The Walter Payton Award is given each year to the most outstanding offensive player in FCS football. Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott received the 2024 award on the day before the FCS championship game.
Here’s everything you need to know about the annual honor, presented by Stats Perform FCS.
MORE: Jerry Rice Award history | Buck Buchanan Award history
The Walter Payton Award debuted in 1987 to honor the most outstanding player in the Football Championship Subdivision. In 1995, with the introduction of the Buck Buchanan Award for top defensive player, the Payton Award was altered to only recognize the top offensive player.
A national panel of more than 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries vote on the award’s winner, based on players’ regular-season performances. Voting is conducted before the start of FCS playoffs.
The Walter Payton Award is one of five national awards announced by STATS FCS:
The offensive player of the year award’s namesake, Walter Payton, was an NFL legend with the Chicago Bears, earning nine Pro Bowl trips, 1977 MVP honors and a 1986 Super Bowl ring. The all-time great running back began his journey at FCS program Jackson State from 1971-74.
Payton, a two-time FCS All-American, rushed for 3,600 total yards and scored 63 touchdowns in four years at Jackson State. He is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio and the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Walter Payton Award winner is revealed annually at the STATS FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation the night before the FCS championship game in Frisco, Texas. The 2024 recipient was announced Saturday, Jan. 4, 2024, in a broadcasted show.
All five STATS FCS national honors are celebrated at the banquet, though the Jerry Rice, Eddie Robinson and Doris Robinson winners are all announced ahead of time. The Payton and Buchanan award winners are revealed for the first time as part of the ceremony.
The first 35-man Walter Payton Award watch list is released in the preseason by STATS FCS. The list has updates periodically throughout the regular season, culminating in the invitation of finalists to attend the banquet.
Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott won the 2024 Walter Payton Award as the best offensive player in FCS football. Mellott is the first Montana State player to win the award in its 38-year history after completing 148 of 216 passes (68.5 percent) for 1,956 yards, 22 touchdowns and just one interceptions. He also ran for 640 yards and 11 touchdowns, leading Montana State to an undefeated record.
Mellott beat out fellow top-three finalists Cam Miller (North Dakota State) and Targhee Lambson (Southern Utah).
Quarterbacks have accounted for a position-best 27 winners since the award debuted in 1987, including the last eight seasons. Nine running backs and two wide receivers have also been honored. Eastern Washington leads all schools with four winners.
Two players have lifted the hardware in consecutive years: Appalachian State standout quarterback Armanti Edwards won in 2008 and ’09, and Sam Houston State QB Jeremiah Briscoe took it home in 2016 and ’17.
FCS CHAMPIONSHIP: How the FCS playoffs work | Schools with most titles | Full championship history
Other notable past honorees include eventual NFL stars Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington, 2015), Jimmy Garoppolo (Eastern Illinois, 2013), Tony Romo (Eastern Illinois, 2002), Brian Westbrook (Villanova, 2001) and Steve McNair (Alcorn State, 1994). See the full list below.
FCS Walter Payton Award winners (1987-2023):
YEAR | WINNER, SCHOOL | POSITION | |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | Tommy Mellott, Montana State | Quarterback | Top moments |
2023 | Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State | Quarterback | Top moments |
2022 | Lindsey Scott Jr, Incarnate Word | Quarterback | Top moments |
2021 | Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington | Quarterback | Top plays |
2020 | Cole Kelley, Southeastern Louisiana | Quarterback | |
2019 | Trey Lance, North Dakota State | Quarterback | Watch his highlights |
2018 | Devlin Hodges, Samford | Quarterback | |
2017 | Jeremiah Briscoe, Sam Houston State | Quarterback | |
2016 | Jeremiah Briscoe, Sam Houston State | Quarterback | |
2015 | Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington | Wide receiver | Watch his highlights |
2014 | John Robertson, Villanova | Quarterback | |
2013 | Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois | Quarterback | Watch his highlights |
2012 | Taylor Heinicke, Old Dominion | Quarterback | Watch his highlights |
2011 | Bo Levi Mitchell, Eastern Washington | Quarterback | |
2010 | Jeremy Moses, Stephen F. Austin | Quarterback | |
2009 | Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State | Quarterback | |
2008 | Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State | Quarterback | |
2007 | Jayson Foster, Georgia Southern | Quarterback | |
2006 | Ricky Santos, New Hampshire | Quarterback | |
2005 | Erik Meyer, Eastern Washington | Quarterback | |
2004 | Lang Campbell, William & Mary | Quarterback | |
2003 | Jamaal Branch, Colgate | Running back | |
2002 | Tony Romo, Eastern Illinois | Quarterback | |
2001 | Brian Westbrook, Villanova | Running back | |
2000 | Louis Ivory, Furman | Running back | |
1999 | Adrian Peterson, Georgia Southern | Running back | |
1998 | Jerry Azumah, New Hampshire | Running back | |
1997 | Brian Finneran, Villanova | Wide receiver | |
1996 | Archie Amerson, Northern Arizona | Running back | |
1995 | Dave Dickenson, Montana | Quarterback | |
1994 | Steve McNair, Alcorn State | Quarterback | |
1993 | Doug Nussmeier, Idaho | Quarterback | |
1992 | Michael Payton, Marshall | Quarterback | |
1991 | Jamie Martin, Weber State | Quarterback | |
1990 | Walter Dean, Grambling State | Running back | |
1989 | John Friesz, Idaho | Quarterback | |
1988 | Dave Meggett, Towson | Running back | |
1987 | Kenny Gamble, Colgate | Running back |
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