BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford quarterback Liam Welch was named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the top offensive player in all of FCS football, STATS Perform announced Monday afternoon.
 
The award winner will be selected by a 40-member national media panel from the unprecedented 2020-21 season, which has spanned the fall and spring semesters. The recipient will be announced on May 15.
 
Welch led the Southern Conference and ranks fourth in the nation in passing yards per game, averaging 373.7 passing yards per contest. He also leads the league and ranks third nationally in total passing yards at 2,242 yards in just six contests. Welch is the SoCon leader and ranks second in the nation in both total offense (2,545 yards) and total offense per game (424.2 ypg.).
 
Welch started six of Samford's seven games this season, and threw for at least 300 yards in five of those six contests. He set a Samford and Southern Conference record, throwing for 570 yards against 19^th-ranked VMI. Welch was named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week twice (Mar. 1 and Mar. 22), and he earned SoCon Player of the Month honors for both February and March.
 
In addition to his impressive passing numbers, Welch ranked second on the team in rushing with 303 yards and four touchdowns. He rushed for a career-high 139 yards and a touchdown in a 55-7 win at The Citadel.
 
Welch is the first Samford player to be named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award since Devlin Hodges won the honor following the 2018 season.
 
Samford finished the spring season with a record of 4-3, wrapping up the season with an impressive 44-20 win over No. 23 Mercer Saturday afternoon.
 
Also in the next month, Stats Perform will present the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman player of the year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
 
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