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At the Stats Perform National Award banquet on Saturday night, University of the Incarnate Word quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr. was crowned the FCS Offensive Player of the Year, winning the Walter Payton Award. Three student-athletes were invited to the award ceremony on the eve of the FCS National Championship. Two quarterbacks in Scott and Fordham's Tim DeMorat with running back Jaden Shirden from Monmouth rounding out the finalists. Scott took home the Walter Payton Award following a stellar final season that saw numerous record breaks both in the UIW record book and in FCS records. He finished the season with 71 touchdowns, 60 through the air, and 11 on the ground. He also gained 4,686 yards passing on 454 attempts with a 70.93 percent completion percentage. During the National Championship on Sunday, Scott will also be recognized as the 2022 FCS ADA Offensive Player of the Year.
Illinois State senior linebacker Zeke Vandenburgh received the 2022 Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in FCS football.
Vandenburgh won the award by receiving 30 first-place votes and had no votes lower than third place for a total of 187. William & Mary redshirt sophomore outside linebacker John Pius finished second in the voting (113) and Central Arkansas sophomore defensive end David Walker third (90) after a 54-member panel selected the 28th annual award – named for legendary defensive lineman Junious "Buck" Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State as part of his Hall of Fame career.
The 2022 Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Vandenburgh saved some of his best football for last as he posted a career-high 17 tackles, 3.5 sacks and tied a career-best with 4.0 tackles-for-loss in the Redbirds' season finale against Western Illinois. It gave him 100 tackles (51 solos) in a 10-game stat line that also included 21 tackles-for-loss (120 yards) and an FCS-leading 14 sacks. A four-time MVFC Defensive Player of the Week honoree, Vandenburgh was also credited with one interception, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and four quarterback hurries in 2022. The Freeport, Illinois, native finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the FCS in sacks per game (1.40) and tackles-for-loss per game (2.1).
| YEAR | WINNER, SCHOOL | POSITION |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Lindsey Scott Jr, Incarnate Word | Quarterback |
| 2021 | Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington | Quarterback |
| 2020 | Cole Kelley, Southeastern Louisiana | Quarterback |
| 2019 | Trey Lance, North Dakota State | Quarterback |
| 2018 | Devlin Hodges, Samford | Quarterback |
| 2017 | Jeremiah Briscoe, Sam Houston State | Quarterback |
| 2016 | Jeremiah Briscoe, Sam Houston State | Quarterback |
| 2015 | Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington | Wide receiver |
| 2014 | John Robertson, Villanova | Quarterback |
| 2013 | Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois | Quarterback |
| 2012 | Taylor Heinicke, Old Dominion | Quarterback |
| 2011 | Bo Levi Mitchell, Eastern Washington | Quarterback |
| 2010 | Jeremy Moses, Stephen F. Austin | Quarterback |
| 2009 | Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State | Quarterback |
| 2008 | Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State | Quarterback |
| 2007 | Jayson Foster, Georgia Southern | Quarterback |
| 2006 | Ricky Santos, New Hampshire | Quarterback |
| 2005 | Erik Meyer, Eastern Washington | Quarterback |
| 2004 | Lang Campbell, William & Mary | Quarterback |
| 2003 | Jamaal Branch, Colgate | Running back |
| 2002 | Tony Romo, Eastern Illinois | Quarterback |
| 2001 | Brian Westbrook, Villanova | Running back |
| 2000 | Louis Ivory, Furman | Running back |
| 1999 | Adrian Peterson, Georgia Southern | Running back |
| 1998 | Jerry Azumah, New Hampshire | Running back |
| 1997 | Brian Finneran, Villanova | Wide receiver |
| 1996 | Archie Amerson, Northern Arizona | Running back |
| 1995 | Dave Dickenson, Montana | Quarterback |
| 1994 | Steve McNair, Alcorn State | Quarterback |
| 1993 | Doug Nussmeier, Idaho | Quarterback |
| 1992 | Michael Payton, Marshall | Quarterback |
| 1991 | Jamie Martin, Weber State | Quarterback |
| 1990 | Walter Dean, Grambling State | Running back |
| 1989 | John Friesz, Idaho | Quarterback |
| 1988 | Dave Meggett, Towson | Running back |
| 1987 | Kenny Gamble, Colgate | Running back |
| YEAR | WINNER, SCHOOL | POSITION |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Zeke Vandenburg, Illinois State | Linebacker |
| 2021 | Isaiah Land, Florida A&M | Linebacker |
| 2020 | Jordan Lewis, Southern | Defensive End |
| 2019 | Dante Olson, Montana | Linebacker |
| 2018 | Zach Hall, Southeast Missouri State | Linebacker |
| 2017 | Darius Jackson, Jacksonville State | Defensive End |
| 2016 | Karter Schult, Northern Iowa | Defensive End |
| 2015* | Tyrone Holmes, Montana | Linebacker |
| 2015 | Deon King, Norfolk State | Linebacker |
| 2014 | Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State | Defensive End |
| 2013 | Brad Daly, Montana State | Defensive End |
| 2012 | Caleb Schreibeis, Montana State | Defensive End |
| 2011 | Matt Evans, New Hampshire | Linebacker |
| 2010 | J.C. Sherritt, Eastern Washington | Linebacker |
| 2009 | Arthur Moats, James Madison | Defensive End |
| 2008 | Greg Peach, Eastern Washington | Defensive End |
| 2007 | Kroy Biermann, Montana | Defensive End |
| 2006 | Kyle Shotwell, Cal Poly | Linebacker |
| 2005 | Chris Gocong, Cal Poly | Defensive End |
| 2004 | Jordan Beck, Cal Poly | Linebacker |
| 2003 | Jared Allen, Idaho State | Defensive End |
| 2002 | Rashean Mathis, Bethune-Cookman | Cornerback |
| 2001 | Derrick Lloyd, James Madison | Linebacker |
| 2000 | Edgerton Hartwell, Western Illinois | Linebacker |
| 1999 | Al Lucas, Troy State | Defensive Tackle |
| 1998 | James Milton, Western Illinois | Linebacker |
| 1997 | Chris McNeil, North Carolina A&T | Defensive End |
| 1996 | Dexter Coakley, Appalachian State | Linebacker |
| 1995 | Dexter Coakley, Appalachian State | Linebacker |