Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott has been named a finalist for the prestigious Walter Payton Award, recognizing the FCS national offensive player of the year. Mellott, a senior from Butte, has had an impressive season, completing 68.7% of his passes for 1,980 yards, 22 touchdowns, and only one interception. Additionally, he has rushed for 633 yards and 11 touchdowns. Under Mellott’s leadership, Montana State achieved a perfect 12-0 record, won the Big Sky Conference championship, and secured the No. 1 seed for the FCS playoffs.
Mellott is one of four Big Sky Conference players named as finalists for the award, alongside Miles Hastings and Lan Larison from UC Davis, and Efton Chism III from Eastern Washington. Hastings, with 3,745 passing yards and 32 touchdowns, and Larison, with 1,321 rushing yards and 755 receiving yards, led UC Davis to the No. 5 seed in the playoffs. Chism, on the other hand, caught 120 passes for 1,311 yards and 13 touchdowns for Eastern Washington.
The winner of the Walter Payton Award will be announced at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas. Montana State is set to face either Tennessee Martin or New Hampshire in the second round of the FCS playoffs on Dec. 7. Mellott’s exceptional performance and leadership have propelled him to become a top contender for this prestigious award, showcasing his talent and contributions to the success of the Bobcats this season.
Source
Photo credit www.montanasports.com
