Pittsburgh, Pa. – Reigning All-NEC running back
Ness Davis enters his second season at Duquesne with national recognition after being named one of 30 players on the
preseason watch list for the Walter Payton Award. Presented annually, the Walter Payton Award recognizes the national offensive player of the year in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
A redshirt junior from Athens, Georgia, Davis ranked third in the NEC with 927 rushing yards last season and scored two touchdowns, both in league play, including a 59-yard touchdown run at Mercyhurst. Nationally, Davis ranked 11th among FCS qualifiers in yards per carry (6.4) and recorded five 100-yard rushing performances, highlighted by a career-high 179 yards in the season finale at Robert Morris. He also earned four NEC weekly honors, including one Offensive Player of the Week selection and three Prime Performer accolades.
Entering his fifth collegiate season, Davis has appeared in 32 career games between Duquesne and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He owns 1,412 career rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. Earlier this preseason, Hero Sports ranked Davis among the
top 20 returning running backs in the FCS.
The Walter Payton Award celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026. Presented annually by Stats Perform, the award is widely regarded as the FCS equivalent of the Heisman Trophy and is named in honor of Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, who starred collegiately at Jackson State.
For the complete preseason watch list and additional information from Stats Perform,
click here.
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