Samford quarterback Devlin Hodges was named the winner of the 2018 Walter Payton Award at the annual NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Awards Banquet held Jan. 4. Hodges, a senior, is the first-ever Samford player and the seventh Southern Conference player to win the award.
The Walter Payton Award is awarded annually to the top FCS football offensive player.
Hodges, a Kimberly native, set a school record for single-season passing yards, throwing for 4,283 yards this season, breaking the old record of 4,088, set by Hodges himself in 2016. He led the nation in passing yards per game (389.4), total passing yards (4,283) and total offense per game (417.8).
Hodges’ 14,584 career passing yards broke the old FCS national record of 14,496, set by Steve McNair of Alcorn State (1991–94). Hodges also set FCS records for career completions and attempts. Hodges will have earned 23 different school records upon graduation.
The Walter Payton Award was first established in 1987. Hodges is the first Southern Conference award recipient since 2009. (Samford)
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