Stats Perform has announced a 30-player preseason watch list for the 2025 Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the national offensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football.
A pair of Jackson State players have been named to the list.
JaCobian Morgan adds to his preseason award by earning a spot on the Preseason Watch List. The two-time Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Morgan finished last season with 2,051 yards through the air on 150-of-234 passing, finishing the season 10-1 as a starter, including 10 consecutive wins.
He also threw 19 touchdown passes with just eight interceptions, finishing with a 64.1 completion percentage. He also rushed for 225 yards and four touchdowns.
Meanwhile, he was joined on the list by Travis Terrell Jr., a highly decorated player last season who was named the SWAC and Phil Steele Freshman of the Year.
He was ranked among the best in the nation in returns, leading the nation in kick returns for touchdowns with two.
He also ranked in the top five nationally in three other categories, including third in punt returns (16.7), fourth in combined kick returns (851), fifth in kickoff returns (30.6), and 36th in all-purpose yards (108.08).
The sophomore also ran the ball 459 yards on 75 carries with four touchdowns and caught 15 passes for 95 yards on the offensive side of the ball. Terrell was named First Team All-SWAC this season and earned four selections on the Phil Steele all-conference team while earning a pair of Preseason All-American teams.
The award, in its 39th season and affectionately known as the Heisman of the FCS, is named for legendary running back Walter Payton. During his Hall of Fame career, Payton starred at Jackson State.
Jackson State is one of just three schools with two players named to the Preseason List, along with Illinois State, South Dakota, and Stephen F. Austin.
