Payton Award Ballot Released

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

2009 Payton Award ballot released

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards, the defending Payton Award winner, was among the 20 candidates named to the 2009 Walter Payton Award ballot on Monday.

Edwards is trying to become the first two-time winner of the Payton Award.

That listing, along with ballots for the Eddie Robinson and Buck Buchanan awards, were released and distributed to voters on Monday. Voting will be conducted this week and winners will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 17 during the 23nd annual Sports Network awards dinner at the Marriott Hotel in Chattanooga, TN, the night before the NCAA Division I Football Championship game.

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnf ... id=4268972

[danefan]

Good to see James Mallory on the final list. He's been the best RB in the NEC this year and the kid is a pretty solid NFL prospect. Good to see he got some recognition.

[SpiderFan5]

I like Edwards, Hudgins, and Karim
Edwards puts up solid numbers, and Karim has incredible rushing stats
But Hudgins has insane recieving stats
133 yards a game
15 TDs Thats pretty awesome

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

I like Edwards, Hudgins, and Karim
Edwards puts up solid numbers, and Karim has incredible rushing stats
But Hudgins has insane recieving stats
133 yards a game
15 TDs Thats pretty awesome

One reason why I would never vote for Hudgins to win the award is because of how many times they throw the ball and the fact that he is the only one getting the ball in their offense. If he played at Cal Poly he would not have near the numbers that Ramses Barden had. I will probably have Hudgins 3rd on my ballot though as he has still been impressive throughout his career. He has great hands and runs very good routes.

[AZGrizFan]

I don't see how Edwards doesn't win the award again. There's some good candidates, but I'd be shocked if he lost it.

[Cap'n Cat]

I don't see how Edwards doesn't win the award again. There's some good candidates, but I'd be shocked if he lost it.

Why don't you go to bed, Mr. My-Team's-In-The-Playoffs-Butthead!!!

[AZGrizFan]

I don't see how Edwards doesn't win the award again. There's some good candidates, but I'd be shocked if he lost it.

Why don't you go to bed, Mr. My-Team's-In-The-Playoffs-Butthead!!!

Because where I'm at it's only 10:41.

[squidyc]

You are forgetting the Dark Horse in this Payton Award race. Matt Nichols of Eastern Washington has had a great season so far and has some incredible career numbers as well.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

You are forgetting the Dark Horse in this Payton Award race. Matt Nichols of Eastern Washington has had a great season so far and has some incredible career numbers as well.

Welcome squidyc... good to see another EWU poster. Stick around.

[houndawg]

Glaring oversight that SIU CB Korey Lindsey was left off of the Buchanan list.

[andy7171]

I don't see how AE doesn't win it again. Although the QB from Holy Cross has some eye popping numbers.

[AppGuy04]

Its Armanti's to lose but would not be surprised with Karim or Hudgins(the next TO- in a bad way)

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

I don't see how AE doesn't win it again. Although the QB from Holy Cross has some eye popping numbers.

I think I will probably vote for AE to win it with Nichols at EWU 2nd and Karim at SIU 3rd. Hudgins will probably be 4th on my ballot with Randolph 5th. When I saw Randolph I thought his accuracy was very inconsistent, thus why he has so many INTs. I think Nichols is a sleeper to not only finish very high in this vote but I would not be surprised if he got strong NFL looks this off-season.

[squidyc]

I don't agree with small college fb fan on the Payton Award winner but I do agree with his comment about Nichols playing on Sunday. He has an excellent chance not only because of his talent but because of his leadership, character and work ethic. I think Edwards deserved the Payton Award last year but that doesn't entitle him to it this year. He is a great player but Nichols numbers this year are better on a lesser team plus his career marks are huge. He is having a record breaking year.

[JConnolly]

Its Armanti's to lose but would not be surprised with Karim or Hudgins(the next TO- in a bad way)

Hudgins the next TO? Are you talking about on the field or off? because I could see it both ways. Some of the things he does and says on the sidelines are absolutely ridiculous. But he puts up great numbers and can completely take a game over. But, I'm not saying that his on field play makes his antics OK.

[kalm]

Here's Nichol's numbers the last 4 games while playing with the pressure of knowing another loss eliminates you from the playoffs:

MSU: 26/41 327 4 TD
PSU: 21/30 413 4 TD
@SUU: 28/38 380 4 tD
@NAU: 22/33 408 5 TD

Avg: 69% 382 4.2 TD

Going all the way back to the Weber game Matt has gone over 200 attemps without throwing a pick and has thrown an int in only two games all year. Also keep in mind that he compiled these stats with a 1000 yard rusher in the backfield.

Taking his season stats against power conference competition, his strong finish, and the value to his team in leading them to the playoffs Nichols should be #1 on everyone's list.

[EWURanger]

Here's Nichol's numbers the last 4 games while playing with the pressure of knowing another loss eliminates you from the playoffs:

MSU: 26/41 327 4 TD
PSU: 21/30 413 4 TD
@SUU: 28/38 380 4 tD
@NAU: 22/33 408 5 TD

Avg: 69% 382 4.2 TD

Going all the way back to the Weber game Matt has gone over 200 attemps without throwing a pick and has thrown an int in only two games all year. Also keep in mind that he compiled these stats with a 1000 yard rusher in the backfield.

Taking his season stats against power conference competition, his strong finish, and the value to his team in leading them to the playoffs Nichols should be #1 on everyone's list.

Without question. And while he's had a great year, his overall resume is even more impressive.

1.) 4-year starter in the #2 FCS Conference, a feat which speaks for itself
2.) 2007 & 2009 BSC Offensive MVP
3.) 3,369 yards and 30 touchdowns, with only 5 int's in the 2009 regular season
4.) 12,155 career passing yards (7th in FCS history), 92 career passing TD's
5.) Broke the BSC total offense record and ranks sixth nationally with 12,830 career yards.
6.) In numbers, has already surpassed the 2005 Payton Award Winner (Erik Meyer, Eastern Washington) And he has done all of this in the #2 FCS Conference, with an arguably less talented team than Meyer had in 2005.
7.) "In his last five games alone, Nichols has completed 68 percent of his passes for an average of 368.0 yards per game (1,840 total), 20 touchdowns, no interceptions and a passing efficiency rating of 183.0."

Seriously, what else would he have to do to win it? I don't think there's an offensive player in all of FCS that means as much to his team as Nichols does.

And while Edwards is undoubtedly deserving of the award, he hasn't had the year Nichols has had.

It would be a total farce if Nichols didn't win it, IMO.

[EWURanger]

I don't see how AE doesn't win it again. Although the QB from Holy Cross has some eye popping numbers.

I think I will probably vote for AE to win it with Nichols at EWU 2nd and Karim at SIU 3rd. Hudgins will probably be 4th on my ballot with Randolph 5th. When I saw Randolph I thought his accuracy was very inconsistent, thus why he has so many INTs. I think Nichols is a sleeper to not only finish very high in this vote but I would not be surprised if he got strong NFL looks this off-season.

I'm not clear on how you can justify putting Edwards over Nichols - and while I understand that they play on completely different styles of offense, Edwards has not had the year Nichols has had, really not even close.