Adam Jones (23) and Justin Lamson (8) both landed on the Walter Payton Watch List
Photo by: Brian Morse
Bobcats Land on Stats Perform Walter Payton, Buck Buchanan Watch Lists
7/14/2026 8:37:00 AM | Football
MSU leads the way with three Payton list selections
Stats Perform Walter Payton Award story: Walter Payton Award's 40th Anniversary Kicks Off With Preseason Watch List | Opta Analyst
Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award story: 30 FCS Defensive Standouts Named to 2026 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List | Opta Analyst
BOZEMAN, Mont. (July 14, 2026) – Three Montana State Bobcats landed on the watch list for the 40th anniversary celebration of the Walter Payton Award, and one earned mention on the Buck Buchanan Award list, Stats Perform announced on Tuesday.
The Cats stand as the only team to produce three Payton list members. Quarterback Justin Lamson, a returning finalist for the award, joins teammates Taco Dowler, a receiver and return specialist, and running back Adam Jones on the Payton list. All three earned All-America honors for the FCS Champions in 2025. Lamson earned Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year honors.
Senior safety Caden Dowler earned a spot on the Buchanan list, returning as a finalist from 2025. He was Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and consensus first team All-America last season.
This year's Walter Payton Award for FCS offensive player of the year will be the 40th presented in honor of the legendary Jackson State and Chicago Bears running back. Previous winners include MSU's Tommy Mellott in 2024, Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo and Eastern Washington's Cooper Kupp. Youngstown State's Beau Brungard, the 2025 Payton recipient, is on the preseason list with the opportunity to join Appalachian State's Armanti Edwards (2008-09) and Sam Houston State's Jeremiah Briscoe (2016-17) as the only two-time winners.
The Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the FCS' top defensive player, was first presented in 1995 and is named for the Grambling State and Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman. Previous winners include Caleb Schreibeis (2012) and Brad Daly (2013) of Montana State. Stats Perform also presents the Jerry Rice Award (FCS Freshman Player of the Year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year), HBCU National Player of the Year and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
All 13 FCS conferences are represented on both watch lists.
2026 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List
Quarterbacks
*Justin Lamson, Montana State, Sr., 6-2, 210 (Big Sky Conference)
*Keali'I Ah Yat, Montana, R-Jr., 6-1, 200 (Big Sky Conference)
*Andrew Body, Alabama State, R-Sr., 6-0, 205 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
*Beau Brungard, Youngstown State, Sr., 6-0, 215 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
*Devin Farrell, Rhode Island, R-Sr., 6-0, 195 (CAA Football)
*Collin Hurst, West Georgia, Jr., 5-10, 190 (United Athletic Conference)
Chase Mason, South Dakota State, Gr., 6-4, 240 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
*Chris Parson, Austin Peay, R-Jr., 5-11, 224 (United Athletic Conference)
Ty Pennington, Northern Arizona, Sr., 6-2, 210 (Big Sky Conference)
Dante Reno, Yale, Jr., 6-2, 205 (Ivy League)
*DJ Williams, Southern Illinois, Sr., 6-3, 218 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Running Backs
Adam Jones, Montana State, Jr., 6-1, 200 (Big Sky Conference)
Dason Brooks, Idaho State, R-Sr., 5-11, 228 (Big Sky Conference)
Ness Davis, Duquesne, R-Jr., 5-11, 200 (NEC Football)
Victor Dawson, Illinois State, Sr., 5-11, 220 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
MJ Flowers, Tennessee Tech, R-Sr., 6-1, 220 (Southern Conference)
Eli Gillman, Montana, R-Sr., 6-0, 213 (Big Sky Conference)
Carson Gresock, Gardner-Webb, R-Sr., 5-11, 215 (Ohio Valley Conference)
Tylan Hines, Tarleton State, Sr., 5-7, 180 (United Athletic Conference)
Ja'briel Mace, Villanova, Jr., 5-9, 175 (Patriot League)
Charles Pierre Jr., South Dakota, R-Sr., 5-10, 210 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
*Luke Yoder, Lehigh, Sr., 5-11, 205 (Patriot League)
Wide Receivers
Taco Dowler, Montana State, Sr., 5-9, 190 (Big Sky Conference)
*Marquis Buchanan, Rhode Island, R-Sr., 6-4, 190 (CAA Football)
Samuel Gbatu Jr., UC Davis, Sr., 5-10, 185 (Big Sky Conference)
Gavin Lochow, Dayton, Sr., 6-0, 185 (Pioneer Football League)
Sam Milligan, Bucknell, Sr., 6-3, 220 (Patriot League)
Bugs Mortimer, Stephen F. Austin, R-Sr., 5-10, 177 (Southland Conference)
