FCS Football 2023 Walter Payton Award Finalists | The Analyst
Bronx, N.Y. – Stats Perform has announced 30 finalists for the 2023 Walter Payton Award, given annually to the national offensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football and presented by FedEx Ground, a list that includes Fordham University sophomore quarterback
CJ Montes.
The award, first presented in 1987 and in its 37th season, is named for legendary running back Walter Payton, who starred at Jackson State as part of his Hall of Fame career. Affectionately known as the Heisman of the FCS, its past recipients include Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Kupp and Trey Lance.
All 13 FCS leagues, comprised from 15 conferences overall, are represented by a Walter Payton Award finalist. The winner, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced at the FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas – the eve of the FCS championship game.
Montes, a transfer from the University of New Mexico, just completed his first year at Fordham. He completed 241 of 376 passes for 3,000 yards with 26 touchdowns and just one interception. He also ran for 158 net yards and three scores. He leads the Patriot League and is seventh in the NCAA FCS in passing touchdowns and leads the League in passing yards and passing yards/game, ranking sixth in the nation in passing yards and tenth in passing yards/game (272.7). Montes leads the Patriot League and is tenth in the NCAA FCS in completions/game (21.91) and his completion percentage of .641 ranks second in the conference. His passing efficiency rating of 153.4 is second in the Patriot League and 15
th in the NCAA FCS.
Montes' 241 completions is the seventh best single season in Fordham history while his 3,000 passing yards is ninth best and the 26 touchdown passes is tied for seventh best.
Montes is the second Ram in as many years to be named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. Last year, quarterback
Tim DeMorat finished second in voting for the award.
