Football

DeLaurent, Caldwell Named Finalists for Walter Payton Award


• Complete Walter Payton Award Release

Southeast Missouri quarterback Paxton DeLaurent and Lindenwood wide receiver Jeff Caldwell are two of 35 finalists nationally for the 2024 Walter Payton Award, which is presented to the national offensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football. 

The award, in its 38th 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 and Trey Lance. 

DeLaurent led SEMO to a share of the Big South-OVC Association championship and the automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs in 2024.  He is among the national leaders with 29 touchdowns (tied for 4th), 26.67 completions per game (1st), 3,520 passing yards (5th) and 293.3 passing yards per game (5th). A five-time Big South-OVC Offensive Player of the Week selection in 2024, DeLaurent also had an Association-record seven games with 300-plus passing yards and had seven multi-TD pass games -- including four games with at least four.

Caldwell had an outstanding junior campaign, hauling in 53 receptions for 1032 yards and 11 touchdowns, The 11 touchdowns ranked eighth-most in the country. The Louisville, Ky. native compiled seven games with 99 receiving yards or more during the 2024 season. The junior wideout was tabbed Big South-OVC Offensive Player of the Week one time this season after totaling four catches, all for touchdowns, and 115 yards in a win against Eastern Illinois on September 28. Caldwell made some big plays during the year and averaged 19.5 yards per catch, ranking second in the Big South-OVC. He had three touchdown grabs of 70 or more yards, including a 93-yard touchdown catch in a win against St. Thomas.

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 Banquet on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas. In addition to the Walter Payton Award, 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), Urban Edge Network HBCU+ Player of the Year and FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be presented at the Stats Perform awards banquet on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas. 

2024 WALTER PAYTON AWARD FINALISTS
QUARTERBACK
• Zach Calzada, UIW, Grad, 6-4, 200 (Southland Conference)
288 of 440 (65.5%), 3,351 yards, 33 TDs, 8 INTs; 222 rush yards, 4 TDs (12 games)

• Jacob Clark, Missouri State, Sr., 6-5, 220 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
262 of 376 (69.7%), 3,604 yards, 26 TDs, 6 INTs; 1 rush TD (12 games)

• Jaden Craig, Harvard, Jr., 6-2, 215 (Ivy League)
169 of 279 (60.6%), 2,430 yards, 23 TDs, 3 INTs; 1 rush TD (10 games)

• Paxton DeLaurent, Southeast Missouri, Sr., 6-5, 229 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
320 of 533 (60.0%), 3,520 yards, 29 TDs, 10 INTs; 96 rush yards, 3 TDs (12 games)

• Cole Gonzales, Western Carolina, Jr., 6-0, 195 (Southern Conference) 
205 of 332 (61.7%), 2,543 yards, 12 TDs, 7 TDs; 212 rush yards, 2 TDs (8 games)

• Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 225 (Missouri Valley Football Conference) 
173 of 280 (61.8%), 2,190 yards, 17 TDs, 6 INTs; 309 rush yards, 5 TDs (12 games)

• Miles Hastings, UC Davis, Sr., 6-1, 225 (Big Sky Conference)
303 of 436 (69.5%), 3,745 yards, 32 TDs, 8 INTs; 1 rush TD (12 games)

• Maverick McIvor, Abilene Christian, Grad, 6-2, 210 (United Athletic Conference)
292 of 467 (62.5%), 3,675 yards, 29 yards, 5 TDs (12 games)

• Tommy Mellott, Montana State, Sr., 6-0, 209 (Big Sky Conference)
149 of 217 (68.7%), 1,980 yards, 22 TDs, 1 INT; 633 rush yards, 11 TDs (12 games) 

• Cam Miller, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 213 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
190 of 256 (74.2%), 2,340 yards, 23 TDs, 1 INT; 370 rush yards, 7 TDs (12 games)

• Eric Phoenix, South Carolina State, Grad, 6-3, 210 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
170 of 261 (65.1%), 2,460 yards, 20 TDs, 7 INTs; 225 rush yards, 2 TDs (11 gamea)

• Daniel Richardson, Florida A&M, Grad, 5-10, 205 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
212 of 304 (69.7%), 2,469 yards, 21 TDs, 8 INTs (11 games)

• Derek Robertson, Monmouth, Sr., 6-2, 200 (CAA Football)
283 of 435 (65.1%), 3,937 yards, 31 TDs, 6 INTs (12 games)

• Ralph Rucker IV, Bucknell, Sr., 6-0, 210 (Patriot League)
244 of 363 (67.2%), 2,826 yards, 25 TDs, 7 INTs; 100 rush yards, 4 TDs (11 games)

