Wednesday, August 3, 2022
CHICAGO – University of Dayton redshirt senior running back Jake Chisholm is one of 35 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) players named Wednesday to the Stats Perform Walter Payton Award Watch List. The Payton award goes annually to the FCS offensive player of the year.
Chisholm is also one of 10 of last season’s Walter Payton finalists returning to the list this season.
The two-time Flyer co-captain was a Second Team Stats Perform FCS All-American last year as an all-purpose runner after finishing second in FCS football in all-purpose yardage (163.9 yards per game). He also led FCS in rushing attempts per game (23.5) and touchdowns per game (1.8).
Chisholm led the Pioneer Football League in rushing (103.3 yards per game), scoring (11.0 points per game), and all-purpose yardage. Playing behind a brand-new and improving offensive line, he finished the year with 502 yards and 13 touchdowns over the last three games, all Flyer wins. In addition to leading UD in rushing (1,073 yards), Chisholm also caught 30 passes for 361 yards, which was the third highest on the team.
The Union, Ky. native is a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American and was the 2021 PFL Scholar-Athlete.
Chisholm is the fifth Dayton player named to the Award's preseason watch list. Quarterback Steve Valentino was named in 2010, running back Connor Kacsor in 2015, tight end Adam Trautman in 2019, and quarterback Jack Cook in 2021 are the others.
First awarded in 1987, the Payton Award has watched past recipients such as Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Kupp, and Trey Lance move on to success in the NFL.
Dayton finished the 2021 season with three consecutive wins (including a season-ending win over Davidson), ending up 6-4 overall and 5-3 in the Pioneer Football League. The Flyers return six All-PFL performers.