Griz have 2 Payton Finalists for first time ever...

[Brother Bear]

Ah Yat and Wortham named Finalists for Walter Payton Award - University of Montana Athletics

For the first time in Montana history, two Grizzly standouts have been named finalists for the Walter Payton Award, the honor presented annually to the FCS n...

gogriz.com

For the first time in Montana history, two Grizzly standouts have been named finalists for the Walter Payton Award, the honor presented annually to the FCS national offensive player of the year.

Quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat and receiver Michael Wortham are two of 30 finalists for the 2025 Payton Award and two of just four selections from the Big Sky Conference.

 

[Dont Kick 2 Bergen]

Ah Yat should win that hands down. He is by far the best player in FCS college football

 

[Mavman]

But But they didn't attend high school in Montana lol Either did the Griz Jerry Rice watch list player.
All kidding aside congrats to both players and shout out to Gilllman who could have been on that list too.
Offense is fun to watch this year.

Where are Dowler and Jones I must have missed them on the list.

 

[Grizzlies1982]

Awesome! Two highly deserving young men. Very grateful they are Monana Grizzlies!

 

[SoCal Surfer]

Outstanding!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mthoopsfan]

The Cat QB is on list too.

 

[GriznMN]

Great to see Wortham and Ah Yat named as finalists. They, and the team, have earned it!

 

[Grizzlies1982]

I had to bump this back to the top.

This is one heck of an achievement by those two, and a wonderful honor for them!

 

[cheygriz]

Congrats to both. Well deserved. But I still think that Eli Gilman is our best player. He continued to make big plays even tho defenses loaded the box.

 

[PhxGriz]

Ah Yat should win that hands down. He is by far the best player in FCS college football

He's pretty close. Maybe next year. Good input.

 

[alabamagrizzly]

Congrats to both. Well deserved. But I still think that Eli Gilman is our best player. He continued to make big plays even tho defenses loaded the box.

I was thinking is it selfish to expect we should have 3 finalists.

 

[billingsgriz]

I was thinking is it selfish to expect we should have 3 finalists.

The Danny Downers will mark not having 3 Payton finalists as a sure sign that our program has gone straight to hell under Coach Hauck, and if Bobby Hauck wasn't our head coach, we would have had 4 or 5 : ( !!!

 

[alabamagrizzly]

The Danny Downers will mark not having 3 Payton finalists as a sure sign that our program has gone straight to hell under Coach Hauck, and if Bobby Hauck wasn't our head coach, we would have had 4 or 5 : ( !!!

Well of course we all know in typical Hauck fashion, he's been holding back Brooks cus we cant have any Fr stars or he'd be in that list too.

 

[Oldskoolgriz]

Congratulations to both players, but I feel like Eli Gillman should also be on this list.

 

[EverettGriz]

I was thinking is it selfish to expect we should have 3 finalists.

We should have had 3. Eli absolutely deserves to be a finalist. That's a major snub

 

[Oldskoolgriz]

We should have had 3. Eli absolutely deserves to be a finalist. That's a major snub

Especially since he was on the preseason watchlist before the season and I'm pretty sure he led the Big Sky in rushing yds and rushing TDs

 

[alabamagrizzly]

If I was told before hand we'd have two, I'd have guessed Eli and Ah Yat.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Soooo many weapons.

 

[SinCityGriz2005]

Ah Yat should win that hands down. He is by far the best player in FCS college football

Ehhh disagree. Out of the three Griz, I think Gillman is the best player in the nation. Hands down, but lately it has turned into a QB award. KAY might win but I don't see any Griz winning it unless they make it to the Semi's. and he has an insane performance in the playoffs.

 

[alabamagrizzly]

Based off stats alone, neither Griz is winning this award and probably wont be invited to Nashville for the ceromony. If i had to guess at three finalists, id say Jr QB Brungard from YSU, Sr QB Payton from NDSU and So RB Dye from SUU.