West Added to Payton Watch List
RICHMOND, Va. (November 15, 2011) -- Season-long excellence has led to two players joining the
2011 Walter Payton Award Watch List including Towson freshman running back Terrance West. West joins four other CAA Football athletes who have been part of the watch list throughout parts of 2011 including William and Mary's Jonathan Grimes, Delaware's Andrew Pierce, Old Dominion's Thomas DeMarco and New Hampshire's Kevin Decker.
The Payton Award will celebrate its 25th anniversary this season and be presented to the FCS' outstanding player at the national awards banquet Friday night, Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas. Ballots will be sent to a panel of about 200 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries after the regular season on Nov. 21. Three finalists will be announced on Dec. 1 and invited to The Sports Network/Fathead FCS Awards Presentation.
West, who is one of the leading candidates for the Jerry Rice Freshman of the Year Award, has led the Tigers to an amazing turnaround this season. The Tigers, who were 1-10 last season, enter Saturday's regular season finale at Rhode Island with an 8-2 record and a 6-1 mark in CAA Football. If the Tigers beat Rhode Island on Saturday, they are guaranteed a share of the league championship. West leads NCAA FCS with a school record 25 touchdowns in nine games. He has rushed for 1,190 yards on 164 carries. While averaging 7.3 yards per carry, he already owns the third-highest single-season rushing total in school history.
The Sports Network also presents the Buck Buchanan, Jerry Rice and Eddie Robinson awards which are sponsored by Fathead.com. The Buchanan Award honors the FCS defensive player of the year, the new Rice Award goes to the FCS freshman of the year and the Robinson Award, which also is celebrating its 25th anniversary, honors the FCS coach of the year. Those three winners will join the top three Payton finalists at the national awards banquet.
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