FCS award predictions with two weeks left in the season

Every year, the top offensive, defensive and freshman players in the FCS win the Walter Payton, Buck Buchanan and Jerry Rice Awards, respectively. With two weeks to go in the 2024 season, athletes have separated themselves from the pack in the chase for a spot in the FCS history books. Here are the players I think will win each FCS award entering Week 12.

Walter Payton Award Prediction

Winner: QB Cam Miller | North Dakota State

The Walter Payton Award is the most wide-open of the big three FCS awards. 19 of the last 20 Walter Payton Award winners have been quarterbacks, and in 2024, several quarterbacks remain in contention. North Dakota State's Cam Miller and Montana State's Tommy Mellott are the two leaders in the opinions of most. UIW's Zach Calzada or Abilene Christian's Maverick McIvor could lead the nation in passing yards and touchdowns. UC Davis' Miles Hastings could string together a few primetime performances to close the season.

With all that, I think the safest pick right now is North Dakota State quarterback Cam Miller to win the Walter Payton Award. Miller leads the nation by completing almost 78 percent of his passes and his 186.34 passing efficiency. He has had 24 total touchdowns in the year and had one of the most outstanding performances of the year, with a come-from-behind fourth-quarter drive against South Dakota State in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup.

While some may argue that wins are not a QB stat, there's no denying that a good quarterback impacts winning more than other positions. When looking ahead at the schedule, I think NDSU has a better shot at winning out than Montana State or UC Davis, so that's another reason I'm picking Miller right now. However, all that can change based on the result of this week's Montana State-UC Davis matchup.

Other top contenders: QB Tommy Mellott, Montana State | QB Miles Hastings, UC Davis | QB Zach Calzada, UIW | RB Targhee Lambson, Southern Utah | QB Maverick McIvor, Abilene Christian

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Buck Buchanan Award Prediction

Winner: DE David Walker, Central Arkansas

Six of the last eight Buck Buchanan Award winners have been edge players, including each of the last four winners. That's why David Walker is my pick for the Buck Buchanan Award. The Central Arkansas edge rusher leads the nation with 20 tackles for loss, ranks fourth in forced fumbles and ranks tied for fifth with nine sacks.

Walker has been dominant on the edge this season, but the Buchanan Award race may finish closer than expected. Walker is 2.5 sacks behind the nation's leaders. The last three of four Buchanan winners have led the nation in sacks AND tackles for loss. 2022 winner Zeke Vandenburg (Illinois State) was the only one to not lead the nation in both categories, with Walker leading the nation in tackles for loss in 2022.

Moreover, Walker and Central Arkansas are currently on a two-game losing streak. If the Bears don't get back in the win column, it may be because of off games from Walker. He impacts winning that much as shown by his zero sack in UCA's two losses.

Other top contenders: DE Josiah Silver, New Hampshire | DL Jeremiah Grant, Richmond, DL Keyshawn James-Newby, Idaho | DE Elijah Williams, Morgan State | LB Gideon Lampron, Dayton

AWARD HISTORY: Walter Payton | Buck Buchanan | Jerry Rice

Jerry Rice Award Prediction

Winner: RB CharMar Brown, North Dakota State

With two weeks remaining, my pick for the Jerry Rice Award is North Dakota State's CharMar Brown. He leads all freshman running backs in r rushing touchdowns (11) and rushing yards (798). He's also finishing the season strong, rushing for 221 yards and four touchdowns on an average of 7.1 yards per carry. 

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Brown will face a Missouri State team that allows 4.41 yards per carry in Week 12. One more big game could keep the Bison rookie in poll position before facing the sixth-best run defense in the FCS, South Dakota, in the season finale. 

Other top contenders: RB David Avit, Villanova | RB Tariq Thomas, Bucknell | RB Adam Jones, Montana State | CB Jayden Robertson, Southern Utah | S Derek Ganter Jr., Eastern Washington