Chance Peterson, North Carolina Central, R-Jr., 5-8, 155 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Brayden Smith, Mercer, Jr., 5-10, 185 (Southern Conference)
2026 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List
Defensive Linemen
Camden Byrd, Richmond, R-Sr., 6-3, 245 (Patriot League)
Andrew Huff, Lamar, Sr., 6-2, 230 (Southland Conference)
Mirko Jaksic, Dayton, R-Jr., 6-2, 284 (Pioneer Football League)
Lance Rucker, North Dakota, Sr., 6-3, 230 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
*Joshua Stoneking, Furman, R-Jr., 6-3, 258 (Southern Conference)
Michael Wells, Youngstown State, Sr., 6-3, 250 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Linebackers
Brodie Carroll, Elon, R-Jr., 6-1, 240 (CAA Football)
Jake Dalmado, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr., 6-0, 215 (Southland Conference)
Mikey D'Amato, Cal Poly, Sr., 6-0, 230 (Big Sky Conference)
Rohan Davy, Rhode Island, Jr., 5-10, 205 (CAA Football)
*Eli Ennis, Stephen F. Austin, R-Sr., 6-2, 220 (Southland Conference)
Anthony Ferrelli, Stony Brook, R-Sr., 6-0, 225 (CAA Football)
Jordan Franklin, South Carolina State, R-Jr., 6-2, 205 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Cullen McShane, South Dakota State, Jr., 6-2, 230 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
*Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, Sr., 6-3, 240 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Kaden Smith, Eastern Kentucky, Jr., 6-2, 222 (United Athletic Conference)
Peyton Wing, Montana, Sr., 6-0, 229 (Big Sky Conference)
Steve Zayachkowsky, Charleston Southern, Sr., 5-10, 215 (Ohio Valley Conference)
Defensive Backs
Rex Connors, UC Davis, Sr., 6-1, 220 (Big Sky Conference)
*Caden Dowler, Montana State, Sr., 6-0, 205 (Big Sky Conference)
Damien Henderson, Harvard, Sr., 6-0, 180 (Ivy League)
Christopher Jean, Central Connecticut State, R-Jr., 5-10, 180 (NEC Football)
Jaylon Jenkins, Eastern Washington, R-Jr., 6-1, 192 (Big Sky Conference)
Jaeden Jones, Monmouth, Jr., 6-0, 190 (CAA Football)
*Abu Kamara, Yale, Sr., 6-1, 208 (Ivy League)
Ken Moore Jr., Western Carolina, R-Sr., 5-10, 160 (Southern Conference)
Nick Peltekian, Lehigh, 5th Year, 6-0, 215 (Patriot League)
Dylan Rowsey, Murray State, Sr., 6-1, 195 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Ta'Shaun Sims, Alabama State, Jr., 6-0, 188 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Trey Watkins, LIU, R-Sr., 6-0, 184 (NEC Football)
*-past finalist
#GoCatsGo
Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award story: 30 FCS Defensive Standouts Named to 2026 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List | Opta Analyst
BOZEMAN, Mont. (July 14, 2026) – Three Montana State Bobcats landed on the watch list for the 40th anniversary celebration of the Walter Payton Award, and one earned mention on the Buck Buchanan Award list, Stats Perform announced on Tuesday.
The Cats stand as the only team to produce three Payton list members. Quarterback Justin Lamson, a returning finalist for the award, joins teammates Taco Dowler, a receiver and return specialist, and running back Adam Jones on the Payton list. All three earned All-America honors for the FCS Champions in 2025. Lamson earned Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year honors.
Senior safety Caden Dowler earned a spot on the Buchanan list, returning as a finalist from 2025. He was Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and consensus first team All-America last season.
This year's Walter Payton Award for FCS offensive player of the year will be the 40th presented in honor of the legendary Jackson State and Chicago Bears running back. Previous winners include MSU's Tommy Mellott in 2024, Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo and Eastern Washington's Cooper Kupp. Youngstown State's Beau Brungard, the 2025 Payton recipient, is on the preseason list with the opportunity to join Appalachian State's Armanti Edwards (2008-09) and Sam Houston State's Jeremiah Briscoe (2016-17) as the only two-time winners.
The Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the FCS' top defensive player, was first presented in 1995 and is named for the Grambling State and Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman. Previous winners include Caleb Schreibeis (2012) and Brad Daly (2013) of Montana State. Stats Perform also presents the Jerry Rice Award (FCS Freshman Player of the Year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year), HBCU National Player of the Year and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
All 13 FCS conferences are represented on both watch lists.
