The Walter Payton Award is presented annually to the most outstanding offensive player in FCS football. Youngstown State linebacker Bo Brungard received the 2025 award Two days before the FCS championship game.
Here’s everything you need to know about the annual awards presented by Stats Perform FCS.
More: Jerry Rice Award History | History of the Buck Buchanan Award
FCS Walter Payton Award: What is it and who is it named after?
The Walter Payton Award was first presented in 1987 to the most outstanding player in the Football Championship Subdivision. In 1995, with the introduction of the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player, the Payton Award was changed to award only the top offensive player.
A national panel of more than 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries selects the award winner based on the players’ performance during the season. Voting is conducted prior to the start of the FCS playoffs.
The Walter Payton Award is one of five national awards announced by STATS FCS.
- Walter Payton Award (FCS Offensive Player of the Year)
- Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year)
- Jerry Rice Award (FCS Student of the Year)
- Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year)
- Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Offensive Player of the Year Walter Payton was an NFL legend with the Chicago Bears, winning nine Pro Bowls, earning MVP honors in 1977 and a Super Bowl ring in 1986. The all-time great running back started at Jackson State from 1971-74 as an FCS program.
Payton, a two-time FCS All-American, rushed for 3,600 total yards and 63 touchdowns in four years at Jackson State. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio and the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
FCS Walter Payton Award: When will the winner be announced?
The Walter Payton Award winner is announced annually at a reception and presentation the night before the STATS FCS Awards Ceremony. FCS Championship Game. The 2025 recipient was announced on Saturday, January 3, 2024.
All six STATS FCS national honors are celebrated at the banquet, but the Jerry Rice, Eddie Robinson, HBCU Player of the Year and Doris Robinson winners were all announced early. During the ceremony, the winners of the Payton and Buchanan Awards were announced for the first time.
The initial 35-man roster for the Walter Payton Award was released during the STATS FCS preseason. The list is updated periodically throughout the season, and the finalists are invited to a reception.
FCS Walter Payton Award: Complete History of Past Recipients
Youngstown State linebacker Bo Brungard won the 2025 Walter Payton Award as FCS football offensive player of the year, beating out top-three finalists Cole Payton (North Dakota State) and Taron Dickens (Western Carolina). Brungard is the first Youngstown State player to win the award in its 39-year history. In 12 games on the season, the Penguins quarterback completed 254 of 368 passes (69 percent) for 2,917 yards, 23 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He also rushed for 1,378 yards and 24 touchdowns, leading Youngstown State to the FCS playoffs.
Since the award was first introduced in 1987, the top 28 winners have been quarterbacks, including the last 10 seasons. Nine running backs and two wide receivers were also honored. Eastern Washington leads all schools with four winners.
Two players have lifted the hardware in a row: Appalachian quarterback Armanti Edwards, who won in 2008 and ’09, and Sam Houston State QB Jeremiah Briscoe Took it home in 2016 and ’17.
FCS CHAMPIONSHIP: How the FCS Playoffs Work | Schools with the most titles | The full story of the champion
Other notable honorees include NFL stars Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington, 2015), Jimmy Garoppolo (Eastern Illinois, 2013), Tony Romo (Eastern Illinois, 2002), Brian Westbrook (Villanova, 2001) and Steve McNair (Alcorn State, 2014). See the full list below.
FCS Walter Payton Award Winners (1987-2025):
| YEAR | WINNER, SCHOOL | POSITION | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The year 2025 | Bo Brungard, Youngstown State | Midfielder | The best moments |
| The year 2024 | Tommy Mellott, Montana State | Midfielder | The best moments |
| The year 2023 | Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State | Midfielder | The best moments |
| The year 2022 | Lindsey Scott Jr., Incarnate Word | Midfielder | The best moments |
| 2021 | Eric Barrier, Eastern Washington | Midfielder | The best matches |
| 2020 | Cole Kelly, Southeast Louisiana | Midfielder | |
| 2019 | Trey Lance, North Dakota State | Midfielder | Check out his highlights |
| 2018 | Devlin Hodges, Samford | Midfielder | |
| 2017 | Jeremiah Briscoe, Sam Houston State | Midfielder | |
| 2016 | Jeremiah Briscoe, Sam Houston State | Midfielder | |
| 2015 | Cooper Cupp, Eastern Washington | Wide receiver | Check out his highlights |
| 2014 | John Robertson, Villanova | Midfielder | |
| 2013 | Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois | Midfielder | Check out his highlights |
| 2012 | Taylor Heinick, Old Dominion | Midfielder | Check out his highlights |
| 2011 | Bo Levi Mitchell, Eastern Washington | Midfielder | |
| 2010 | Jeremy Moses, Steven F. Austin | Midfielder | |
| 2009 | Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State | Midfielder | |
| 2008 | Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State | Midfielder | |
| 2007 | Jason Foster, Georgia Southern | Midfielder | |
| 2006 | Ricky Santos, New Hampshire | Midfielder | |
| 2005 | Eric Meyer, Eastern Washington | Midfielder | |
| 2004 | Lang Campbell, William and Mary | Midfielder | |
| 2003 | Jamaal Branch, Colgate | Running back | |
| 2002 | Tony Romo, Eastern Illinois | Midfielder | |
| 2001 | Brian Westbrook, Villanova | Running back | |
| 2000 | Louis Ivory, Furman | Running back | |
| 1999 | Adrian Peterson, Georgia Southern | Running back | |
| 1998 | Jerry Azuma, New Hampshire | Running back | |
| 1997 | Brian Finneran, Villanova | Wide receiver | |
| 1996 | Archie Amerson, Northern Arizona | Running back | |
| 1995 | Dave Dickenson, Montana | Midfielder | |
| 1994 | Steve McNair, Alcorn State | Midfielder | |
| 1993 | Doug Nussmeier, Idaho | Midfielder | |
| 1992 | Michael Payton, Marshall | Midfielder | |
| 1991 | Jamie Martin, Weber County | Midfielder | |
| 1990 | Walter Dean, Grambling County | Running back | |
| 1989 | John Freeze, Idaho | Midfielder | |
| 1988 | Dave Meggett, Towson | Running back | |
| 1987 | Kenny Gamble, Colgate | Running back |
Leave a Reply