Payton Award Watch List Website
Murray State junior quarterback Casey Brockman is one of 20 candidates named to the 2011 Walter Payton Award Preseason list, released by The Sports Network on Monday. The award is sponsored by Fathead.com. Brockman is one of 12 quarterbacks on the initial list honoring the top offensive player in the FCS.
The Walter Payton Award was established in 1987, will celebrate its 25th anniversary this season and is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player on the FCS level. When the award was established, it was the only such award to be presented to an individual player in FCS football. It has since been joined by the Buck Buchanan Award, which was established in 1995 and honors the outstanding defensive player in the FCS.
The OVC has had one player previously win the Walter Payton Award, when Eastern Illinois quarterback Tony Romo took home the award in 2002 after passing for 2,950 yards and 33 touchdowns while leading the Panthers to a playoff berth.
Brockman (Murray, Ky.) is the first Racer named to the Walter Payton Award list since Justin Fuente was a finalist in 1999. Running back Derrick Cullors finished third in the 1995 voting.
A former walk-on, Brockman started the final six games of the 2010 season, setting single-game records for passing attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns. He also became just the second quarterback in school history to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game, doing so in the season finale against Tennessee State.
The Payton Award Watch List will undergo revision during the 2011 season. Ballots will be sent to a panel of about 200 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries after the regular season on Nov. 21. Three finalists will be announced on Dec. 1 and invited to The Sports Network/Fathead FCS Awards Presentation.
The Sports Network also presents the Buck Buchanan, Jerry Rice and Eddie Robinson awards which are sponsored by Fathead.com. The Buchanan Award honors the FCS defensive player of the year, the new Rice Award goes to the FCS freshman of the year and the Robinson Award, which also is celebrating its 25th anniversary, honors the FCS coach of the year. Those three winners will join the top three Payton finalists at the national awards banquet.
2011 Preseason Payton Award Watch List
Eric Breitenstein (FB) - Wofford
Casey Brockman (QB) - Murray State
Mike Brown (QB) - Liberty
B.J. Coleman (QB) - Chattanooga
Jamaine Cook (RB) - Youngstown State
Thomas Demarco (QB) - Old Dominion
Nate Eachus (RB) - Colgate
Jonathan Grimes (RB) - William & Mary
Brandon Kaufman (WR) - Eastern Washington
Mike Mayhew (RB) - North Carolina A&T
Denarius McGhee (QB) - Montana State
Josh McGregor (QB) - Jacksonville
D.J. McNorton (RB) - North Dakota State
Bo Levi Mitchell (QB) - Eastern Washington
Andrew Pierce (RB) - Delaware
DeAndre Presley (QB) - Appalachian State
Tirrell Rennie (QB) - Northern Iowa
Brad Sorensen (QB) - Southern Utah
Chris Summers (WR) - Liberty
Casey Therriault (QB) - Jackson State