July 12, 2012
NORFOLK, Va. -- Sophomore quarterback Taylor Heinicke (Atlanta, Ga.) was among the 20 student-athletes named to the 2012 Walter Payton Award List Watch List for the Football Championship Subdivision's (FCS) top individual honor it was announced by The Sports Network on Thursday.
The runner-up for the Jerry Rice Award as the nation's top FCS freshman and one the "Top Ten Quarterbacks To Watch in 2012" by The Sports Network, Heinicke took over quarterback duties for the Monarchs in the second half of ODU's week five game with #20 UMass last season and went on to finish out the 2011 campaign completing 211 of his 307 passes with 25 touchdowns and just one interception, a hail mary pass at the end of ODU's contest with Towson.
In playoff action, the true freshman signal caller set school records with five touchdown passes in games against both Norfolk State and #3/2 Georgia Southern and averaged 307.5 yards passing in the post-season.
Although his name did not appear in the conference or national stats having not played in the minimum 75% of games played to qualify, if Heinicke's name did appear, his 265 passing yards per game would have ranked 18th nationally, his 160.2 pass efficiency rating would placed him fifth nationally, and his 305.3 yards of total offense per contest would have put his name 10th nationally.
The Payton Award Watch List can undergo revision during the 2012 season. Ballots will be sent to a panel of about 175 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries following the regular season on Nov. 19. The top three vote-getters will be invited to The Sports Network FCS Awards Presentation.
The Sports Network also presents the Buck Buchanan, Jerry Rice and Eddie Robinson awards. The Buchanan Award honors the FCS defensive player of the year, the Rice Award goes to the FCS freshman of the year and the Robinson Award honors the FCS coach of the year. Those three winners will join the top three Payton finalists at the national awards banquet.
Click here to view the entire Payton Award Watch List.