The announcements of Walter Payton and Buck Buchanan awards cap the annual Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet. The various awards have a rich history of recipients.
The FCS stars will shine Saturday night when the top individual awards in college football’s Division I subdivision are presented at the 2024 Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet.
Six awards will be handed out, including the two original legacy awards – the Walter Payton Award and the Eddie Robinson Award – in their 38th year. The Buck Buchanan Award is celebrating its 30th anniversary season.
Two-time Super Bowl-winning linebacker Gary Reasons is the master of ceremonies for the annual FCS national awards banquet. It will air on HBCU+ streaming service and The Analyst’s FCS Delivered YouTube channel, beginning on Sunday.
38th Walter Payton Award
The Walter Payton Award recipient will be announced at the banquet. From 35 finalists, the FCS offensive player of the year is down to Southern Utah running back Targhee Lambson and quarterbacks Tommy Mellott of Montana State and Cam Miller of North Dakota State.
30th Buck Buchanan Award
The Buck Buchanan Award recipient will be announced at the banquet. From 35 finalists, the FCS defensive player of the year is down to Richmond defensive end Jeremiah Grant, Mercer cornerback TJ Moore and Central Arkansas defensive end David Walker.
14th Jerry Rice Award
North Dakota State running back CharMar Brown will receive the Jerry Rice Award, making the Bison program the first to have two FCS freshman players of the year.
38th Eddie Robinson Award
Montana State’s Brent Vigen will receive FCS coach of the year honors, having led the Bobcats to a 15-0 record and a spot in the national championship game.
10th FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award
Another award celebrating an anniversary, North Carolina Central punter/place-kicker Juan Velarde will receive the Doris Robinson, which honors an FCS student-athlete who exemplifies excellence on the field, in the classroom and across the community.
Inaugural HBCU+ National Player of the Year
South Carolina State quarterback Eric Phoenix will receive the newest award at the banquet. It honors the outstanding player from the 21 FCS programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
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