Portland State quarterback Davis Alexander was one of 11 players added to the watch list for the 2021 Stats Perform FCS Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the national offensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision.
 
The Payton Award, celebrating its 35th anniversary season, is named for the legendary Hall of Fame running back. Past recipients include Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo,
Cooper Kupp and Trey Lance.
 
Alexander, a senior from Gig Harbor, WA, is turning in another brilliant season for the Vikings. Through nine games, he has completed 209-355 passes for 2,505 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Alexander has also rushed for 281 positive yards and six touchdowns. He has led the Vikings on a current three-game winning streak that has them 5-4 overall, 4-2 in the Big Sky Conference and contending for an FCS post-season playoff bid. Last Saturday, Anderson threw for 299 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for another, in a 30-18 road win over 24^th-ranked and four-time defending Big Sky Champion Weber State.
 
This season, he ranks second in the Big Sky in passing yards (278.3), total offense (297.9) and touchdown passes (17). Alexander threw for a career-high 424 yards and four touchdowns at Idaho earlier this season. He also has a 400-yard game (Hawai'i), and games of 299, 295 and 293.
 
In 35 career starts, the 6-foot, 195-pound Alexander has risen to a level of greatness at Portland State. He has 9,915 yards of total offense, 8,645 passing yards and 651 completions. All three numbers rank second all-time at PSU behind Viking legend Neil Lomax. With 59 passing touchdowns (3^rd) and 25 rushing touchdowns (7^th), Alexander has accounted for 84 TDs in his career, also second most in school history.
 
The Payton Award Watch List now includes 46 players from across the nation. New nominees, released by Stats Perform on Wednesday:
 
Quarterback
Davis Alexander, Portland State
Ren Hefley, Presbyterian
Keon Howard, UT Martin
Cole Johnson, James Madison
Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State
Jason Shelley, Missouri State
Xavier Shepherd, Kennesaw State
 
Running Back
Malik Grant, Sacred Heart
Isaiah Ifanse, Montana State
 
Wide Receiver
Xavier Gipson, Stephen F. Austin
 
Offensive Line
Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
 
The original watch list in the preseason included 35 players. A 50-member, national media panel will select the winner following the regular season.
 
Also this season, Stats Perform will present 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) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Portland State freshman wide receiver Nate Bennett (44-574-4) is on the 22-player Jerry Rice Award Watch List.

The story at The Analyst.