Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – South Carolina State record-setting running back Will Ford is among the first four players named to the 2009 Payton Award Watch, which is headed by Armanti Edwards, the Appalachian State quarterback who won the 2008 Walter Payton Award.
Also named to the watch list on Tuesday were Samford running back Chris Evans and Northern Iowa quarterback Pat Grace.
Ford, a 5-11, 200 senior of Travelers Rest, has been the offensive spark plug for a South Carolina State team that won its first MEAC championship since 1994 and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1982 last season. He rushed for 1,499 yards and averaged 6.1 yards per carry with 13 touchdowns for a Bulldog team that finished 8-0 in the conference and 10-3 overall. For his efforts, Ford earned first-team All-MEAC honors and was a second-team All-American. He was first in the MEAC in rushing and 13th nationally with an average of 115 yards per game. In 2007 Ford rushed for 1,433 yards and averaged 6.6 yards per carry with four touchdowns. He set the school single-game record for rushing with 322 yards in 2007 during a 51-7 victory over North Carolina A&T, one of seven games with over 100 yards rushing. In his first three years with the team, Ford has rushed for 3640 yards with 27 total touchdowns. Ford was a Payton Award finalist in 2008, finishing 12th. He rushed for 752 yards, a 6.7-yard average and 10 TDs as a freshman and led the team with 20 kickoff returns for 517 yards and a 25.9 average, including one return for a 90-yard TD against Coastal Carolina.
A total of 20 candidates will be announced in alphabetical order prior to the start of the season, with four candidates being released each week. 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 before the NCAA Division I championship game. The Eddie Robinson Award and the Buck Buchanan Award will also be presented that night.
The Initial 2009 Payton Watch List
Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State, Senior, 6-0, 184, Quarterback
Chris Evans, Samford, Junior, 6-2, 218, Running Back
Will Ford, South Carolina State, Senior, 5-11, 2, Running Back
Pat Grace, Northern Iowa, Senior, 6-2, 240, Quarterback
--30--
