2023 Walter Payton Watch List

[bonarae]

Initial watchlist as of August 2:

Quarterbacks Bret Bushka, Butler, R-Sr., 5-10, 205 (Pioneer Football League)
Zach Calzada, UIW, Gr., 6-4, 217 (Southland Conference)
Theo Day, Northern Iowa, R-Sr., 6-5, 231 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Cole Doyle, Saint Francis, R-Jr., 5-10, 170 (Northeast Conference) – 2022 Finalist
Zevi Eckhaus, Bryant, Jr., 6-1, 205 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State, Jr., 6-3, 220 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Nolan Grooms, Yale, Sr., 6-2, 188 (Ivy League)
Miles Hastings, UC Davis, Jr., 6-1, 189 (Big Sky Conference)
Michael Hiers, Samford, Sr., 6-1, 211 (Southern Conference) – 2022 Finalist
Gevani McCoy, Idaho, R-So., 6-2, 185 (Big Sky Conference)
Parker McKinney, Eastern Kentucky, R-Sr., 6-3, 208 (United Athletic Conference) – 2022 Finalist
Tommy Mellott, Montana State, Jr., 6-0, 209 (Big Sky Conference) – 2022 Finalist
Justin Miller, Southern Utah, R-Sr., 6-3, 210 (United Athletic Conference)
Reese Poffenbarger, UAlbany, R-So., 6-0, 210 (CAA Football)
Davius Richard, North Carolina Central, Sr., 6-3, 215 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) – 2022 Finalist
Tommy Schuster, North Dakota, Sr., 6-0, 195 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross, Sr., 6-3, 215 (Patriot League) – 2022 Finalist
Running Backs Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 220 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Ailym Ford, Chattanooga, R-Sr., 5-9, 213 (Southern Conference) – 2022 Finalist
Narii Gaither, Gardner-Webb, Sr., 5-10, 181 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
Malik Grant, Sacred Heart, Gr., 5-9, 200 (Northeast Conference) – 2021 Finalist
Geno Hess, Southeast Missouri, R-Sr., 5-8, 222 (Big South-OVC Football Association) – 2021 and 2022 Finalist
Jarveon Howard, Alcorn State, Sr., 5-10, 200 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Dylan Laube, New Hampshire, Sr., 5-10, 204 (CAA Football)
ShunDerrick Powell, Central Arkansas, Jr., 5-7, 168 (United Athletic Conference) – 2022 Finalist
Dominic Roberto, Furman, R-Sr., 5-11, 231 (Southern Conference)
Jaden Shirden, Monmouth, Jr., 5-9, 185 (CAA Football) – 2022 Finalist
TaMerik Williams, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 227 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Bronson Yoder, William & Mary, Sr., 5-11, 205 (CAA Football)
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends Jalen Coker, Holy Cross, Sr., 6-3, 207 (Patriot League)
Devron Harper, Mercer, Sr., 5-9, 168 (Southern Conference) – 2022 Finalist
Hayden Hatten, Idaho, R-Jr., 6-2, 205 (Big Sky Conference)

Ty James, Mercer, R-Sr., 6-2, 200 (Southern Conference)
Jaxon Janke, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 210 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Marshel Martin, Sacramento State, Sr., 6-2, 210 (Big Sky Conference)

https://theanalyst.com/na/2023/08/35-fcs-standouts-named-to-2023-walter-payton-award-preseason-watch-list/

[FUBeAR]

Teams with multiple Players on the Walter Payton Watch List…

* South Dakota State - 3 Players / 8.6% of Top Players in FCS - Consensus #1
* Idaho - 2 Players / 5.7% of Top Players in FCS - Consensus Top 10 / Top 5 in many polls
* Holy Cross - 2 Players / 5.7% of Top Players in FCS - Consensus Top 10 / Top 5 in many polls
* Mercer - 2 Players / 5.7% of Top Players in FCS - Ranked in the latter tier of the Top 25 in most polls / Unranked in some polls

1 of these things is not like the others.

Mercer, having taken Consensus Top 10 / Top 5 in many polls, 2022 Quarterfinalist, Samford, to Double OT in the final game of 2022, and returning 18 starters /10 on Defense, including 2 of the Top 35 Players in FCS, is no lower than a Top 15 Team. FUBeAR sees the Bears in the (AGS) 11-13 range - right there with Southeast Louisiana, SEMO, and New Hampshire.

[MR. CHICKEN]

Teams with multiple Players on the Walter Payton Watch List…

* South Dakota State - 3 Players / 8.6% of Top Players in FCS - Consensus #1
* Idaho - 2 Players / 5.7% of Top Players in FCS - Consensus Top 10 / Top 5 in many polls
* Holy Cross - 2 Players / 5.7% of Top Players in FCS - Consensus Top 10 / Top 5 in many polls
* Mercer - 2 Players / 5.7% of Top Players in FCS - Ranked in the latter tier of the Top 25 in most polls / Unranked in some polls

1 of these things is not like the others.

