Walter Payton Watch

By JOSH BUCHANAN - SMALL SCHOOL INSIDER

PAYTON TOP 5

In this week’s edition several changes have been made in the top five of each award with some great performances over the last few weeks. It appears that Appalachian State QB Armanti Edwards has indeed put his stamp on the season and sealed the school’s first Walter Payton Award winner ever. Western Illinois RB Herb Donaldson has risen up after taking over the lead in scoring and rushing for FCS. Edwards becomes the front runner to earn an unprecedented second Payton Award next year with stiff competition likely to come from Cameron Higgins next season.

1. QB ARMANTI EDWARDS, APPALACHIAN STATE, JR.
Stats- 141 comp, 224 att, 2146, 25 TDs, 2 INT, 62.9%, 178.5 pass eff., 195.1 yards per game, 166 carries, 890 yards, 5.4avg, 9 TDs in 11 games.

2. QB RODNEY LANDERS, JAMES MADISON, SR.
Stats- 80 comp, 126 att, 1,150 yards, 14 TDs, 3 INT, 63.5%, 172.06 pass eff., 115.0 yards per game, 187 carries, 1,260 yards, 11 TDs, 6.7avg in 10 games.

3. RB HERB DONALDSON, WESTERN ILLINOIS, SR.
Stats- 284 carries, 1,549 yards, 5.5ypg, 20 TDs, 154.9 yards per game, 13 catches, 76 yards, 5.8avg, 1 TD in 10 games.

4. QB CAMERON HIGGINS, WEBER STATE, SOPH.
Stats- 240 comp, 350 att, 3,479 yards, 33 TDs, 8 INT, 68.6%, 178.61 pass eff., 312.7 yards per game, 43 carries, -72 yards, -1.7avg, 1 TD in 11 games.

5. WR RAMSES BARDEN, CAL POLY, SR.
Stats- 55 catches, 1,066 yards, 15 TDs, 19.4avg, 118.4 yards per game in 9 games.

BEST OF THE REST

QB COLE BERGQUIST, MONTANA, SR.
Stats- 164 comp, 255 att, 2,310 yards, 23 TDs, 5 INT, 64.3%, 166.25 pass eff., 210.0 yards per game, 113 carries, 194 yards, 1.7avg, 6 TDs in 11 games.

QB RHETT BOMAR, SAM HOUSTON STATE, SR.
Stats- 212 comp, 381 att, 3,018 yards, 24 TDs, 11 INT, 55.6%, 137.19 pass eff., 335.3 yards per game, 73 carries, 152 yards, 2.1avg, 3 TDs in 9 games.

QB NATHAN BROWN, CENTRAL ARKANSAS, SR.
Stats- 235 comp, 346 att, 2,953 yards, 29 TDs, 3 INT, 67.9%, 165.54 pass eff., 268.5 yards per game, 61 carries, 144 yards, 2.4avg in 11 games.

WR TERRELL HUDGINS, ELON, JR.
Stats- 79 catches, 1,066 yards, 10 TDs, 13.5avg, 96.9 yards per game in 11 games.

RB RASHAD JENNINGS, LIBERTY, SR.
Stats- 241 carries, 1,391 yards, 5.8avg, 16 TDs, 139.1 yards per game, 23 catches, 178 yards, 7.7avg, 2 TDs, 1 TT in 10 games.

QB BRYANT LEE, SOUTHERN, JR.
Stats- 205 comp, 335 att, 2,498 yards, 19 TDs, 7 INT, 61.2%, 138.4 pass eff., 249.8 yards per game, 133 carries, 510 yards, 3.8avg, 6 TDs in 10 games.

WR JOHN MATTHEWS, SAN DIEGO, SR.
Stats- 89 catches, 1,317 yards, 14.8avg, 20 TDs, 131.7 yards per game, 7 carries, 8 yards, 1.1avg, 1 KR, 22 yards, 22.0avg in 10 games.

QB CHRIS PIZZOTTI, HARVARD, SR.
Stats- 181 comp, 287 att, 2,381 yards, 17 TDs, 4 INT, 63.1%, 149.51 pass eff., 264.6 yards per game, 71 carries, 112 yards, 1.6ypg, 5 TDs in 9 games.

QB DOMINIC RANDOLPH, HOLY CROSS, SR.
Stats- 324 comp, 493 att, 3,522 yards, 31 TDs, 16 INT, 65.7%, 139.99 pass eff., 61 carries, 85 yards, 1.4avg, 4 TDs in 10 games.

WR ANDRE ROBERTS, THE CITADEL, JR.
Stats- 90 catches, 1,268 yards, 14.1avg, 14 TDs, 115.3 yards per game, 18 carries, 88 yards, 4.9avg, 1 TD, 1 att, 1 comp, 15 yards, 100%, 226.0 pass eff., 21 PR, 393 yards, 18.7avg, 2 TDs, 64 long, 2 TT in 9 games.

RB DAVID SINISI, MONMOUTH, JR.
Stats- 286 carries, 1,674 yards, 5.9avg, 22 TDs, 152.2 yards per game, 14 catches, 103 yards, 7.4avg in 11 games.

Photo Credit: Western Illinois Media Relations