Cole Kelley, Cameron Ward, Dai’Jean Dixon Land on Walter Payton Award Watch List

Southland trio earn consideration for national offensive player of the year honor

CHICAGO – Quarterbacks Cole Kelley (Southeastern) and Cameron Ward (UIW), along with Nicholls wide receiver Dai’Jean Dixon, are among the 35 members of the Walter Payton Award Watch List, announced by Stats Perform on Wednesday.

Looking to join Sam Houston State’s Jeremiah Briscoe and Appalachian State’s Armanti Edwards as the only repeat winners of the award, Kelley headlined the Stats Perform All-America First Team announced earlier this week and is the leader of the Southland preseason-favorite Lions. He finished second nationally in passing yards (2,662) and points responsible for (164) over seven games in the spring.

The first Southland student-athlete to win the Jerry Rice Award as the FCS freshman of the year, Ward was named Third-Team Preseason All-America after he led FCS quarterbacks in passing touchdowns (24) and ranked third nationally in completions per game (30.5) and passing yards per game (376.7).

An NFL Combine invitee last year, Dixon enters his final season as a Second-Team Preseason All-American and ranks eighth on the Southland’s career leaderboards for receiving yards (2,800) and receiving touchdowns (27).

The Walter Payton Award, named for the legendary running back, enters its 35th season and is presented to the national FCS offensive player of the year. The Payton has served as a stepping-stone for such NFL players as Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Kupp and Trey Lance. A national media panel will select the winner after the regular season.

WATCH LIST

Quarterbacks
Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington (2019 and 2020-21 finalist)

Juwan Carter, Norfolk State

Jack Cook, Dayton

Zerrick Cooper, Jacksonville State (2019 finalist)

Tim DeMorat, Fordham (2020-21 finalist)

Draylen Ellis, Austin Peay

Aqeel Glass, Alabama A&M (2020-21 finalist)

Felix Harper, Alcorn State (2019 finalist)

Cole Kelley, Southeastern Louisiana (2020-21 recipient)

E.J. Perry, Brown

Eric Schmid, Sam Houston

Breylin Smith, Central Arkansas

Daniel Smith, Villanova (2019 finalist)

Cameron Ward, UIW

Liam Welch, Samford (2020-21 finalist)

Running Backs
Percy Agyei-Obese, James Madison (2020-21 finalist)

Julius Chestnut, Sacred Heart (2019 and 2020-21 finalist)

Josh Davis, Weber State

Elijah Dotson, Sacramento State

Juwon Farri, Monmouth (2020-21 finalist)

Geno Hess, Southeast Missouri

Quay Holmes, ETSU (2020-21 finalist)

Dejoun Lee, Delaware (2020-21 finalist)

Jah-Maine Martin,North Carolina A&T (2019 finalist)

Karl Mofor, Albany

Pierre Strong Jr., South Dakota State (2020-21 finalist)

Otis Weah, North Dakota (2020-21 finalist)

Devin Wynn, Furman

Wide Receivers
Samuel Akem, Montana

Avante Cox, Southern Illinois

Dai’Jean Dixon, Nicholls

Jequez Ezzard, Sam Houston

Jakob Herres, VMI (2020-21 finalist)

Tyler Hudson, Central Arkansas (2020-21 finalist)

Christian Watson, North Dakota State