Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh lands two on watch list for Walter Payton Award
8/1/2018 12:11:00 PM | Football
Walter Payton Award Watch List
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh seniors Dom Bragalone and Brad Mayes have been named to the 25-player watch list for the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award, as announced Wednesday. The Walter Payton Award is given to the outstanding offensive player in the FCS. Bragalone and Mayes are both Preseason All-Patriot League honorees, with Bragalone also adding Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Preseason All-America accolades from HERO Sports and STATS FCS to his name.
Bragalone finished seventh in the balloting for the 2017 Walter Payton Award, capping a season in which he was a consensus first team All-American and led the FCS in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns and scoring. He gained 1,388 yards last season for his third consecutive 1,000-yard rushing campaign and added 18 rushing touchdowns and four receiving touchdowns. Bragalone enters the 2018 campaign 129 yards shy of Lehigh's career rushing record (3,696) held by Rabih Abdullah '95 and three rushing touchdowns shy of the school mark (42) held by Rod Gardner '77.
Mayes enters his second full season as Lehigh's starting quarterback and was first team All-Patriot League and All-ECAC in 2017. Last year, he completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 3,886 yards and 31 touchdowns, ranking in the top 10 of the FCS in passing yards and touchdown passes and finishing second on Lehigh's single season list in both categories. A two-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week, Mayes was named MVP of the Lehigh-Lafayette game after helping to orchestrate a second-half rally that allowed the Mountain Hawks to claim their 12th Patriot League football title.
Lehigh is one of four schools to have two student-athletes named to the Walter Payton Award watch list, joining North Dakota State, Sam Houston State and UC Davis.
Last year, wide receiver Troy Pelletier was named to the preseason watch list for the Walter Payton Award. He joined Bragalone as a finalist, finishing 23rd in the final balloting.
The 32nd Walter Payton Award is voted on by a national panel of media members and sports information directors at the conclusion of the regular season. STATS FCS will also present the Buck Buchanan Award (top defensive player), the Eddie Robinson Award (top coach, the Jerry Rice Award (top freshman) and the Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The Mountain Hawks report for preseason camp on Wednesday and will hold their first practice Thursday afternoon. Lehigh will open the 2018 campaign on Saturday September 1 when the Mountain Hawks host Saint Francis (Pa.) at Goodman Stadium with game time set for 12:30 p.m. Tickets for that game and all Lehigh football home games can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during business hours.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh seniors Dom Bragalone and Brad Mayes have been named to the 25-player watch list for the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award, as announced Wednesday. The Walter Payton Award is given to the outstanding offensive player in the FCS. Bragalone and Mayes are both Preseason All-Patriot League honorees, with Bragalone also adding Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Preseason All-America accolades from HERO Sports and STATS FCS to his name.
Bragalone finished seventh in the balloting for the 2017 Walter Payton Award, capping a season in which he was a consensus first team All-American and led the FCS in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns and scoring. He gained 1,388 yards last season for his third consecutive 1,000-yard rushing campaign and added 18 rushing touchdowns and four receiving touchdowns. Bragalone enters the 2018 campaign 129 yards shy of Lehigh's career rushing record (3,696) held by Rabih Abdullah '95 and three rushing touchdowns shy of the school mark (42) held by Rod Gardner '77.
Mayes enters his second full season as Lehigh's starting quarterback and was first team All-Patriot League and All-ECAC in 2017. Last year, he completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 3,886 yards and 31 touchdowns, ranking in the top 10 of the FCS in passing yards and touchdown passes and finishing second on Lehigh's single season list in both categories. A two-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week, Mayes was named MVP of the Lehigh-Lafayette game after helping to orchestrate a second-half rally that allowed the Mountain Hawks to claim their 12th Patriot League football title.
Lehigh is one of four schools to have two student-athletes named to the Walter Payton Award watch list, joining North Dakota State, Sam Houston State and UC Davis.
Last year, wide receiver Troy Pelletier was named to the preseason watch list for the Walter Payton Award. He joined Bragalone as a finalist, finishing 23rd in the final balloting.
The 32nd Walter Payton Award is voted on by a national panel of media members and sports information directors at the conclusion of the regular season. STATS FCS will also present the Buck Buchanan Award (top defensive player), the Eddie Robinson Award (top coach, the Jerry Rice Award (top freshman) and the Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The Mountain Hawks report for preseason camp on Wednesday and will hold their first practice Thursday afternoon. Lehigh will open the 2018 campaign on Saturday September 1 when the Mountain Hawks host Saint Francis (Pa.) at Goodman Stadium with game time set for 12:30 p.m. Tickets for that game and all Lehigh football home games can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during business hours.
Players Mentioned
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