Kekoa Visperas Earns Finalist nod for Walter Payton Award
Tennessee Tech quarterback Kekoa Visperas has earned selection to the Finalists List for the Walter Payton Award, which honors the nation’s best offensive player, as announced today by Stats Perform.
By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech quarterback Kekoa Visperas is among the Finalists for the Walter Payton Award, which honors the nation's best offensive player, as announced today by Stats Perform.
Visperas set a new single-season touchdown passing record (25), which led the OVC-Big South Association, and was second in the conference with 2,486 passing yards and completion percentage (65.6). He posted the second-most total yards gained in program history (2970) and was responsible for the second-most touchdowns in program history (28).
30 FCS Offensive Standouts Named Finalists for 2025 Walter Payton Award | Opta Analyst
Visperas led an offense that was the best in the nation, including setting program records in points scored (482), touchdowns scored (65), rushing touchdowns in a season (32), first downs (262), passing touchdowns (27 total), and third in passing yards (2705) in a single season.
The redshirt junior from Eatonville, Washington, was second in the conference in passing efficiency (152.7) and threw for 250 yards or more four times, including the Conference Championship clinching victory over UT Martin (270, 3 TD). He delivered a season-high four touchdown passes against Western Illinois on a season-high 358 yards passing with no interceptions to take home conference Offensive Player of the Week.
The four touchdown passes tied for the second-most in a single game in program history. His 207.2 passing yards per game are the most in a career for a quarterback at Tech (min, 10 games). Visperas made 323 pass attempts, which are the sixth-most in program history. He completed 212 of those attempts, marking the second-most completions in a single season in Tech football history.
Stats Perform announced a standout list of 30 finalists for the 2025 Walter Payton Award, which is presented to the national offensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football.
The award, in its 39th season and affectionately known as the Heisman of the FCS, is named for legendary running back Walter Payton, who starred at Jackson State as part of his Hall of Fame career. Past recipients include Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Kupp, Taylor Heinicke and Trey Lance.
All 13 FCS conferences are represented by a finalist. The winner, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Also, this season, the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS Freshman Player of the Year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year), HBCU National Player of the Year, and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be presented at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show.
2025 Walter Payton Award Finalists
Quarterbacks
Keali'I Ah Yat, Montana, R-So., 6-1, 200 (Big Sky Conference)
248 of 361 (68.7%), 3,154 yards, 25 TDs, 7 INTs, 160.5 pass efficiency; 83 rush yards, 7 TDs (12 games)
Braden Atkinson, Mercer, Fr., 6-1, 215 (Southern Conference)
250 of 367 (68.1%), 3,448 yards, 34 TDs, 7 INTs, 173.8 pass efficiency; 1 rush TD (10 games)
Andrew Body, Alabama State, R-Jr., 6-0, 205 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
113 of 160 (70.6%), 1,770 yards, 20 TDs, 1 INT, 203.6 pass efficiency; 518 rush yards, 4 TDs (8 games)
Beau Brungard, Youngstown State, Jr., 6-0, 215 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
254 of 368 (69.0%), 2,917 yards, 23 TDs, 3 INTs, 154.6 pass efficiency; 225 carries, 1,378 yards, 24 TDs; 50-yard TD catch (12 games)
Jaden Craig, Harvard, Sr., 6-2, 215 (Ivy League)
195 of 310 (62.9%), 2,722 yards, 24 TDs, 5 INT, 159.0 pass efficiency; 84 rush yards, 3 TDs (10 games)
Taron Dickens, Western Carolina, R-So., 5-11, 180 (Southern Conference)
271 of 365 (74.2%), 3,508 yards, 38 TDs, 2 INT, 188.2 pass efficiency; 321 rush yards, 1 TD (9 games)
