Eastern Washington QB Gage Gubrud on Payton Award watch list

There are at least 5,160 reasons why Eastern Washington quarterback Gage Gubrud is among the favorites to win the Walter Payton Award.

The junior quarterback burst on the FCS scene a year ago in his first season as a starter by passing for a FCS record 5,160 yards, to go along with 48 touchdown passes and more than 5,700 yards of total offense. This week, STATS named him among the players on the Watch List to win the award after finishing third in the voting a year ago.

In addition to the watch list, Gubrud was selected by College Sports Madness to win the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year award.

In July, Gubrud was selected to the STATS preseason All-America second team and was picked to defend his title as the league’s Offensive MVP. He was named last year’s NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Player of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Columbus.