Malik Grant Finalist for Walter Payton Award
11/23/2021 9:04:00 PM | Football
Junior running back is third in the FCS for rushing yards.
CHICAGO – National recognition is nothing new to the Sacred Heart University backfield. The tradition continued Monday as Malik Grant was named one of the 25 finalists for the Stats Perform Walter Payton Award.
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. The list will be narrowed to three with the winner announced in January around the FCS National Championship game on January 8.
A native of the Bronx, NY, Grant ranks third in the country and leads the Northeast Conference with 121.7 yards per game and 1,288 total yards. In addition, his 129.82 all-purpose yards rates 13th. Grant has crossed the goal line 11 times, which is tops in the NEC and 32nd nationally.
Named NEC Offensive Player of the Week five times, Grant burst onto the national scene against Merrimack with 228 yards, the sixth-highest single-game total in school history and the 10-best in the FCS this year. His season total is fifth all-time.
Last season, Grant's backfield mate Julius Chestnut finished third in the Payton voting.
Sacred Heart plays Holy Cross on Saturday at 12 p.m. in the first round of the FCS Playoffs. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+
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. The list will be narrowed to three with the winner announced in January around the FCS National Championship game on January 8.
A native of the Bronx, NY, Grant ranks third in the country and leads the Northeast Conference with 121.7 yards per game and 1,288 total yards. In addition, his 129.82 all-purpose yards rates 13th. Grant has crossed the goal line 11 times, which is tops in the NEC and 32nd nationally.
Named NEC Offensive Player of the Week five times, Grant burst onto the national scene against Merrimack with 228 yards, the sixth-highest single-game total in school history and the 10-best in the FCS this year. His season total is fifth all-time.
Last season, Grant's backfield mate Julius Chestnut finished third in the Payton voting.
Sacred Heart plays Holy Cross on Saturday at 12 p.m. in the first round of the FCS Playoffs. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+
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