HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana University running back Antonio Martin Jr. was named one of the 35 finalists for the 2024 Walter Payton Award Tuesday in an announcement from Stats Perform.
 
Martin Jr. is the fourth Southeastern player and first non-quarterback in program history to be a finalist for the award, which is presented to the nation's top offensive player in FCS. Cole Kelley won the honor in the 2020 season played in the spring of 2021 and finished second in 2021. SLU Athletics Hall of Famer Bryan Bennett finished eighth in 2013 and 21^st in 2014, while Martin Hankins was seventh in the voting in 2004.
 
Martin Jr. is one of four Southland Conference players on the list along with UIW quarterback Zach Calzada, Stephen F. Austin quarterback Sam Vidlak and UIW wide receiver Jalen Walthall.
 
In total, SLU played against six players this season who made the list, as the Lions faced South Dakota State quarterback and reigning Payton Award winner Mark Gronowski, Tarleton State running back Kayvon Britten and Eastern Washington wide receiver Efton Chism III in nonconference play. The full list is available at https://theanalyst.com/na/2024/11/walter-payton-award-finalists-fcs-football-2024-finalists.
 
The first Lion running back to earn first team All-SLC honors since Jay Lucas in 2007, Martin Jr. led the Southland Conference and ranked eighth in FCS with 1,228 rushing yards - 11 yards shy of setting a new single-season school record. He also led the SLC with 11 rushing touchdowns.
 
The Atlanta native was named Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 206 yards and three touchdowns at Tarleton State. Martin Jr. finished with 185 yards and two touchdowns in a win over East Texas A&M and also rushed for two scores - including the game-winner - in a 30-27 overtime win at Lamar. He rushed for 110 yards and a score in a 41-0 win over Northwestern State. Martin Jr. also rushed for touchdowns in wins over HCU and SFA.
 
The Walter Payton Award is affectionally known as the Heisman of the FCS and is named for the legendary Bears running back, who starred at Jackson State as part of his Hall of Fame career. Past recipients include Kelley, Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garroppolo, Cooper Kupp and Trey Lance.
 
The winner will be announced at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas.
 
2024 Walter Payton Award Finalists
Antonio Martin Jr. | RB | Southeastern
Mari Adams | RB | Davidson
Hope Adebayo | RB | St. Thomas
Kayvon Britten | RB | Tarleton State
Jeff Caldwell | WR | Lindenwood
Zach Calzada | QB | UIW
Efton Chism III | WR | Eastern Washington
Jacob Clark | QB | Missouri State
Jermaine Corbett | RB | Merrimack
Jaden Craig | QB | Harvard
Jamar Curtis | RB | Lafayette
Paxton DeLaurent | QB | Southeast Missouri
Roland Dempster | RB | Stony Brook
Cole Gonzales | QB | Western Carolina
Charles Grant | RB | William & Mary
Mark Gronowski | QB | South Dakota State
Miles Hastings | QB | UC Davis
Elijah Howard | RB | Central Connecticut State
Targee Lambson | RB | Southern Utah
Lan Larison | RB | UC Davis
Dwayne McGee | RB | Mercer
Tommy Mellott | QB | Montana State
Cam Miller | QB | North Dakota State
Irv Mulligan | RB | Jackson State
Eric Phoenix | QB | South Carolina State
ShunDerrick Powell | RB | Central Arkansas
Daniel Richardson | QB | Florida A&M
Derek Robertson | QB | Monmouth
Ralph Rucker IV | QB | Bucknell
J'Mari Taylor | RB | North Carolina Central
Sam Vidlak | QB | SFA
Jalen Walthall | WR | UIW
Jameson Wang | QB | Cornell 
 
TICKETS
For ticket information, contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net. Southeastern will continue offering mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets. All tickets will be available via e-mail or text message in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
 
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