Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Koutsos Named to Payton Award Watch List
08/26/2002 | 12:00:00 | Football
Aug. 26, 2002
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Sports Network) - Southern Illinois University running back Tom Koutsos has been named to the coveted Payton Award Watch List, The Sports Network announced Monday. The Payton Award is presented to the top player in I-AA football and is the division's equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
Koutsos (5-11, 220, Sr.) is the Salukis' career rushing leader with 3,531 yards. He has rushed for 1000 yards in all three seasons and holds every major rushing record at the school. Koutsos needs 701 yards to surpass Willie High as the career rushing leader in the Gateway Conference.
The Payton Award, named after legendary running back Walter Payton, will be presented at the 16th annual I-AA College Football Awards on Thursday, December 19th in Chattanooga, Tenn., on the eve of the 2002 I-AA National Championship.
The official "Payton Watch" and "Buchanan Battle" lists will undergo three revisions prior to the mailing of ballots on November 25th. The first revisions will be announced October 2nd, the second October 30th, and the third just prior to the mailing of ballots. The ballots will be mailed to the media and I-AA sports information directors selected for the voting process on November 25th, and will be due Monday, December 2nd. The top three finalists (in terms of votes received) for the Walter Payton Award will be invited to attend the presentation in Chattanooga, TN, with the winner of that Award not announced until the event.
Following are the 16 current members of the "Payton Watch".
"Payton Watch" Candidates (Aug. 26)
David Corley, QB, William & Mary
John Edwards, QB, Montana
Chas Gessner, WR, Brown
Michael Hayes, WR, Southern
C.J. Hudson, RB, Eastern Kentucky
Ryan Johnson, RB, Montana State
Robert Kent, QB, Jackson State
Tom Koutsos, RB, Southern Illinois
Stephan Lewis, RB, New Hampshire
P.J. Mays, RB, Youngstown State
Cecil Moore, WR, East Tennessee State
Carl Morris, WR, Harvard
Rondy Rogers, RB, Jacksonville State
Tony Romo, QB, Eastern Illinois
Allen Suber, QB, Bethune-Cookman
Juston Wood, QB, Portland State
