Courtesy of North Carolina Central Athletic Communications
DURHAM, N.C. — North Carolina Central junior quarterback Davius Richard has joined the watch list of the 2022 Walter Payton Award, which Stats Perform presents to the national offensive player of the year in college football’s Division I subdivision (FCS).
Richard, a 6-3, 215-pound native of Belle Glade, Fla., currently leads the MEAC in passing yards (1,266), passing touchdowns (13), and rushing touchdowns (8). He is fourth in the nation (FCS) in points responsible for, averaging a MEAC-high 21.0 points per game, and tops the league with an average of 269.7 yards of total offense per outing.
Among NCCU’s all-time leaders, the junior quarterback ranks fourth in total offense with 6,379 career total yards and sixth with 5,419 career passing yards.
Richard is among 20 players added to a preseason list on Thursday (Oct. 20) that was announced in August.
More players can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner following the regular season. First awarded in 1987, the Payton has watched past recipients such as Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Kupp and Trey Lance move on to the NFL.
Also this season, Stats Perform will present the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman player of the year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) and FedEx Ground Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
For the complete watch list, visit TheAnalyst.com.
(https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/10/twenty-fcs-standouts-join-2022-walter-payton-award-watch-list/)
