• Complete Walter Payton Award Release and Voting Totals
In results of voting for the 2021 Walter Payton Award, presented by Stats Perform to the FCS National Offensive Player of the Year, UT Martin graduate student quarterback
Keon Howard finished tied for 12th while Southeast Missouri senior running back
Geno Hess finished tied for 23rd.
The award, named for the legendary College and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back and given to the outstanding offensive player in the subdivision since 1987. Past winners include Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, John Friesz, Brian Finneran, Jimmy Garoppolo and Cooper Kupp.
A national panel of 50 individuals (including media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries) voted on the Payton Award, which had 25 finalists from 15 FCS conferences. Voting reflected the regular season and was conducted before the start of the FCS playoffs.
Howard was named the OVC Offensive Player of the Year after taking over as UT Martin's quarterback after transferring from Tulane. The Skyhawks had a 3-4 record in the spring season with most of the same players, but after transferring in summer, Howard guided the team to its first OVC title and playoff berth since 2006. Howard played in 10 games (missed finale due to injury, a game UTM lost) and accounted for 2,285 yards of total offense and 25 touchdowns. Howard completed 59.7 percent of his passes for 1,811 yard and 15 touchdowns and carried the ball 95 times for 474 yards (5.0 ypc) and 10 scores. He ran for multiple touchdowns in four games and threw for multiple scores in four contests. For the regular season, Howard ranked 24th nationally in rushing touchdowns and 27th in points responsible for/game (13.6).
Hess was a first-team All-OVC selection for second-straight year. In 10 games (he missed the final game due to injury), he ran for an OVC-best 1,115 yards and 14 touchdowns (after leading the FCS with 12 rushing touchdowns last season). For the regular season, that ranked him seventh nationally in rushing touchdowns and rushing yards, 11th in total touchdowns (11), 16th in scoring (8.4 points/game), 20th in all-purpose yards (118.40/game) and 32nd in rushing yards/carry (5.52). Hess ran for a season-best 205 yards and three touchdowns against Tennessee State and had seven games with 100-plus rushing yards (including in the last five games of the season).
The three finalists for the award are quarterbacks Eric Barriere of Eastern Washington and Cole Kelley of Southeastern Louisiana and running back Quay Holmes of ETSU. The winner will be announced at the FCS National Awards Banquet in Frisco, Texas, with a broadcast of the festivities to begin airing the next day, Jan. 8, on Bally Sports Regional Networks.