The race for the 2011 Walter Payton Award, sponsored by Fathead.com, kicked off Monday with The Sports Network’s announcement that six returning finalists from last season headline a stellar 20-player Watch List for the Football Championship Subdivision’s top individual honor.
University of Northern Iowa senior quarterback Tirrell Rennie is among the 20 players on the Walter Payton Watch List. Rennie is coming off the 2010 season in which he rushed for a team-best 1,291 yards and 15 touchdowns. Rennie also passed for 1,543 yards and eight touchdowns. Rennie helped lead the Panthers to a Missouri Valley Football Conference title in 2010 and a spot in the NCAA FCS Playoffs.
The Payton Award will celebrate its 25th anniversary this season and be presented