The Walter Payton
Award honors the national offensive player of the year in FCS
college football. The 2025 recipient will emerge from 30
finalists and take his place among a distinguished list of past
winners.
Stats Perform has announced a standout list of 30 finalists for
the 2025 Walter Payton Award, which is presented to the national
offensive player of the year in Division I FCS college
football.
The award, in its 39th season and affectionately known as the
Heisman of the FCS, is named for legendary running back Walter
Payton, who starred at Jackson State as part of his Hall of Fame
career. Past recipients include Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian
Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Kupp, Taylor Heinicke and Trey
Lance.
All 13 FCS conferences are represented by a finalist. The
winner, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be
announced at the
Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show on Jan. 3 in Nashville,
Tennessee.
2025 Walter Payton Award Finalists
Quarterbacks
Keali’I Ah Yat, Montana,
R-So., 6-1, 200 (Big Sky Conference)
248 of 361 (68.7%), 3,154 yards, 25 TDs, 7 INTs, 160.5 pass
effciency; 83 rush yards, 7 TDs (12 games)
Braden Atkinson, Mercer, Fr.,
6-1, 215 (Southern Conference)
250 of 367 (68.1%), 3,448 yards, 34 TDs, 7 INTs, 173.8 pass
efficiency; 1 rush TD (10 games)
Andrew Body, Alabama State,
R-Jr., 6-0, 205 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
113 of 160 (70.6%), 1,770 yards, 20 TDs, 1 INT, 203.6 pass
efficiency; 518 rush yards, 4 TDs (8 games)
Beau Brungard, Youngstown
State, Jr., 6-0, 215 (Missouri Valley Football
Conference)
254 of 368 (69.0%), 2,917 yards, 23 TDs, 3 INTs, 154.6 pass
efficiency; 225 carries, 1,378 yards, 24 TDs; 50-yard TD catch (12
games)
Jaden Craig, Harvard, Sr.,
6-2, 215 (Ivy League)
195 of 310 (62.9%), 2,722 yards, 24 TDs, 5 INT, 159.0 pass
efficiency; 84 rush yards, 3 TDs (10 games)
Taron Dickens, Western
Carolina, R-So., 5-11, 180 (Southern Conference)
271 of 365 (74.2%), 3,508 yards, 38 TDs, 2 INT, 188.2 pass
efficency; 321 rush yards, 1 TD (9 games)
Devin Farrell, Rhode Island,
R-Jr., 6-0, 195 (CAA Football)
221 of 332 (66.6%), 3,087 yards, 20 TDs, 7 INTs, 160.3 pass
efficiency; 60 rush yards, 2 TDs (12 games)
Victor Gabalis, Tarleton
State, Sr., 6-3, 210 (United Athletic Conference)
160 of 268 (59.7%), 2,395 yards, 25 TDs, 4 INTs, 162.6 pass
efficiency; 1 rush TD (10 games)
Walker Harris, North Carolina
Central, R-Sr., 6-1, 195 (Mid-Eastern Athletic
Conference)
234 of 375 (62.4%), 3,214 yards, 24 TDs, 9 INTs, 150.7 pass
efficiency; 77 rush yards, 5 TDs (12 games)
Collin Hurst, Presbyterian,
R-So., 5-10, 185 (Pioneer Football League)
197 of 289 (68.2%), 2,684 yards, 26 TDs, 11 INTs, 168.3 pass
efficiency; 56 rush yards, 2 TDs (12 games)
Justin Lamson, Montana State,
Jr., 6-2, 210 (Big Sky Conference)
194 of 268 (72.4%), 2,345 yards, 20 TDs, 2 INTs, 169.0 pass
efficiency; 589 rush yards, 11 TDs; 23 receiving yards (12
games)
Eddie Lee Marburger, UT Rio
Grande Valley, R-Sr., 6-2, 215 (Southland Conference)
199 of 305 (65.2%), 2,780 yards, 31 TDs, 7 INTs, 170.8 pass
efficiency; 308 yards, 4 TDs (12 games)
