So, here we are again with the Root Canal Awards voting … errrrr, FCS Awards voting.
Why the slip of the brain with the typing above? Because voting on these awards is about as much fun as getting a root canal because it is so difficult sometimes to put them in order. But hey, that’s our job and that’s what we get paid the big bucks to do. And as always, my ballot is going to be full disclosure and I will explain the reasoning for it.
First of all, some personal preferences: I like seniors. That doesn’t mean I won’t vote for a junior or even younger, as I’ve done that before. But mostly I want to vote for seniors. They’ve been here for a while and deserve that look, you know? Also, I don’t believe in career awards – it’s single-season only.
Lastly, I do like the candidates who performed against tough competition and whose team did well. I really don’t like garbage-time statistics.
So with that being said, here’s my vote for each of the four awards.
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WALTER PAYTON AWARD
BREAKDOWN: With my Payton vote, you’ll notice a common theme – all of these players are on teams that are still in the playoffs this weekend. To me, Miller and Mellott are nearly carbon copies of each other in terms of how they play the quarterback position and how they are clear leaders on very good teams. They don’t make mistakes, and their teams would be different without them. Larson and his QB Miles Hastings make UC Davis go, as do Calzada and Britten – the lone player who was in action in the first round last weekend (statistics are for regular season only, per voting rules).
1. Cam Miller, North Dakota State, Sr./QB
190 of 256 (74.2%), 2,340 yards, 23 TDs, 1 INT; 370 rush yards, 7 TDs (12 games)
2. Tommy Mellott, Montana State, Sr./QB
149 of 217 (68.7%), 1,980 yards, 22 TDs, 1 INT; 633 rush yards, 11 TDs (12 games)
3. Lan Larison, UC Davis, Sr./RB
255 carries, 1,321 yards (5.2 ypc), 14 TDs; 58 receptions, 755 yards, 6 TDs (12 games)
4. Zach Calzada, UIW, Grad Sr./QB
288 of 440 (65.5%), 3,351 yards, 33 TDs, 8 INTs; 222 rush yards, 4 TDs (12 games)
5. Kayvon Britten, Tarleton State, Sr./RB
287 carries, 1,750 yards (6.1 ypc), 16 TDs; 10 receptions, 120 yards, 1 TD (12 games)
BUCK BUCHANAN AWARD
BREAKDOWN: While Grant, Moore, and Norman played for FCS playoff teams, Walker had arguably the best season and fits my preference of being a senior too. His negative yardage plays were impressive, and he was a playmaker around the ball all year. Givens, a junior, is the interesting study. His team is in the SWAC Title game and should be considered a massive Buck Buchanan favorite in 2025.
1. David Walker, Central Arkansas, Sr./DL
68 tackles (45 solos), 23 TFL (121 yards), 10.5 sacks (91 yards), 4 FF, 8 QBH, 6 PBU (12 games)
2. Jeremiah Grant, Richmond, Sr./DL
45 tackles (31 solos), 16.5 TFL (108 yards), 12.5 sacks (98 yards), 2 FF, 1 FR, 6 QBH, 2 PBU (12 games)
3. TJ Moore, Mercer, Sr./CB
54 tackles (38 solos), 0.5 TFL (1 yard), 7 INT (TD), 11 PBU, 2 QBH (12 games)
4. Bryce Norman, SEMO, Sr./LB
125 tackles (54 solos), 13.5 TFL (73 yards), 5.5 sacks (53 yards), 2 FF, 6 QBH, 4 PBU (12 games)
5. Ckelby Givens, Southern, Jr./DL
63 tackles (38 solos), 24.5 TFL (89 yards), 9 sacks (36 yards), 12 QBH, 3 FF, 1 PBU (11 games)
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JERRY RICE AWARD
BREAKDOWN: We had a special crop of freshmen in 2024, players who clearly affected some of the top teams at this level. Brown and Jones at the top are clearly two of them, as well as Zock – who had a big part in pushing Mercer to its best season in school history. Then two capable quarterbacks who put up big numbers for non-postseason teams show that both their programs may have something big to look forward to as soon as next year.
1. CharMar Brown, North Dakota State, RB
189 carries, 965 yards (5.1 ypc), 14 TDs; 5 receptions, 54 yards (12 games)
2. Adam Jones, Montana State, RB
123 carries, 904 yards (7.3 ypc), 9 TDs; 16 receptions, 150 yards, TD (11 games)
3. Andrew Zock, Mercer, DE
32 tackles (18 solos), 13.5 TFL (74 yards), 6.5 sacks (56 yards), 2 FF, 15 QBH, 2 PBU (12 games)
4. Carson Conklin, Sacramento State, QB
261 of 419 (62.9%), 2,876 yards, 28 TDs, 8 INTs (12 games)
5. Elijah Owens, Indiana State, QB, 6-2, 225
181 of 263 (68.8%), 1,717 yards, 12 TDs, 5 INTs; 645 rush yards, 8 TDs (11 games)
EDDIE ROBINSON AWARD
BREAKDOWN: There are a lot of ways to look at this too. Do you go with the coach of the best teams, the coach who dealt with the most adversity (which can be subjective), or maybe the coach who surprised the most? I tend to lean toward the surprise vote, with a little of the other two criteria combined in a bit. Patterson to me had a truly special regular season at Abilene Christian and got top billing on my ballot. But there were several great candidates this year.
1. Keith Patterson, Abilene Christian (United Athletic Conference)
Season: 3rd; Team Record: 8-4, 7-1 (1st); Notable: Picked sixth in UAC preseason poll, Wildcats earned conference title and first playoff bid
2. Jim Fleming, Rhode Island (CAA Football)
Season: 11th; Team Record: 10-2, 7-1 (2nd); Notable: Recognized as CAA co-champs, Rams are in FCS playoffs for the first time since 1985
3. Brock Spack, Illinois State (Missouri Valley Football Conference
Season: 16th; Team Record: 9-3, 6-2 (tie/4th); Notable: Despite impactful injuries, Redbirds are back in playoffs for first time since 2019
4. Mike Jacobs, Mercer (Southern Conference)
Season: 1st; Team Record: 10-2, 7-1 (1st); Notable: A year after first playoff appearance, Bears are back in with first SoCon title and No. 7 seed
5. Tim Plough, UC Davis (Big Sky Conference)
Season: 1st; Team Record: 10-2, 7-1 (2nd); Notable: No. 5 playoff seed has only one FCS loss in Plough’s first season
