JSU's Ryan Perrilloux Named to Walter Payton Award List

7/21/2009 5:00:00 PM

PHILADELPHIA ? Jacksonville State senior quarterback Ryan Perrilloux is one of four players that were added to the updated watch list for the Walter Payton Award, which is presented to the FCS Player of the Year.

The All-Ohio Valley Conference second-team member and All-OVC Newcomer completed 187-of-297 for 2,318 yards in 2008, which was the third-highest in school history. His 140.88 passing efficiency was ranked 27th nationally and his 244.18 yards of total offense ranked him 28th nationally.

The LaPlace, La, native was named OVC Player or Newcomer of the Week seven times during the 2008 season after he led the Gamecocks to an 8-3 record. He enters his senior season as the school’s career leader in completion percentage (63.0), passing yards per game (210.7) and total offense per game (244.2).

In 2007 with LSU, Perrilloux was named the Most Valuable Player in the SEC Championship game after leading the Tigers to a 21-14 win over Tennessee. He also helped the Tigers claim the FBS National Championship over Ohio State. In his three seasons at the collegiate level, Perrilloux has passed for 3,022 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Also added were Massachusetts running back Tony Nelson, McNeese State running back Todd Pendland and Eastern Washington’s Matt Nichols.

They join Appalachian State quarterback and 2008 Payton Award winner Armanti Edwards, Samford running back Chris Evans, South Carolina State running back William Ford, Northern Iowa quarterback Pat Grace, Weber State quarterback Cameron Higgins, Elon wide receiver Terrell Hudgins, Southern quarterback Bryant Lee and Albany running back David McCarty on the Payton Award watch list.

A total of 20 candidates will be announced in alphabetical order prior to the start of the season, with four candidates being released each week. The watch list will be revised in October and again in November before the final ballot is announced.

Voting from a panel of FCS sports information directors, writers, broadcasters and other football experts will be conducted after the regular season ends. Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 30 and will be invited to the 23rd annual Sports Network Awards banquet on Dec. 17 in Chattanooga, Tenn., the night prior to the NCAA Division I championship game. The Eddie Robinson Award (top FCS Coach) and Buck Buchanan Award (top FCS Defensive Player) will also be presented that night.

2009 Walter Payton Watch List
Armanti Edwards (QB), Appalachian State
Chris Evans (RB), Samford
Will Ford (RB), South Carolina State
Pat Grace (QB), UNI
Cameron Higgins (QB), Weber State
Terrell Hudgins (WR), Elon
Bryant Lee (QB), Southern
David McCarty (RB), Albany
Tony Nelson (RB), Massachusetts
Matt Nichols (QB), Eastern Washington
Todd Pendland (RB), McNeese State
Ryan Perrilloux (QB), Jacksonville State

8 More Players to Be Added Over Next 2 Weeks