Chris Parson, Austin Peay,
R-So., 5-11, 224 (United Athletic Conference)
206 of 326 (63.2%), 3,003 yards, 23 TDs, 5 TDs, 160.8 pass
efficiency; 743 rush yards, 14 TDs (12 games)
Cole Payton, North Dakota
State, Sr., 6-3, 233 (Missouri Valley Football
Conference)
157 of 212 (74.1%), 2,618 yards, 15 TDs, 4 INTs, 107.4 pass
efficiency; 791 rush yards, 13 TDs (12 games)
Kekoa Visperas, Tennessee
Tech, R-Sr., 6-0, 193 (OVC-Big South Football
Association)
212 of 323 (65.6%), 2,486 yards, 25 TDs, 5 INTs, 152.7 pass
efficiency; 484 rush yards, 3 TDs (12 games)
DJ Williams, Southern
Illinois, Sr., 6-3, 218 (Missouri Valley Football
Conference)
222 of 352 (63.1%), 2,846 yards, 22 TDs, 5 INTs, 148.8 pass
efficiency; 847 rush yards, 18 TDs (12 games)
Running Backs
Joshua Dye, Southern Utah,
R-So., 5-11, 205 (United Athletic Conference)
295 carries, 1,831 yards (6.2 ypc), 28 TDs, 7 receptions, 40
yards; 51 KOR yards (12 games)
Kente Edwards, Lafayette, Jr.,
5-9, 197 (Patriot League)
199 carries, 1,454 yards (7.3 ypc), 20 TDs, 10 receptions 67
yards (10 games)
Marquis Gillis, Delaware
State, RB, Grad, 6-0, 210 (Mid-Eastern Athletic
Conference)
182 carries, 1,166 yards (6.4 ypc), 8 TDs; 11 receptions, 98
yards, 1 TD (12 games)
Rodney Hammond Jr., Sacramento
State, Sr., 5-9, 195 (Big Sky Conference)
188 carries, 1,216 yards (6.5 ypc), 13 TDs, 15 receptions, 147
yards; 1 TD pass; 455 KOR yards, 1 TD (12 games)
Elijah Howard, Central
Connecticut State, Sr., 5-10, 185 (NEC Football)
188 carries, 1,078 yards (5.7 ypc), 11 TDs; 36 receptions, 296
yards, 4 TDs (11 games)
Rodney Nelson, Monmouth,
R-So., 5-8, 195 (CAA Football)
293 carries, 1,802 yards (6.2 ypc), 18 TDs; 30 receptions, 229
yards, 1 TD (12 games)
L.J. Phillips Jr., South
Dakota, R-So., 5-9, 225 (Missouri Valley Football
Conference)
250 carries, 1,556 yards (6.2 ypc), 15 TDs; 25 receptions, 192
yards, 1 TD (12 games)
Josh Pitsenberger, Yale, Sr.,
6-0, 220 (Ivy League)
255 carries, 1,238 yards (4.9 ypc), 15 TDs; 12 receptions, 87
yards (10 games)
Luke Yoder, Lehigh, Jr., 5-11,
205 (Patriot League)
187 carries, 1,329 yards (7.1 ypc), 15 TDs; 11 receptions, 96
yards, 1 TD (12 games)
Wide Receivers
Marquis Buchanan, Rhode
Island, R-So., 6-4, 175 (CAA Football)
66 receptions, 1,123 yards (17.0 ypc), 5 TDs (12 games)
Joey Isabella, Duquesne, Grad,
5-9, 185 (NEC Football)
63 receptions, 839 yards (13.3 ypc), 13 TDs, 211 KOR return
yards (12 games)
Bryce Lance, North Dakota
State, R-Sr., 6-3, 209 (Missouri Valley Football
Conference)
50 receptions, 1,001 yards (20.0 ypc), 7 TDs; 92 rush yards, 1
TD (12 games)
Jared Richardson, Penn, Sr.,
6-2, 220 (Ivy League)
80 receptions, 1,033 yards (12.9 ypc), 12 TDs (10 games)
Michael Wortham, Montana,
R-Sr., 5-9, 190 (Big Sky Conference)
58 receptions, 825 yards (14.2), 7 TDs; 46 carries, 273 yards, 6
TDs; 1 TD pass; 701 KOR yards (12 games)
Also this season, 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), HBCU National Player
of the Year and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be
presented at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show.
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