BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Three Patriot League football student-athletes were selected to the 2026 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List when it was announced by Stats Perform. The Walter Payton Award is presented annually to the national offensive player of the year at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level.
Lehigh’s Luke Yoder (Sr., RB), the reigning Patriot League Football Offensive Player of the Year, was selected as a 2026 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America First Team honoree on Monday. The senior running back was a Walter Payton Award finalist in 2025 and the only returning finalist among the 11 running backs on the watch list. Yoder rushed for 1,409 yards and 15 touchdowns, leading the Mountain Hawks to their second straight League crown.
Villanova’s Ja’briel Mace (Jr., RB/RS) , the 2025 CAA Football Special Teams Player of the Year, also earned Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America First Team honors. Mace was a Stats Perform All-America First Team honoree last season after averaging 32.0 yards per return and two touchdowns. Mace rushed for 946 yards and 11 TDs to help the Wildcats advance to the FCS semifinals.
Bucknell’s Sam Milligan (Sr., WR), a 2025 First Team All-Patriot League selection, led the Patriot League and finished among the FCS leaders with 10 touchdown receptions last season. The senior wide receiver claimed second-team preseason FCS All-America accolades on Monday.
The Walter Payton Award, named for the Hall of Fame running back who starred at Jackson State, celebrates its 40th anniversary as the “FCS Heisman” honoring the top offensive player in the FCS. The 13 FCS conferences are represented on the 30-member watch list, which includes 10 past finalists.
Walter Payton Award's 40th Anniversary Kicks Off With Preseason Watch List | Opta Analyst
2026 Stats Perform Walter Payton Award Watch List
Sam Milligan, Bucknell, WR, Sr.
Luke Yoder, Lehigh, RB, Sr.
Ja’briel Mace, Villanova, KR, Jr.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.