PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – For the fourth straight year the USD football program will be represented on the Walter Payton Award Watch List, bestowed annually upon the top player in Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).  Senior quarterback Sebastian Trujillo (Durango, CO) is on the initial list of 20 candidates heading into the 2009 campaign.  He follows in the footsteps of quarterback Josh Johnson (2006 & 2007) and wide receiver John Matthews (2008).  In final voting, Johnson was 6th in 2006 and 3rd in 2007; Matthews placed 7th last season.

"It is an honor for Sebastian to be named to the Walter Payton Award pre-season watch list," said head coach Ron Caragher.  "I am confident he will build upon a successful '08 season in which he was a first year starter in our program, and I look forward to his continued growth and development as a quarterback and leader of our offense." 

Trujillo put up stellar numbers in his first year at San Diego after transferring from Saddleback Junior College in California. He passed for 2,822 yards and 35 TDs after replacing 2007 Payton Award finalist Josh Johnson. Trujillo completed 67% of his passes en route to earning first team all-Pioneer Football League honors, also ranking fifth nationally in passing efficiency and 15th in total offense. Trujillo threw four TDs four times and helped lead San Diego to a second-place finish with a 6-2 record in the PFL. He had a streak of five straight games without an interception and never had less than 191 yards passing and two TDs in a game. In a 28-20 upset win over UC Davis, Trujillo passed for 281 yards and three TDs, also passing for a career-high 364 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-10 win over Azusa Pacific.

A total of 20 candidates have been announced, four at a time in alphabetical order, over the past five weeks. Trujillo is one of four final candidates added to the watch list, joining Monmouth running back David Sinisi, Weber State running back Trevyn Smith, and New Hampshire quarterback R.J. Toman.  Candidates already added over the previous four weeks include Appalachian State quarterback and 2008 Payton Award winner Armanti Edwards, Samford running back Chris Evans, South Carolina State running back William Ford, Northern Iowa quarterback Pat Grace, Weber State quarterback Cameron Higgins, Elon receiver Terrell Hudgins, Southern quarterback Bryant Lee, Albany running back David McCarty, Massachusetts running back Tony Nelson, Eastern Washington quarterback Matt Nichols, McNeese State running back Todd Pendland, Jacksonville State quarterback Ryan Perrilloux, Florida A&M quarterback Curtis Pulley, Holy Cross quarterback Dominic Randolph, Montana running back Chase Reynolds and Citadel receiver Andre Roberts on the Payton Award watch list.

The watch list will be revised in October and again in November before the final ballot is announced. Voting from a panel of FCS sports information directors, writers, broadcasters and other football experts will be conducted after the regular season ends. Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 30 and will be invited to the 23rd annual Sports Network Awards banquet on Dec. 17 in Chattanooga, TN, the night prior to the NCAA Division I championship game. The Eddie Robinson Award (top FCS Coach) and Buck Buchanan Award (top FCS Defensive Player) will also be presented that night.