Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott won the Walter Payton Award as the best offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) on Saturday night, just two days before his team, the top-ranked Bobcats, plays North Dakota State in the title game.
Known as “Touchdown Tommy,” Mellott received 147 points and 16 first-place votes, beating out North Dakota State’s quarterback Cam Miller (131 points and 14 first-place votes) and Southern Utah’s running back Targhee Lambson (115 points and 5 first-place votes).
“I’m very, very honored,” Mellott said, calling the win a humbling moment.
The senior from Butte, Montana, has led Montana State to a perfect 15-0 record. He was also named to The Associated Press FCS All-America team and was the Walter Camp FCS Player of the Year. Mellott leads the FCS in passing efficiency and points responsible for.
Mellott reflected on his journey, saying, “Three years ago I was on the sideline after being injured in the national championship game, and I was talking on the mic to the quarterback coach at the time, Coach (Taylor) Housewright, and he said, `If you don’t become the Walter Payton Award winner, we failed you.’ So, I think it’s just a testament to what we’ve done as a program.”
Montana State and North Dakota State will play in the title game Monday night at Toyota Stadium. Montana State’s head coach, Brent Vigen, received the Eddie Robinson Award as coach of the year. The Buck Buchanan Award for the best defensive player went to Central Arkansas defensive end David Walker.
