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Agyei-Obese Selected to Walter Payton Award Watch List
8/4/2021 1:00:00 PM | Football
CHICAGO, Ill. – James Madison senior running back Percy Agyei-Obese was one of 35 FCS standouts who were selected to the Stats Perform Walter Payton Award Watch List ahead of the 2021 football season.
The Walter Payton Award is presented annually to the national offensive player of the year in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
Agyei-Obese, who was a Payton Award finalist and finished 11th in the voting last spring, ranks top-10 all-time in three JMU career categories. He's tied for sixth in JMU history with 29 rushing touchdowns, tied for eighth with 29 total touchdowns and 10th with 2,374 rushing yards.
A two-time All-American and First Team All-CAA selection, he rushed for 717 yards with eight touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry last season. He turned in four 100-yard rushing performances during the spring, including a career-high 132 yards at Elon. Agyei-Obese led the CAA and ranked seventh in the FCS in rushing touchdowns. He was also 11th nationally and second in the conference in rushing yards per game, at 102.4 on average.
More players can earn their way onto the watch list during the regular season, and a national media panel will select the winner after the regular season concludes. First awarded in 1987, the Payton Award has produced winners such as Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Kupp and Trey Lance, all of whom moved on to the NFL.
Agyei-Obese and the Dukes open the 2021 season, presented by CarMax, on Saturday, Sept. 4 when they host Morehead State in a 6 p.m. kickoff at Bridgeforth Stadium.
2021 Walter Payton Award Watch List
Percy Agyei-Obese, RB, James Madison
Samuel Akem, WR, Montana
Eric Barriere, QB, Eastern Washington
Juwan Carter, QB, Norfolk State
Julius Chestnut, RB, Sacred Heart
Jack Cook, QB, Dayton
Zerrick Cooper, QB Jacksonville State
Avante Cox, WR, Southern Illinois
Josh Davis, RB, Weber State
Tim DeMorat, QB, Fordham
Dai'Jean Dixon, WR, Nicholls
Elijah Dotson, RB, Sacramento State
Draylen Ellis, QB, Austin Peay
Jequez Ezzard, WR, Sam Houston
Juwon Farri, RB, Monmouth
Aqeel Glass, QB, Alabama A&M
Felix Harper, QB, Alcorn State
Jakob Herres, WR, VMI
Geno Hess, RB, Southeast Missouri
Quay Holmes, RB, ETSU
Tyler Hudson, WR, Central Arkansas
Cole Kelley, QB, Southeastern Louisiana (2020-21 winner)
Dejoun Lee, RB, Delaware
Jah-Maine Martin, RB, North Carolina A&T
Karl Mofor, RB, Albany
E.J. Perry, QB, Brown
Eric Schmid, QB, Sam Houston
Breylin Smith, QB, Central Arkansas
Daniel Smith, QB, Villanova
Pierre Strong Jr., RB, South Dakota State
Cameron Ward, QB, UIW
Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
Otis Weah, RB, North Dakota
Liam Welch, QB, Samford
Devin Wynn, RB, Furman
The Walter Payton Award is presented annually to the national offensive player of the year in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
Agyei-Obese, who was a Payton Award finalist and finished 11th in the voting last spring, ranks top-10 all-time in three JMU career categories. He's tied for sixth in JMU history with 29 rushing touchdowns, tied for eighth with 29 total touchdowns and 10th with 2,374 rushing yards.
A two-time All-American and First Team All-CAA selection, he rushed for 717 yards with eight touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry last season. He turned in four 100-yard rushing performances during the spring, including a career-high 132 yards at Elon. Agyei-Obese led the CAA and ranked seventh in the FCS in rushing touchdowns. He was also 11th nationally and second in the conference in rushing yards per game, at 102.4 on average.
More players can earn their way onto the watch list during the regular season, and a national media panel will select the winner after the regular season concludes. First awarded in 1987, the Payton Award has produced winners such as Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Kupp and Trey Lance, all of whom moved on to the NFL.
Agyei-Obese and the Dukes open the 2021 season, presented by CarMax, on Saturday, Sept. 4 when they host Morehead State in a 6 p.m. kickoff at Bridgeforth Stadium.
2021 Walter Payton Award Watch List
Percy Agyei-Obese, RB, James Madison
Samuel Akem, WR, Montana
Eric Barriere, QB, Eastern Washington
Juwan Carter, QB, Norfolk State
Julius Chestnut, RB, Sacred Heart
Jack Cook, QB, Dayton
Zerrick Cooper, QB Jacksonville State
Avante Cox, WR, Southern Illinois
Josh Davis, RB, Weber State
Tim DeMorat, QB, Fordham
Dai'Jean Dixon, WR, Nicholls
Elijah Dotson, RB, Sacramento State
Draylen Ellis, QB, Austin Peay
Jequez Ezzard, WR, Sam Houston
Juwon Farri, RB, Monmouth
Aqeel Glass, QB, Alabama A&M
Felix Harper, QB, Alcorn State
Jakob Herres, WR, VMI
Geno Hess, RB, Southeast Missouri
Quay Holmes, RB, ETSU
Tyler Hudson, WR, Central Arkansas
Cole Kelley, QB, Southeastern Louisiana (2020-21 winner)
Dejoun Lee, RB, Delaware
Jah-Maine Martin, RB, North Carolina A&T
Karl Mofor, RB, Albany
E.J. Perry, QB, Brown
Eric Schmid, QB, Sam Houston
Breylin Smith, QB, Central Arkansas
Daniel Smith, QB, Villanova
Pierre Strong Jr., RB, South Dakota State
Cameron Ward, QB, UIW
Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
Otis Weah, RB, North Dakota
Liam Welch, QB, Samford
Devin Wynn, RB, Furman
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