Mercer, having taken Consensus Top 10 / Top 5 in many polls, 2022 Quarterfinalist, Samford, to Double OT in the final game of 2022, and returning 18 starters /10 on Defense, including 2 of the Top 35 Players in FCS, is no lower than a Top 15 Team. FUBeAR sees the Bears in the (AGS) 11-13 range - right there with Southeast Louisiana, SEMO, and New Hampshire.


32903

.......CHART PLEASE!.......:D........AWK!

[FUBeAR]

32903

.......CHART PLEASE!.......:D........AWK!
https://brandongaille.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/total-consumption-of-poultry-industry-statistics.png

[smallcollegefbfan]

I would say about 5 or so are truly in the race late in the regular season but I think about 10 of these are considered serious contenders by most media and insiders.

These would be the names I think have best odds in the eyes of most.

Quarterbacks
Theo Day, Northern Iowa, R-Sr., 6-5, 231 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State, Jr., 6-3, 220 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Michael Hiers, Samford, Sr., 6-1, 211 (Southern Conference) – 2022 Finalist
Gevani McCoy, Idaho, R-So., 6-2, 185 (Big Sky Conference)
Parker McKinney, Eastern Kentucky, R-Sr., 6-3, 208 (United Athletic Conference) – 2022 Finalist
Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross, Sr., 6-3, 215 (Patriot League) – 2022 Finalist

Running Backs
Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State, Sr., 6-1, 220 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Ailym Ford, Chattanooga, R-Sr., 5-9, 213 (Southern Conference) – 2022 Finalist
Dylan Laube, New Hampshire, Sr., 5-10, 204 (CAA Football)
Jaden Shirden, Monmouth, Jr., 5-9, 185 (CAA Football) – 2022 Finalist

[FUBeAR]

32903

.......CHART PLEASE!.......:D........AWK!Just kiddin' with the prior chart, Mr. Chicken. FUBeAR wouldn't eat chicken unless it was on a day of the week ending in a "y."

But here's a Chart for you...Combined the Payton with the Buchanan - kinda like mixing those tasty, fat white meat breasts and those yummy, succulent dark meat thighs...y'know.



