Photo by: Chase Cochran|Samford Athletics
Hiers Named Finalist For 2022 Walter Payton Award
11.22.22 | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford quarterback Michael Hiers was named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the top offensive player in all of FCS Football, Stats Perform announced on Tuesday.Â
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A national media panel will select the Payton Award winner, with voting based on the regular season. The recipient will be announced at the FCS National Awards banquet on Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas – on the eve of the national championship game.
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Hiers, the two-time SoCon Offensive Player of the Month, threw for 3,290 yards on 329-of-428 passing and 35 touchdowns, which is one shy of tying the single-season program record of 36 set by previous Walter Payton Award Winner Delvin Hodges. The junior also ran for 161 yards and three scores on the ground.
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As of the end of the FCS regular season, Hiers leads all Division I passers with a 76.9 completion percentage. The Birmingham native ranks Top 10 nationally in completions per game (29.91/1st), passing efficiency (166.4/8th), passing touchdowns (35/3rd), passing yards (3,290/7th), passing yards per game (299.1/4th), points responsible for (228/3rd), points responsible per game (20.7/3rd) and total offense (313.7/4th).
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Hiers is the third Samford quarterback to be named a Walter Payton Award finalist in the Chris Hatcher era, following in the footsteps of the 2018 winner Hodges and spring 2021 finalist Liam Welch.
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FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:
For the latest news and information on Samford football, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordFootball (Facebook), @SamfordFootball (Instagram) and @SamfordFootball (Twitter).Â
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A national media panel will select the Payton Award winner, with voting based on the regular season. The recipient will be announced at the FCS National Awards banquet on Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas – on the eve of the national championship game.
Â
Hiers, the two-time SoCon Offensive Player of the Month, threw for 3,290 yards on 329-of-428 passing and 35 touchdowns, which is one shy of tying the single-season program record of 36 set by previous Walter Payton Award Winner Delvin Hodges. The junior also ran for 161 yards and three scores on the ground.
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As of the end of the FCS regular season, Hiers leads all Division I passers with a 76.9 completion percentage. The Birmingham native ranks Top 10 nationally in completions per game (29.91/1st), passing efficiency (166.4/8th), passing touchdowns (35/3rd), passing yards (3,290/7th), passing yards per game (299.1/4th), points responsible for (228/3rd), points responsible per game (20.7/3rd) and total offense (313.7/4th).
Â
Hiers is the third Samford quarterback to be named a Walter Payton Award finalist in the Chris Hatcher era, following in the footsteps of the 2018 winner Hodges and spring 2021 finalist Liam Welch.
Â
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:
For the latest news and information on Samford football, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordFootball (Facebook), @SamfordFootball (Instagram) and @SamfordFootball (Twitter).Â
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Players Mentioned
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