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Walter Payton Award
File:FCS Payton Award.jpg
Walter Payton Award
Awarded formost outstanding offensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision
Presented byThe Sports Network
CountryUnited States
First awarded1987
Currently held byTaylor Heinicke, Old Dominion

The Walter Payton Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding offensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) of college football as chosen by a nationwide panel of media and college sports information directors.[1] The honor was first given in 1987 to the outstanding player in the division, but in 1995, eligibility was restricted to offensive players, as the Buck Buchanan Award for defensive players was inaugurated.

The bust was named in honor of the late National Football League (NFL) legend Walter Payton, who starred at Jackson State University.[2]

Among the many schools in the division, only seven schools have won it twice: Appalachian State, Colgate, Eastern Washington, Georgia Southern, Idaho, New Hampshire, and Villanova. In 2009, Armanti Edwards from Appalachian State became the first player to receive the award twice.[3]

Armanti Edwards Throw

Armanti Edwards is the only two-time winner of the award

Winners[]

Year Player School Position
1987 Kenny Gamble Colgate Running back
1988 Dave Meggett Towson State Running back
1989 John Friesz Idaho Quarterback
1990 Walter Dean Grambling Running back
1991 Jamie Martin Weber State Quarterback
1992 Michael Payton Marshall Quarterback
1993 Doug Nussmeier Idaho Quarterback
1994 Steve McNair Alcorn State Quarterback
1995 Dave Dickenson Montana Quarterback
1996 Archie Amerson Northern Arizona Running back
1997 Brian Finneran Villanova Wide receiver
1998 Jerry Azumah New Hampshire Running back
1999 Adrian Peterson Georgia Southern Running back
2000 Louis Ivory Furman Running back
2001 Brian Westbrook Villanova Running back
2002 Tony Romo Eastern Illinois Quarterback
2003 Jamaal Branch Colgate Running back
2004 Lang Campbell William & Mary Quarterback
2005 Erik Meyer Eastern Washington Quarterback
2006 Ricky Santos New Hampshire Quarterback
2007 Jayson Foster Georgia Southern Quarterback
2008 Armanti Edwards Appalachian State Quarterback
2009 Armanti Edwards (2) Appalachian State Quarterback
2010 Jeremy Moses Stephen F. Austin Quarterback
2011 Bo Levi Mitchell Eastern Washington Quarterback
2012 Taylor Heinicke Old Dominion Quarterback

Past finalists[]

References[]

External links[]


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