PITTSBURGH - Duquesne junior quarterback Darius Perrantes has been named one of 30 finalists for the 2023 Walter Payton Award, given annually to the national offensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football and presented by FedEx Ground. 

Perrantes finished the regular season with 21 touchdowns and 2,291 passing yards (208.3 per game), which both led the Northeast Conference. He had his fourth, three-touchdown game of the season in last week's NEC championship-clinching win on the road at Merrimack to earn NEC Offensive Player of the Week. Perrantes also rushed in for two touchdowns this season, accounting for a league-best 138 points.

The Los Angeles, Calif. product leads the entire FCS averaging 17.9 yards per completion. Perrantes threw for over 200 yards in every conference matchup and has tallied multiple TD passes in seven games.

The award, first presented in 1987 and in its 37th season, is named for legendary running back Walter Payton, who starred at Jackson State as part of his Hall of Fame career. Affectionately known as the Heisman of the FCS, its past recipients include Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Kupp and Trey Lance.

All 13 FCS leagues, comprised from 15 conferences overall, are represented by a Walter Payton Award finalist. The winner, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced at the FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas – the eve of the FCS championship game.

Perrantes will lead Duquesne in the FCS playoffs, for the first time since 2018 and third time in program history, on Saturday at Youngstown State. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 pm. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

FCS CHAMPIONSHIP LINKS
Championship App  |  Full Bracket

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