Walter Payton Award
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Walter Payton Award is awarded annually to the best offensive player in Division I-AA football. The honor was first given in 1987 to the outstanding player in Division I-AA, but in 1995, eligibility was restricted to offensive players. That year, the Buck Buchanan Award for I-AA defensive players was inaugurated.
The trophy was named in honor of NFL legend Walter Payton, who starred at Jackson State University, which is now a I-AA school. Both the Payton and Buchanan Awards are awarded the night before the annual I-AA championship game.
[edit] Previous winners
| Year | Player | School |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Kenny Gamble | Colgate |
| 1988 | Dave Meggett | Towson |
| 1989 | John Friesz | Idaho |
| 1990 | Walter Dean | Grambling |
| 1991 | Jamie Martin | Weber State |
| 1992 | Michael Payton | Marshall |
| 1993 | Doug Nussmeier | Idaho |
| 1994 | Steve McNair | Alcorn State |
| 1995 | Dave Dickenson | Montana |
| 1996 | Archie Amerson | Northern Arizona |
| 1997 | Brian Finneran | Villanova |
| 1998 | Jerry Azumah | New Hampshire |
| 1999 | Adrian Peterson | Georgia Southern |
| 2000 | Louis Ivory | Furman |
| 2001 | Brian Westbrook | Villanova |
| 2002 | Tony Romo | Eastern Illinois |
| 2003 | Jamaal Branch | Colgate |
| 2004 | Lang Campbell | William & Mary |
| 2005 | Erik Meyer | Eastern Washington |
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| College football awards: | |
| Best player awards: Heisman Memorial Trophy Maxwell Award | Walter Camp Award |
|
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Best Defenseman) Chuck Bednarik Award (Best Defenseman) Dave Rimington Trophy (Best C) Davey O'Brien Award (Best QB) Dick Butkus Award (Best LB) Doak Walker Award (Best RB) Draddy Trophy (Academic Heisman) Fred Biletnikoff Award (Best WR) Jim Thorpe Award (Best DB) |
John Mackey Award (Best TE) Johnny Unitas Award (Best Senior QB) Lombardi Award (Best Lineman or LB) Lou Groza Award (Best PK) Manning Award (Best QB) Mosi Tatupu Award (Best spec. teams) Outland Trophy (Best IOL or DL) Ray Guy Award (Best P) Ted Hendricks Award (Best DE) |
| Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year | Home Depot Coach of the Year | |
| Walter Payton Award (Best Div. I-AA Off.) | Buck Buchanan Award (Best Div. I-AA Def.) Harlon Hill Trophy (Div. II) | Gagliardi Trophy (Div. III) | Melberger Award (Div. III) |
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