• Sam Vidlak, Stephen F. Austin, Jr., 6-1, 207 (Southland Conference)
174 of 257 (67.7%), 2,387 yards, 27 TDs, 4 INTs (9 games)

• Jameson Wang, Cornell, Sr., 6-1, 205 (Ivy League)
244 of 378 (64.6%), 24 TDs, 11 INTs; 500 rush yards, 7 TDs (10 games)

RUNNING BACK
• Mari Adams, Davidson, Jr., 5-10, 210 (Pioneer Football League)
187 carries, 1,231 yards (6.6 ypc), 15 TDs (11 games)

• Hope Adebayo, St. Thomas, Sr., 5-8, 201 (Pioneer Football League)
180 carries, 1,137 yards (6.3 ypc), 9 TDs; 8 receptions, 29 yards (11 games)

• Kayvon Britten, Tarleton State, Sr., 5-7, 195 (United Athletic Conference)
287 carries, 1,750 yards (6.1 ypc), 16 TDs; 10 receptions, 120 yards, 1 TD (12 games)

• Jermaine Corbett, Merrimack, Sr., 5-9, 195 (FCS Independent)
189 carries, 1,058 yards (5.6 ypc), 9 TDs; 20 receptions, 204 yards, 1 TD; 503 KOR yards, 2 TD (11 games)

• Jamar Curtis, Lafayette, Jr., 5-8, 164 (Patriot League) 
229 carries, 1,139 yards (5.0 ypc), 16 TDs; 30 receptions, 232 yards, 1 TD (12 games)

• Roland Dempster, Stony Brook, R-Sr., 6-0, 225 (CAA Football)
268 carries, 1,332 yards (5.0 ypc), 18 TDs; 32 receptions, 335 yards, 1 TD (12 games)

•Malachi Hosley, Penn, So., 5-10, 205 (Ivy League)
191 carries, 1,192 yards (6.2 ypc), 9 TDs; 12 receptions, 89 yards (10 games)

• Elijah Howard, Central Connecticut State, RB, So., 5-11, 176 (Northeast Conference)
209 carries, 833 yards (4.0 ypc), 8 TDs; 19 receptions, 193 yards, 1 (10 games)

• Targhee Lambson, Southern Utah, Sr., 5-9, 200 (United Athletic Conference)
320 carries, 1,922 yards (6.0 ypc), 23 TDs; 5 receptions, 43 yards (12 games)

• Lan Larison, UC Davis, Sr., 6-0, 195 (Big Sky Conference) 
255 carries, 1,321 yards (5.2 ypc), 14 TDs; 58 receptions, 755 yards, 6 TDs (12 games)

• Antonio Martin Jr., Southeastern Louisiana, So., 5-11, 220 (Southland Conference)
230 carries, 1,228 yards (5.3 ypc), 11 TDs; 20 receptions, 74 yards (12 games)

• Dwayne McGee, Mercer, Sr., 5-8, 180 (Southern Conference) 
195 carries, 1,018 yards (5.2 ypc), 8 TDs; 12 receptions, 118 yards (12 games)

• Irv Mulligan, Jackson State, Grad, 5-10, 205 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
157 carries, 1,058 yards (6.7 ypc), 10 TDs; 3 receptions, 39 yards (10 games) 

• ShunDerrick Powell, Central Arkansas, Sr., 5-9, 180 (United Athletic Conference) 
164 carries, 1,343 yards (8.2 ypc), 14 TDs; 36 receptions, 318 yards, 3 TDs (11 games)

• J’Mari Taylor, North Carolina Central, R-Jr., 5-11, 200 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
196 carries, 1,148 yards (5.9 ypc), 15 TDs; 30 receptions, 271 yards, 2 TDs (11 games)

WIDE RECEIVER
• Jeff Caldwell, Lindenwood, Jr., 6-5, 200 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
53 receptions, 1,032 yards (19.5 ypc), 11 TDs (12 games)

• Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington, Sr., 5-11, 200 (Big Sky Conference)
120 receptions, 1,311 yards (10.9 ypc), 13 TDs; 67 punt return yards (12 games)

• Jalen Walthall, UIW, R-Jr., 6-2, 180 (Southland Conference)
70 receptions, 1,149 yards (16.4 ypc), 14 TDs (12 games)

OFFENSIVE LINE
• Charles Grant, William & Mary, Sr., 6-4, 280 (CAA Football)
First Senior Bowl invite; 41 career starts; allowed only two sacks last three years (12 games)