Awd
Pos
Fname
Lname
Note
Team
Team #
Yr
HT
WT
Conference
Conf #


Pay
WR/TE
Hayden
Hatten

Idaho

R-Jr.
6-2
205
Big Sky



Pay
QB
Gevani
McCoy

Idaho
2
R-So.
6-2
185
Big Sky



Pay
QB
Tommy
Mellott
2022 Finalist
Mont State

Jr.
6-0
209
Big Sky



Buc
DL
Sebastian
Valdez

Mont State
2
Jr.
6-3
291
Big Sky



Buc
LB
David
Hoage

N Colorado
1
Sr.
6-3
245
Big Sky



Buc
LB
Armon
Bailey

Sac State

Sr.
6-1
228
Big Sky



Pay
WR/TE
Marshel
Martin

Sac State
2
Sr.
6-2
210
Big Sky



Buc
DB
Rex
Connors

UC Davis

R-So.
6-1
203
Big Sky



Pay
QB
Miles
Hastings

UC Davis
2
Jr.
6-1
189
Big Sky



Buc
DB
Maxwell
Anderson

Weber State

Sr.
5-11
170
Big Sky



Buc
LB
Winston
Reid
2022 Finalist
Weber State
2
Sr.
6-1
230
Big Sky
11


Pay
QB
Zevi
Eckhaus

Bryant
1
Jr.
6-1
205
BigSouth-OVC



Buc
DL
Ty
French
2022 Finalist
Gardner-Webb

Sr.
6-3
230
BigSouth-OVC



Pay
RB
Narii
Gaither

Gardner-Webb
2
Sr.
5-10
181
BigSouth-OVC



Pay
RB
Geno
Hess
Finalist
2021/2022
SEMO

R-Sr.
5-8
222
BigSouth-OVC



Buc
DB
Lawrence
Johnson

SEMO

Gr.
6-0
196
BigSouth-OVC



Buc
LB
Bryce
Norman
2022 Finalist
SEMO
3
Jr.
6-0
226
BigSouth-OVC



Buc
DL
Daylan
Dotson

UT Martin
1
Jr.
6-3
280
BigSouth-OVC
7


Pay
RB
Jaden
Shirden
2022 Finalist
Monmouth
1
Jr.
5-9
185
CAA



Pay
RB
Dylan
Laube

UNH

Sr.
5-10
204
CAA



Buc
DL
Josiah
Silver

UNH
2
Jr.
6-2
243
CAA



Buc
LB
Tristan
Wheeler
Finalist
2020/2022
Richmond
1
R-Sr.
6-2
228
CAA



Pay
QB
Reese
Poffenbarger

UAlbany
1
R-So.
6-0
210
CAA



Buc
DL
Nate
Lynn
2021 Finalist
W&M

Sr.
6-3
255
CAA



Buc
LB
John
Pius
2022 Finalist
W&M

R-Jr.
6-2
230
CAA



Pay
RB
Bronson
Yoder

W&M
3
Sr.
5-11
205
CAA
8


Buc
DL
Thor
Griffith

Harvard
1
Sr.
6-2
305
Ivy League



Buc
LB
Liam
Johnson

Princeton
1
Sr.
6-0
220
Ivy League



Pay
QB
Nolan
Grooms

Yale
1
Sr.
6-2
188
Ivy League
3


Buc
DB
Khalil
Baker
2022 Finalist
NCCU

Sr.
6-0
185
MEAC



Pay
QB
Davius
Richard
2022 Finalist
NCCU
2
Sr.
6-3
215
MEAC



Buc
DL
Patrick
Godbolt

SCSU
1
Sr.
6-3
235
MEAC
3


Pay
QB
Tommy
Schuster

North Dakota
1
Sr.
6-0
195
MVFC



Buc
DL
Eli
Mostaert

NDSU

Sr.
6-3
286
MVFC



Pay
RB
TaMerik
Williams

NDSU
2
Sr.
6-1
227
MVFC



Pay
QB
Theo
Day

Northern Iowa
1
R-Sr.
6-5
231
MVFC



Buc
DB
Myles
Harden

South Dakota
1
Sr.
6-0
190
MVFC



Buc
LB
Adam
Bock
2021 Finalist
SDSU

Sr.
6-1
215
MVFC



Pay
RB
Isaiah
Davis

SDSU

Sr.
6-1
220
MVFC



Pay
QB
Mark
Gronowski

SDSU

Jr.
6-3
220
MVFC



Pay
WR/TE
Jaxon
Janke

SDSU
4
Sr.
6-3
210
MVFC
9


Buc
DL
Eric
O’Neill

LIU
1
So.
6-3
240
NEC



Pay
RB
Malik
Grant
2021 Finalist
Sacred Heart
1
Gr.
5-9
200
NEC



Pay
QB
Cole
Doyle
2022 Finalist
Saint Francis
1
R-Jr.
5-10
170
NEC
3


Pay
WR/TE
Jalen
Coker

Holy Cross

Sr.
6-3
207
Patriot League



Buc
LB
Jacob
Dobbs
2021 Finalist
Holy Cross

Sr.
6-0
237
Patriot League



Buc
DB
Devin
Haskins

Holy Cross

Sr.
6-3
209
Patriot League



Pay
QB
Matthew
Sluka
2022 Finalist
Holy Cross
4
Sr.
6-3
215
Patriot League
4


Pay
QB
Bret
Bushka

Butler
1
R-Sr.
5-10
205
PFL



Buc
DL
Finn
Claypool

Drake
1
R-So.
6-1
240
PFL
2


Buc
DB
Kameron
Brown

Chatt

Sr.
5-9
179
SoCon



Pay
RB
Ailym
Ford
2022 Finalist
Chatt

R-Sr.
5-9
213
SoCon



Buc
DL
Jay
Person
2022 Finalist
Chatt
3
Sr.
6-3
224
SoCon



Pay
RB
Dominic
Roberto

Furman
1
R-Sr.
5-11
231
SoCon



Buc
LB
Isaac
Dowling

Mercer

Jr.
5-10
225
SoCon



Pay
WR/TE
Devron
Harper
2022 Finalist
Mercer

Sr.
5-9
168
SoCon



Pay
WR/TE
Ty
James

Mercer
3
R-Sr.
6-2
200
SoCon



Pay
QB
Michael
Hiers
2022 Finalist
Samford
1
Sr.
6-1
211
SoCon



Buc
LB
Antoine
Williams
2022 Finalist
WCU
1
Jr.
5-10
205
SoCon
9


Buc
LB
Rodney
Dansby
2022 Finalist
HCU
1
Jr.
6-0
225
Southland



Pay
QB
Zach
Calzada

UIW
1
Gr.
6-4
217
Southland
2


Buc
LB
Colton
Adams

Alabama St
1
R-Jr.
6-2
230
SWAC



Pay
RB
Jarveon
Howard

Alcorn St
1
Sr.
5-10
200
SWAC



Buc
DL
Sundiata
Anderson

Grambling St
1
Sr.
6-5
240
SWAC
3


Pay
RB
ShunDerrick
Powell
2022 Finalist
Central Ark

Jr.
5-7
168
UAC



Buc
DL
David
Walker
2022 Finalist
Central Ark

Jr.
6-3
265
UAC



Buc
DB
TaMuarion
Wilson

Central Ark
3
Jr.
6-2
205
UAC



Pay
QB
Parker
McKinney
2022 Finalist
EKU
1
R-Sr.
6-3
208
UAC



Pay
QB
Justin
Miller

S Utah
1
R-Sr.
6-3
210
UAC



Buc
DL
Syrus
Webster

Utah Tech
1
Jr.
6-4
255
UAC
6

[caribbeanhen]

Ain’t no Blue Chickens on that list

[FUBeAR]

Ain’t no Blue Chickens on that listBut there are 8 representatives of the Coastal Atheltic Association on there. That's only 1 fewer than the SoCon. That's pretty good considering there are 3 times as many Teams in the Coastal Atheltic Association.