STEPHENVILLE — The Walter Payton Award is one of the best honors a collegiate football player can earn at the FCS level, and Tarleton State Football quarterback Victor Gabalis has been named a preseason favorite to be in the running for it.
Stats Perform has announced its 30-player preseason watch list for the 2025 Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the national offensive player of the year in NCAA Division I FCS college football. The award, in its 39th season and affectionately known as the Heisman of the FCS, is named for legendary running back Walter Payton, who starred at Jackson State as part of his Hall of Fame career. Past recipients include Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo and Cooper Kupp.
Gabalis was one of 30 players named to the list as he enters his third season at Tarleton State. Just two weeks ago, Gabalis was voted as the unanimous pick for Preseason UAC Offensive Player of the Year. He was also the unanimous selection for the QB spot on the Preseason UAC All-Conference team.
Last season, Gabalis was named UAC Second Team All-Conference after leading the Texans to a 9-3 overall record as the starting quarterback, 6-2 in UAC play. He completed 193-of-309 (.625) for 2,883 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 12 games, averaging 240.3 passing yards per game, while also scoring a rushing touchdown and adding 53 yards on the ground. He set career-bests in pass yards, pass touchdowns, and increased his completion percentage by eight percent. Gabalis threw a season-high four touchdowns twice, including in the second round of the playoffs at No. 4 ranked South Dakota, where he also had a season-high 379 passing yards. He had six multi-TD games on the year, including four games with three or more touchdowns. Conference-wise, he was second in pass yards per game, second in pass TD and second in total pass yards.
All 13 FCS conferences are represented on the 2025 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List, which includes nine past finalists. This season’s recipient will be announced at the Stats Perform National Awards Presentation on Jan. 3, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee.
The 2025 Walter Payton Award preseason watch list:
Quarterbacks
Aidan Bouman, South Dakota
Jaden Craig, Harvard
Quincy Crittendon, Samford
Taron Dickens, Western Carolina
Victor Gabalis, Tarleton State
Ethan Greenwood, LIU
JaCobian Morgan, Jackson State
Derek Robertson, Monmouth
Ralph Rucker IV, Bucknell
Sam Vidlak, Stephen F. Austin
Running Backs
Mari Adams, Davidson
David Avit, Villanova
Jamar Curtis, Sacramento State
Roland Dempster, Stony Brook
Eli Gillman, Montana
Steve Hall, Lindenwood
Elijah Howard, Central Connecticut State
Adam Jones, Montana State
Kevon King, Norfolk State
Julius Loughridge, South Dakota State
Charles Pierre Jr., South Dakota
Travis Terrell, Jackson State
Wenkers Wright, Illinois State
Wide Receivers
Marquis Buchanan, Rhode Island
Kylon Harris, Stephen F. Austin
Bryce Lance, North Dakota State
Samuel Musungu, Cornell
Treyvhon Saunders, Colgate
Daniel Sobkowicz, Illinois State
Jalen Walthall, UIW
The Walter Payton Award was first presented in 1987. More players can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner after the regular season from a group of finalists.
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