Akem named to Payton Award watch list

Montana receiver Samuel Akem was recognized as one of the most elite players in FCS Football heading into the 2021 season, being named to the preseason watch list for the Stats Perform Walter Payton Award, given annually to the best offensive player in the nation.

Akem, a rangy 6-4, 210-pound senior from Broken Arrow, Okla., was one of just four players from the Big Sky Conference included on the 35-man watch list, announced Wednesday morning by FCS media outlet Stats Perform.

Already named a preseason All-American by Stats Perform and a preseason All-Big Sky pick, Akem enters his senior season as one of the top-20 receivers in Montana history with 2,022 career yards to date. He also enters the season among UM's top-20 in career pass receptions (142).

In Montana's two spring games of 2021, Akem had six catches for a total of 88 yards and two highlight-reel touchdowns. He was a 2020 preseason All-Big Sky selection and was named to the preseason all-league team by Phil Steele Magazine and HERO Sports that year as well.

Despite missing four games to injury in 2019, Akem still earned second-team All-Big Sky honors with 59 catches for 848 yards and five touchdowns with three 100-plus yard games and two more with 97-plus yards. In his breakout sophomore season of 2018, he caught 13 touchdown passes, the fifth-most in a single season in Grizzly football history.

Montana has had 12 finalists and one winner of the Walter Payton Award since 1989, with College Football Hall of Famer Dave Dickenson taking top honors in 1995. UM running back and Drummond native Chase Reynolds was the last Grizzly to be named a finalist, repeating the honor in 2009 and 2010.

Also representing the Big Sky on this year's watch list are Eric Barriere of Eastern Washington, who was the runner-up for the award following the spring 2021 season. Running backs Josh Davis of Weber State and Elijah Dotson of Sacramento State were also named to the list.

The spring 2021 Payton Award winner was Southeastern Louisiana quarterback Cole Kelley, who the Grizzly defense held to just 31 yards passing on three completions and negative four yards rushing when the Lions visited Missoula in the second round of the FCS playoffs in 2019.

More players can join the watch list during the regular season, and a national media panel will select the winner following it. First awarded in 1987, the Payton has watched past winners such as Dickenson, Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Kupp, and Trey Lance move on to the NFL.

Also this season, Stats Perform will present the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman player of the year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year), and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Montana opens its 2021 season on Sept. 4 at the University of Washington in Seattle. The Griz return to Missoula a week later to face Western Illinois on Sept. 11 for the home opener in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

Season ticket packages and single-game tickets to both home and away contests are on sale now at GrizTix.com.

2021 Stats Perform Walter Payton Award Watch List

Quarterbacks
Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington (2019 and 2020-21 finalist)
Juwan Carter, Norfolk State
Jack Cook, Dayton
Zerrick Cooper, Jacksonville State (2019 finalist)
Tim DeMorat, Fordham (2020-21 finalist)
Draylen Ellis, Austin Peay
Aqeel Glass, Alabama A&M (2020-21 finalist)
Felix Harper, Alcorn State (2019 finalist)
Cole Kelley, Southeastern Louisiana (2020-21 recipient)
E.J. Perry, Brown
Eric Schmid, Sam Houston
Breylin Smith, Central Arkansas
Daniel Smith, Villanova (2019 finalist)
Cameron Ward, UIW
Liam Welch, Samford (2020-21 finalist)

Running Backs
Percy Agyei-Obese, James Madison (2020-21 finalist)
Julius Chestnut, Sacred Heart (2019 and 2020-21 finalist)
Josh Davis, Weber State
Elijah Dotson, Sacramento State
Juwon Farri, Monmouth (2020-21 finalist)
Geno Hess, Southeast Missouri
Quay Holmes, ETSU (2020-21 finalist)
Dejoun Lee, Delaware (2020-21 finalist)
Jah-Maine Martin, North Carolina A&T (2019 finalist)
Karl Mofor, Albany
Pierre Strong Jr., South Dakota State (2020-21 finalist)
Otis Weah, North Dakota (2020-21 finalist)
Devin Wynn, Furman

Wide Receivers
Samuel Akem, Montana
Avante Cox, Southern Illinois
Dai'Jean Dixon, Nicholls
Jequez Ezzard, Sam Houston
Jakob Herres, VMI (2020-21 finalist)
Tyler Hudson, Central Arkansas (2020-21 finalist)
Christian Watson, North Dakota State

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