Devin Farrell, Rhode Island, R-Jr., 6-0, 195 (CAA Football)
221 of 332 (66.6%), 3,087 yards, 20 TDs, 7 INTs, 160.3 pass efficiency; 60 rush yards, 2 TDs (12 games)
Victor Gabalis, Tarleton State, Sr., 6-3, 210 (United Athletic Conference)
160 of 268 (59.7%), 2,395 yards, 25 TDs, 4 INTs, 162.6 pass efficiency; 1 rush TD (10 games)
Walker Harris, North Carolina Central, R-Sr., 6-1, 195 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
234 of 375 (62.4%), 3,214 yards, 24 TDs, 9 INTs, 150.7 pass efficiency; 77 rush yards, 5 TDs (12 games)
Collin Hurst, Presbyterian, R-So., 5-10, 185 (Pioneer Football League)
197 of 289 (68.2%), 2,684 yards, 26 TDs, 11 INTs, 168.3 pass efficiency; 56 rush yards, 2 TDs (12 games)
Justin Lamson, Montana State, Jr., 6-2, 210 (Big Sky Conference)
194 of 268 (72.4%), 2,345 yards, 20 TDs, 2 INTs, 169.0 pass efficiency; 589 rush yards, 11 TDs; 23 receiving yards (12 games)
Eddie Lee Marburger, UT Rio Grande Valley, R-Sr., 6-2, 215 (Southland Conference)
199 of 305 (65.2%), 2,780 yards, 31 TDs, 7 INTs, 170.8 pass efficiency; 308 yards, 4 TDs (12 games)
Chris Parson, Austin Peay, R-So., 5-11, 224 (United Athletic Conference)
206 of 326 (63.2%), 3,003 yards, 23 TDs, 5 TDs, 160.8 pass efficiency; 743 rush yards, 14 TDs (12 games)
Cole Payton, North Dakota State, Sr., 6-3, 233 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
157 of 212 (74.1%), 2,618 yards, 15 TDs, 4 INTs, 107.4 pass efficiency; 791 rush yards, 13 TDs (12 games)
Kekoa Visperas, Tennessee Tech, R-Sr., 6-0, 193 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
212 of 323 (65.6%), 2,486 yards, 25 TDs, 5 INTs, 152.7 pass efficiency; 484 rush yards, 3 TDs (12 games)
DJ Williams, Southern Illinois, Sr., 6-3, 218 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
222 of 352 (63.1%), 2,846 yards, 22 TDs, 5 INTs, 148.8 pass efficiency; 847 rush yards, 18 TDs (12 games)
Running Backs
Joshua Dye, Southern Utah, R-So., 5-11, 205 (United Athletic Conference)
295 carries, 1,831 yards (6.2 ypc), 28 TDs, 7 receptions, 40 yards; 51 KOR yards (12 games)
Kente Edwards, Lafayette, Jr., 5-9, 197 (Patriot League)
199 carries, 1,454 yards (7.3 ypc), 20 TDs, 10 receptions 67 yards (10 games)
Marquis Gillis, Delaware State, RB, Grad, 6-0, 210 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
182 carries, 1,166 yards (6.4 ypc), 8 TDs; 11 receptions, 98 yards, 1 TD (12 games)
Rodney Hammond Jr., Sacramento State, Sr., 5-9, 195 (Big Sky Conference)
188 carries, 1,216 yards (6.5 ypc), 13 TDs, 15 receptions, 147 yards; 1 TD pass; 455 KOR yards, 1 TD (12 games)
Elijah Howard, Central Connecticut State, Sr., 5-10, 185 (NEC Football)
188 carries, 1,078 yards (5.7 ypc), 11 TDs; 36 receptions, 296 yards, 4 TDs (11 games)
Rodney Nelson, Monmouth, R-So., 5-8, 195 (CAA Football)
293 carries, 1,802 yards (6.2 ypc), 18 TDs; 30 receptions, 229 yards, 1 TD (12 games)
L.J. Phillips Jr., South Dakota, R-So., 5-9, 225 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
250 carries, 1,556 yards (6.2 ypc), 15 TDs; 25 receptions, 192 yards, 1 TD (12 games)
Josh Pitsenberger, Yale, Sr., 6-0, 220 (Ivy League)
255 carries, 1,238 yards (4.9 ypc), 15 TDs; 12 receptions, 87 yards (10 games)
Luke Yoder, Lehigh, Jr., 5-11, 205 (Patriot League)
187 carries, 1,329 yards (7.1 ypc), 15 TDs; 11 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD (12 games)
Wide Receivers
Marquis Buchanan, Rhode Island, R-So., 6-4, 175 (CAA Football)
66 receptions, 1,123 yards (17.0 ypc), 5 TDs (12 games)
Joey Isabella, Duquesne, Grad, 5-9, 185 (NEC Football)
63 receptions, 839 yards (13.3 ypc), 13 TDs, 211 KOR return yards (12 games)
Bryce Lance, North Dakota State, R-Sr., 6-3, 209 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
50 receptions, 1,001 yards (20.0 ypc), 7 TDs; 92 rush yards, 1 TD (12 games)
Jared Richardson, Penn, Sr., 6-2, 220 (Ivy League)
80 receptions, 1,033 yards (12.9 ypc), 12 TDs (10 games)
Michael Wortham, Montana, R-Sr., 5-9, 190 (Big Sky Conference)
58 receptions, 825 yards (14.2), 7 TDs; 46 carries, 273 yards, 6 TDs; 1 TD pass; 701 KOR yards (12 games)
