• Complete Walter Payton Award Release and Voting Totals
In results of voting for the 2024 Walter Payton Award, given to the FCS National Offensive Player of the Year, Southeast Missouri quarterback
Paxton DeLaurent finished 12th while Lindenwood wide receiver
Jeff Caldwell tied for 27th.
The award, named for the legendary College and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back and given to the outstanding offensive player in the subdivision since 1987. Past winners include Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, John Friesz, Brian Finneran, Jimmy Garoppolo and Cooper Kupp.
A national panel of individuals (including media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries) voted on the Payton Award, which had 35 finalists. Voting reflected the regular season and was conducted before the start of the FCS playoffs.
DeLaurent led SEMO to a share of the Big South-OVC Association championship and the automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs in 2024. During the regular season he completed 320-of-533 passes for 3,520 yards and 29 touchdowns and rushed for another three scores through 12 starts. A five-time Big South-OVC Offensive Player of the Week selection in 2024, DeLaurent added 567 passing yards and four passing touchdowns in the Redhawks FCS Playoff game with Illinois State.
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.
The three finalists for the award are Southern Utah running back Targhee Lambson and quarterbacks Tommy Mellott of Montana State and Cam Miller of North Dakota State. The recipient will be announced at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas.
2024 Walter Payton Award Voting Results
A first-place vote was worth five points, a second-place vote four points, a third-place vote three points, a fourth-place vote two points and a fifth-place vote one point. The final number is the combined point total.
1, 2, 3. TBA on Jan. 4, between RB Targhee Lambson (Southern Utah) and QB's Tommy Mellott (Montana State)
4. Zach Calzada, QB, UIW: 5-4-5-4-7-71
5. Lan Larison, RB, UC Davis: 5-4-5-4-2-66
6. Derek Robertson, QB, Monmouth: 2-4-5-6-8-61
7. Miles Hastings, QB, UC Davis: 3-4-3-5-2-52
8. Kayvon Britten, RB, Tarleton State: 1-2-1-5-7-33
9. Efton Chism III, WR, Eastern Washington: 1-1-1-6-6-30
10. Mark Gronowski, QB, South Dakota State: 2-1-2-1-0-22
11. Maverick McIvor, QB, Abilene Christian: 0-2-2-2-1-19
12. Paxton DeLaurent, QB, Southeast Missouri: 0-1-2-3-1-17
13. Eric Phoenix, QB, South Carolina State: 1-1-1-0-1-13
14. Jacob Clark, QB, Missouri State: 1-0-2-0-1-12
15. ShunDerrick Powell, RB, Central Arkansas: 0-1-1-1-0-9
16. Dwayne McGee, RB, Mercer: 0-0-1-2-1-8
17. J’Mari Taylor, RB, North Carolina Central: 0-0-1-2-0-7
18. Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary: 0-1-0-0-2-6
19. Ralph Rucker IV, QB, Bucknell: 0-0-1-1-0-5
T20. Daniel Richardson, QB, Florida A&M: 0-1-0-0-0-4
T20. Jalen Walthall, WR, UIW: 0-0-0-0-4-4
22. Irv Mulligan, RB, Jackson State: 0-0-1-0-0-3
23. Elijah Howard, RB, Central Connecticut State: 0-0-0-1-0-2
T24. Hope Adebayo, RB, St. Thomas: 0-0-0-0-1-1
T24. Jamar Curtis, RB, Lafayette: 0-0-0-0-1-1
T24. Cole Gonzales, QB, Western Carolina: 0-0-0-0-1-1
T27. Mari Adams, RB, Davidson: 0-0-0-0-0-0
T27. Jeff Caldwell, WR, Lindenwood: 0-0-0-0-0-0
T27. Jaden Craig, QB, Harvard: 0-0-0-0-0-0
T27. Jermaine Corbett, RB, Merrimack: 0-0-0-0-0-0
T27. Roland Dempster, RB, Stony Brook: 0-0-0-0-0-0
T27. Malachi Hosley, RB, Penn: 0-0-0-0-0-0
T27. Antonio Martin Jr., RB, Southeastern Louisiana: 0-0-0-0-0-0
T27. Sam Vidlak, QB, Stephen F. Austin: 0-0-0-0-0-0
T27. Jameson Wang, QB, Cornell: 0-0-0-0-0-0