. Past winners of the award include former Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo, current Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp and former Philadelphia Eagle running back Brian Westbrook. The most recent recipient is former North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance, who is projected to go in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Check out the finalists below!
Walter Payton Award Finalists | FCS Football
| Name, Position | School | Stats |
| Percy Agyei-Obese, RB | James Madison | 69 Carries for 381 Yards, 4 TDs |
| Eric Barriere, QB | Eastern Washington | 166/268 for 2,193 Yards, 18 TDs, 6 INTs |
| Julius Chestnut, RB | Sacred Heart | 93 Carries for 717 Yards, 8 TDs, 3 Receiving TDs |
| Tim DeMorat, QB | Fordham | 93/129 for 1,049 Yards, 5 Passing TDs, 3 INTs, 2 Rushing TDs |
| Juwon Farri, RB | Monmouth | 79 Carries for 422 Yards, 9 TDs |
| Aqeel Glass, QB | Alabama A&M | 67/113 for 1,084 Yards, 13 TDs, 3 INTs, 1 Rush TD |
| Jakob Kerres, WR | VMI | 67 Receptions for 807 Yards, 7 TDs |
| Quay Holmes, RB | ETSU | 122 Carries for 640 Yards, 8 TDs, 182.3 all-purpose Yards |
| Tyler Hudson, WR | Central Arkansas | 50 Catches for 845 Yards, |
| Cole Kelley, QB | Southeastern Louisiana | 210/305 for 2,662 Yards, 18 TDs, 4 TDs |
| Dejoun Lee, RB | Delaware | 77 Carries for 498 Yards, 5 TDs, Kickoff Return TD |
| Keith Pearson, WR | Presbyterian | 65 Receptions for 831 Yards, 5 TDs |
| Pierre Strong Jr., RB | South Dakota State | 80 Carries for 453 Yards, 2 TDs, 1 Receiving TDs |
| Otis Weah, RB | North Dakota | 76 Carries for 570 Yards, 7 TDs |
| Liam Welch, QB | Samford | 161/236 for 2,242 Yards, 12 TDs, 5 INTs, 4 Rushing TDs |
| DeAngelo Wilson, WR | Austin Peay | 44 Receptions for 619 Yards, 3 TDs |
The Walter Payton Award winner will be revealed during the annual STATS FCS Awards Banquet. The 2019-2020 recipient Trey Lance was announced on January 10th, 2020. Lance was the 15th quarterback to receive the award, as quarterbacks have won the award 15 of the last 16 years. Cooper Kupp of Eastern Washington was the only non-quarterback to win since 2003. A 40-member national media panel will select the winner from this weird yet exciting season.
Other FCS Football Awards Given Out
Buck Buchanan Award: Given to the best defensive player during the 2021 FCS Spring Football season.
Jerry Rice Award: This award is given to the FCS football Freshman of the Year.
Eddie Robinson Award: Coach of the Year award in the FCS.
Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year: This Award will be given out for the fifth time to an FCS football student-athlete who excels not only on the field and in the classroom, but the community as well.
