Tuesday, November 4, 2014
by Dayton Athletic Media Relations

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – University of Dayton senior running back Connor Kacsor has been named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List, it was announced today.  The announcement was made by The Sports Network, which presents the award to the nation’s top football player who plays in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision at its national awards banquet in December.

Kacsor currently leads the Pioneer Football League and is third in FCS football in rushing yards per game (145.6)  His 301 yards against Georgetown in the season opener is the best in Division I this season, and he is the only FCS player with three rushing performances of 200 yards or more this season. 

The Leo, Ind. native is the first Dayton player to be named to the Payton Watch List, and the only one this season from the PFL.

He has led the Flyers to a 6-2 record so far in 2014.  Dayton is one of three teams in the PFL with one loss.

Much like the namesake of the award he has been nominated for, Kacsor is everything you want in a running back.

He is powerful (301 yards vs. Georgetown), fast (three TD’s of 50 yards or more vs. Morehead State), durable (47 carries vs. Davidson), dependable (65 of his 81 yards at Marist came in the fourth quarter with UD protecting a lead) and clutch (four TD’s in five overtimes at Davidson).

With three games remaining, Kacsor already has the fifth-best single-season rushing performance in UD history (1,165 yards).

This is the 28^th year of the Walter Payton Award.  It is named for NFL legend Walter Payton, who was a collegiate star at Jackson State.  Past winners include Dave Meggett, Steve McNair, Brian Westbrock and Tony Romo.

Other players on the Walter Payton Award Watch List are quarterbacks Vernon Adams Jr. of Eastern Washington, Justin Arias of Idaho State, Bryan Bennett of Southeastern Louisiana, Jacob Huesman of Chattanooga, Michael Nebrich of Fordham, Dakota Prukop of Montana State, John Robertson of Villanova and Alex Ross of Coastal Carolina; running backs Marshaun Coprich of Illinois State, Malcolm Cyrus of Alabama State, Khairi Dickson of Saint Francis (Pa.), Chase Edmonds of Fordham, Rob Hollomon of Central Connecticut State, DaMarcus James of Jacksonville State, David Johnson of Northern Iowa, Gus Johnson of Stephen F. Austin, Dy'Shawn Mobley of Eastern Kentucky, Tyler Varga of Yale, Herb Walker Jr. of Morgan State and Zach Zenner of South Dakota State; wide receivers Kenny Cook of Gardner-Webb, R.J. Harris of New Hampshire and Cooper Kupp of Eastern Washington; and tight end MyCole Pruitt of Southern Illinois.

Ballots for the Walter Payton Award Watch List will be sent to a national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries following the regular season. The top three vote-getters will be invited to the national awards banquet.

The Sports Network also presents the Buck Buchanan, Jerry Rice and Eddie Robinson awards. The Buchanan Award honors the outstanding defensive player in the FCS, the Rice Award goes to the FCS freshman of the year and the Robinson Award is bestowed upon the FCS coach of the year.