Grant Named to Payton & CFPA Watch Lists
11/10/2021 1:41:00 PM | Football
Junior is third in the FCS for rushing yards.
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – When opportunity knocked for Sacred Heart University running back Malik Grant, he was there to answer to the door. The junior was recently added to the watch lists for the Walter Payton Award and College Football Performance FCS National Performer of the Year.
A native of the Bronx, NY, Grant is one of two Northeast Conference players on the Payton Watch List, joining backfield mate Julius Chestnut. Grant is the lone NEC representative on the CFPA list.
"This is a great honor for Malik," SHU head coach Mark Nofri said. "He's always worked hard and had a great attitude, so this is the just the culmination of that. One of Malik's best traits is that he's got a great poker face; he brings the same approach each day and he never gets too high or too low."
The Walter Payton Award, named for the legendary running back and in its 35th season, is presented to the national offensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. Similarly, the CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy is for the top player in the country on either side of the ball. Both awards will be announced in January around the FCS National Championship game on January 8.
Grant stepped into the starting role at Bryant and has been the best running back in the country since then. He's third in the FCS with 1,110 total yards and 123.3 yards per game. Named NEC Offensive Player of the Week four times, he rates eighth on the single-season charts for rushing yards while topping the league with seven touchdowns.
Sacred Heart sits atop the NEC standings with a 6-3 overall mark and 4-1 in the league. The Pioneers host Wagner on Saturday at 12 p.m. The game can be seen on SNY.
Full Walter Payton Award Watch List Announcement
A native of the Bronx, NY, Grant is one of two Northeast Conference players on the Payton Watch List, joining backfield mate Julius Chestnut. Grant is the lone NEC representative on the CFPA list.
"This is a great honor for Malik," SHU head coach Mark Nofri said. "He's always worked hard and had a great attitude, so this is the just the culmination of that. One of Malik's best traits is that he's got a great poker face; he brings the same approach each day and he never gets too high or too low."
The Walter Payton Award, named for the legendary running back and in its 35th season, is presented to the national offensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. Similarly, the CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy is for the top player in the country on either side of the ball. Both awards will be announced in January around the FCS National Championship game on January 8.
Grant stepped into the starting role at Bryant and has been the best running back in the country since then. He's third in the FCS with 1,110 total yards and 123.3 yards per game. Named NEC Offensive Player of the Week four times, he rates eighth on the single-season charts for rushing yards while topping the league with seven touchdowns.
Sacred Heart sits atop the NEC standings with a 6-3 overall mark and 4-1 in the league. The Pioneers host Wagner on Saturday at 12 p.m. The game can be seen on SNY.
Full Walter Payton Award Watch List Announcement
Players Mentioned
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