Aggie News

Update 08/23/06

GRANT ON "PAYTON WATCH" LIST FOR TOP DIVISION I-AA PLAYER

DAVIS, Calif. -- UC Davis' Jon Grant is one of five quarterbacks and 16 players overall named on Wednesday to The Sports Network's initial "Payton Watch" list for the 20th Walter Payton Award, which will be presented in December to the top player in NCAA Division I-AA football.

Grant, a senior from Pacific Grove, Calif., has thrown for 5,458 career yards as he enters his third season at the helm of the Aggie offense. He was previously selected by Matt Dougherty, Executive Director of I-AA Football for The Sports Network, as the division's fourth-best returning quarterback.

The "Payton Watch" list was released concurrently with the 16-player "Buchanan Watch" list. The Buchanan Award is presented to the top defensive player. Both honors, along with the Eddie Robinson Award for I-AA's top coach and the Sports Network Cup for the best I-AA mid-major program, will be presented on Dec. 14.

Grant, the Great West Football Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Year last year, completed 259 of 450 passes (57.6 percent) for 2,873 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2005, all conference highs while also leading the conference in total offense at 273.3 yards per game.

Four times he posted 300-yard passing games, including 373 yards at Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 5. He also had 301 yards in the season-opener against New Hampshire, had 321 yards and three touchdowns against rival Sacramento State, and later threw for 307 yards in the Aggies' victory over Cal Poly. Grant had 344 yards of total offense in the season-finale against Northern Colorado, throwing for 279 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 65 yards.

The "Payton Watch" list will be revised three times throughout the season before being voted on by the media and sports information directors at the end of the season. Grant was honored with the distinction but said a successful season for the Aggies is the top goal.

"It's definitely an honor anytime you're mentioned with a group of athletes like that," said Grant. "It's a very nice honor but the team comes first."

Five quarterbacks received mention on the list, including Josh Greco (Eastern Kentucky), Justin Rascati (James Madison), Ricky Santos (New Hampshire) and Eric Sanders (Northern Iowa).

Running back James Noble of Cal Poly was the only other GWFC player on the "Payton Watch" list while the Mustangs' linebacker Kyle Shotwell was selected to the "Buchanan Watch" list. Cornerback Codera Jackson of Youngstown State was named to the Buchanan list as well. The Aggies play at Youngstown State on Sept. 23.

UC Davis, which will host its annual Blue-Gold Scrimmage on Friday night, opens the season on Sept. 2 at Northern Colorado.

"Payton Watch" Candidates (Aug. 23)
David Ball, WR, New Hampshire
Alonzo Coleman, RB, Hampton
Omar Cuff, RB, Delaware
Clifton Dawson, RB, Harvard
Jerome Felton, FB, Furman
Jon Grant, QB, UC Davis
Josh Greco, QB, Eastern Kentucky
Clay Green, RB, Jacksonville State
James Noble, RB, Cal Poly
Justin Rascati, QB, James Madison
Kevin Richardson, RB, Appalachian State
Laurent Robinson, WR, Illinois State
Eric Sanders, QB, UNI
Ricky Santos, QB, New Hampshire
Jordan Scott, RB, Colgate
Arkee Whitlock, RB, Southern Illinois

"Buchanan Watch" Candidates (Aug. 23)
Tory Collins, DT, Northwestern State
Zak DeOssie, LB, Brown
Justin Durant, LB, Hampton
Keldrick Holman, S, Stephen F. Austin
Codera Jackson, CB, Youngstown State
Martin Jackson, DE, Alcorn State
Tyler Knight, LB, Mississippi Valley State
Tony LeZotte, S, James Madison
John Mohring, LB, Georgia Southern
Mike Murphy, DE, Montana
Marques Murrell, DE, Appalachian State
Chad Nkang, LB, Elon
Clint Sellers, LB, Eastern Illinois
Kyle Shotwell, LB, Cal Poly
Cameron Siskowic, LB, Illinois State
Pago Togafau, LB, Idaho State

Information courtesy UC Davis ICA/Media Relations