• Complete Walter Payton Award Release

Tennessee Tech redshirt senior quarterback Kekoa Visperas is one of 30 finalists nationally 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 and Trey Lance. 

Visperas set a new Tennessee Tech single-season record for touchdown passes (25 – a mark that ranked eighth nationally) in helping the Golden Eagles finish 11-1 overall and 8-0 in the OVC-Big South as they won their second-straight Association title and first outright Conference Championship since 1975. The transfer from Eastern Washington led the Association in total offense (247.5 yards/game) and total offensive touchdowns (28). In 12 regular season games he completed 212-of-323 passes (65.6%) for 2,486 yards and also rushed for 484 yards (third on the TTU team) and three additional scores.

He also ranked 19th nationally in points responsible for (168), 20th in passing efficiency (152.7), 23rd in total offense and 28th in completion percentage. A finalist for the Walter Payton Award, Visperas was named OVC-Big South Offensive Player of the Week three times and passed for a season-best 358 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 73 yards in a victory over Western Illinois on October 4.

The winner, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet on January 3 in Nashville, Tennessee. 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), HBCU Player of the Year and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be presented at the awards banquet.

2025 WALTER PAYTON AWARD FINALISTS
QUARTERBACKS
Keali’I Ah Yat, Montana, R-So., 6-1, 200 (Big Sky Conference)
Braden Atkinson, Mercer, Fr., 6-1, 215 (Southern Conference)
Andrew Body, Alabama State, R-Jr., 6-0, 205 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Beau Brungard, Youngstown State, Jr., 6-0, 215 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Jaden Craig, Harvard, Sr., 6-2, 215 (Ivy League) 
Taron Dickens, Western Carolina, R-So., 5-11, 180 (Southern Conference)
Devin Farrell, Rhode Island, R-Jr., 6-0, 195 (CAA Football)
Victor Gabalis, Tarleton State, Sr., 6-3, 210 (United Athletic Conference)
Walker Harris, North Carolina Central, R-Sr., 6-1, 195 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Collin Hurst, Presbyterian, R-So., 5-10, 185 (Pioneer Football League) 
Justin Lamson, Montana State, Jr., 6-2, 210 (Big Sky Conference)
Eddie Lee Marburger, UT Rio Grande Valley, R-Sr., 6-2, 215 (Southland Conference)
Chris Parson, Austin Peay, R-So., 5-11, 224 (United Athletic Conference)
Cole Payton, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 233 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Kekoa Visperas, Tennessee Tech, R-Sr., 6-0, 193 (OVC-Big South Football Association) 
DJ Williams, Southern Illinois, Sr., 6-3, 218 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)

RUNNING BACKS
Joshua Dye, Southern Utah, R-So., 5-11, 205 (United Athletic Conference)
Kente Edwards, Lafayette, Jr., 5-9, 197 (Patriot League)
Marquis Gillis, Delaware State, RB, Grad, 6-0, 210 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Rodney Hammond Jr., Sacramento State, Sr., 5-9, 195 (Big Sky Conference)
Elijah Howard, Central Connecticut State, Sr., 5-10, 185 (NEC Football) 
Rodney Nelson, Monmouth, R-So., 5-8, 195 (CAA Football)
L.J. Phillips Jr., South Dakota, R-So., 5-9, 225 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Josh Pitsenberger, Yale, Sr., 6-0, 220 (Ivy League) 
Luke Yoder, Lehigh, Jr., 5-11, 205 (Patriot League)

WIDE RECEIVERS
Marquis Buchanan, Rhode Island, R-So., 6-4, 175 (CAA Football)
Joey Isabella, Duquesne, Grad, 5-9, 185 (NEC Football)
Bryce Lance, North Dakota State, R-Sr., 6-3, 209 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Jared Richardson, Penn, Sr., 6-2, 220 (Ivy League)
Michael Wortham, Montana, R-Sr., 5-9, 190 (Big Sky Conference)