FARMINGTON, Utah — Stats Perform announced its Walter Payton Award Watch List on Wednesday, which includes four names from the Big Sky as the quartet vies for the title of best FCS offensive player this fall.
Click here for the full FCS Stats Perform release.
Eric Barriere of Eastern Washington, Josh Davis of Weber State, Elijah Dotson of Sacramento State and Samuel Akem of Montana represented the Big Sky in Wednesday’s announcement.
Barriere was one of three finalists for the award last season, as the EWU quarterback earned All-America honors from six different publications following the spring season, along with being the FCS ADA and Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Barriere was named the Big Sky Preseason Offensive MVP at last week’s Football Kickoff in Spokane, Washington.
All four players were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team as well by the league this past week.
More players can join the watch list during the regular season, and a national media panel will select the winner following it. First awarded in 1987, the Payton has watched past winners such as Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Kupp and Trey Lance move on to the NFL.
— Big Sky Conference
