Wofford fullback Eric Breitenstein was named to the Walter Payton Award watch list by The Sports Network.

The Sports Network, which hands out the award, named 19 other finalists, including Elon receiver Aaron Mellette. No Appalachian State players are on the list.

Breitenstein, a former Watauga High standout, is also a Sports Network preseason All-American. Breitenstein was the Southern Conference's Offensive Player of the Year last season after gaining 1,474 yards on 268 carries and 19 touchdowns in 12 games. He was also fifth in the nation in scoring at 9.5 points per game.

Mellette led the SoCon with 113 receptions for 1,639 yards and 12 touchdowns in 11 games. A total of 12 of the 20 players on the watch list return from last year's list.

 

The other returning finalists are:

Casey Brockman         QB      Murray State

DeNarius McGhee      QB      Montana State

Brad Sorensen             QB      Southern Utah

Shakir Bell       RB       Indiana State

Jordan Brown RB       Bryant

Jamaine Cook  RB       Youngstown State

Timothy Flanders       RB       Sam Houston State

Andrew Pierce                        RB       Delaware

Terrance West RB       Towson

Eric Breitenstein         FB       Wofford

Aaron Mellette           WR      Elon

Rodrick Rumble          WR      Idaho State

 

The new finalists are:

Taylor Heinicke          QB      Old Dominion

Kurt Hess       QB      Youngstown State

Jeff Matthews            QB      Cornell

Zach Bauman  RB       Northern Arizona

Matt Denham RB       Eastern Kentucky

Miguel Maysonet       RB       Stony Brook

Ryan Spadola  WR      Lehigh

Rochard Sincere          All purpose     Sam Houston State