PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Eastern Kentucky University junior football player Dy’Shawn Mobley was one of four players added to the Walter Payton Award watch list on Tuesday. The award is given to the top player in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
Mobley joined the EKU squad in the spring after playing two years at Kentucky. The junior running back has helped lift the Colonels from a .500 season in 2013 to Ohio Valley Conference title contention this year. A big power back, Mobley has seven 100-yard games to lead the OVC in rushing yards (1,061), rushing yards per game (117.9) and touchdowns (14). He ranks ninth in the FCS in rushing yards.
Mobley is one of only two OVC players on the prestigious list, joining Jacksonville State running back DaMarcus James.
The Walter Payton Award was established in 1987 and has twice been won by OVC players – Tony Romo in 2002 and Jimmy Garoppolo a season ago.
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 out of the 25 candidates 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.
No. 15 Eastern Kentucky (8-1, 5-1 OVC) returns home this weekend to host No. 4 Jacksonville State (7-1, 5-0) in a battle for first place in the OVC. Game time on Saturday, Nov. 8 is set for 1 p.m.
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2014 Walter Payton Award Watch Candidates
Vernon Davis (QB), Eastern Washington
Justin Arias (QB), Idaho State
Bryan Bennett (QB), Southeastern Louisiana
Kenny Cook (WR), Gardner-Webb
Marshaun Coprich (RB), Illinois State
Malcolm Cyrus (RB), Alabama State
Khairi Dickson (RB), Saint Francis
Chase Edmonds (RB), Fordham
R.J. Harris (WR), New Hampshire
Rob Hollomon (RB), Central Connecticut State
Jacob Huesman (QB), Chattanooga
DaMarcus James (RB), Jacksonville State
David Johnson (RB), Northern Iowa
Gus Johnson (RB). Stephen F. Austin
Connor Kacsor (RB), Dayton
Cooper Kupp (WR), Eastern Washington
Dy’Shawn Mobley (RB), Eastern Kentucky
Michael Nebrich (QB). Fordham
MyCole Pruitt (TE), Southern Illinois
Dakota Prukop (QB), Montana State
John Robertson (QB), Villanova
Alex Ross (QB), Coastal Carolina
Tyler Varga (RB), Yale
Herb Walker, Jr. (RB), Morgan State
Zach Zenner (RB), South Dakota State
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