2026 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List
Quarterbacks
*Justin Lamson, Montana State, Sr., 6-2, 210 (Big Sky Conference)
*Keali'I Ah Yat, Montana, R-Jr., 6-1, 200 (Big Sky Conference)
*Andrew Body, Alabama State, R-Sr., 6-0, 205 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
*Beau Brungard, Youngstown State, Sr., 6-0, 215 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
*Devin Farrell, Rhode Island, R-Sr., 6-0, 195 (CAA Football)
*Collin Hurst, West Georgia, Jr., 5-10, 190 (United Athletic Conference)
Chase Mason, South Dakota State, Gr., 6-4, 240 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
*Chris Parson, Austin Peay, R-Jr., 5-11, 224 (United Athletic Conference)
Ty Pennington, Northern Arizona, Sr., 6-2, 210 (Big Sky Conference)
Dante Reno, Yale, Jr., 6-2, 205 (Ivy League)
*DJ Williams, Southern Illinois, Sr., 6-3, 218 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Running Backs
Adam Jones, Montana State, Jr., 6-1, 200 (Big Sky Conference)
Dason Brooks, Idaho State, R-Sr., 5-11, 228 (Big Sky Conference)
Ness Davis, Duquesne, R-Jr., 5-11, 200 (NEC Football)
Victor Dawson, Illinois State, Sr., 5-11, 220 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
MJ Flowers, Tennessee Tech, R-Sr., 6-1, 220 (Southern Conference)
Eli Gillman, Montana, R-Sr., 6-0, 213 (Big Sky Conference)
Carson Gresock, Gardner-Webb, R-Sr., 5-11, 215 (Ohio Valley Conference)
Tylan Hines, Tarleton State, Sr., 5-7, 180 (United Athletic Conference)
Ja'briel Mace, Villanova, Jr., 5-9, 175 (Patriot League)
Charles Pierre Jr., South Dakota, R-Sr., 5-10, 210 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
*Luke Yoder, Lehigh, Sr., 5-11, 205 (Patriot League)
Wide Receivers
Taco Dowler, Montana State, Sr., 5-9, 190 (Big Sky Conference)
*Marquis Buchanan, Rhode Island, R-Sr., 6-4, 190 (CAA Football)
Samuel Gbatu Jr., UC Davis, Sr., 5-10, 185 (Big Sky Conference)
Gavin Lochow, Dayton, Sr., 6-0, 185 (Pioneer Football League)
Sam Milligan, Bucknell, Sr., 6-3, 220 (Patriot League)
Bugs Mortimer, Stephen F. Austin, R-Sr., 5-10, 177 (Southland Conference)
Chance Peterson, North Carolina Central, R-Jr., 5-8, 155 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Brayden Smith, Mercer, Jr., 5-10, 185 (Southern Conference)
2026 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List
Defensive Linemen
Camden Byrd, Richmond, R-Sr., 6-3, 245 (Patriot League)
Andrew Huff, Lamar, Sr., 6-2, 230 (Southland Conference)
Mirko Jaksic, Dayton, R-Jr., 6-2, 284 (Pioneer Football League)
Lance Rucker, North Dakota, Sr., 6-3, 230 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
*Joshua Stoneking, Furman, R-Jr., 6-3, 258 (Southern Conference)
Michael Wells, Youngstown State, Sr., 6-3, 250 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Linebackers
Brodie Carroll, Elon, R-Jr., 6-1, 240 (CAA Football)
Jake Dalmado, Southeastern Louisiana, Sr., 6-0, 215 (Southland Conference)
Mikey D'Amato, Cal Poly, Sr., 6-0, 230 (Big Sky Conference)
Rohan Davy, Rhode Island, Jr., 5-10, 205 (CAA Football)
*Eli Ennis, Stephen F. Austin, R-Sr., 6-2, 220 (Southland Conference)
Anthony Ferrelli, Stony Brook, R-Sr., 6-0, 225 (CAA Football)
Jordan Franklin, South Carolina State, R-Jr., 6-2, 205 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Cullen McShane, South Dakota State, Jr., 6-2, 230 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
*Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, Sr., 6-3, 240 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Kaden Smith, Eastern Kentucky, Jr., 6-2, 222 (United Athletic Conference)
Peyton Wing, Montana, Sr., 6-0, 229 (Big Sky Conference)
Steve Zayachkowsky, Charleston Southern, Sr., 5-10, 215 (Ohio Valley Conference)
Defensive Backs
Rex Connors, UC Davis, Sr., 6-1, 220 (Big Sky Conference)
*Caden Dowler, Montana State, Sr., 6-0, 205 (Big Sky Conference)
Damien Henderson, Harvard, Sr., 6-0, 180 (Ivy League)
Christopher Jean, Central Connecticut State, R-Jr., 5-10, 180 (NEC Football)
Jaylon Jenkins, Eastern Washington, R-Jr., 6-1, 192 (Big Sky Conference)
Jaeden Jones, Monmouth, Jr., 6-0, 190 (CAA Football)
*Abu Kamara, Yale, Sr., 6-1, 208 (Ivy League)
Ken Moore Jr., Western Carolina, R-Sr., 5-10, 160 (Southern Conference)
Nick Peltekian, Lehigh, 5th Year, 6-0, 215 (Patriot League)
Dylan Rowsey, Murray State, Sr., 6-1, 195 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Ta'Shaun Sims, Alabama State, Jr., 6-0, 188 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Trey Watkins, LIU, R-Sr., 6-0, 184 (NEC Football)
*-past finalist
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
Thursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
