University of Albany FCS Football Tailback David McCarty Added to 2009 Walter Payton Award Watch List - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Philadelphia, Pa. – University at Albany’s David McCarty has been added to the Walter Payton Award watch list, as announced on Tuesday, July 14 by The Sports Network national wire service. The Payton Award is bestowed annually upon the nation’s top player at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level.

McCarty, a senior tailback from Gansevoort, N.Y., ranked second among the Division I FCS national leaders in rushing at 154.3 yards per game last season. He was named to the Sports Network All-America third team and earned first-team All-Northeast Conference recognition. McCarty shattered the school’s single-season rushing (1,852 yards) and all-purpose running (2,208) standards.

“David McCarty is the epitome of what you would love to have in a football player,” stated UAlbany coach Bob Ford, who guided the Great Danes to their second consecutive Northeast Conference championship and a Gridiron Classic win over Jacksonville last season. “He has great balance, good vision, the unique ability to stay on his feet and the great attribute of holding on to the football. Besides his great work ethic, he is an unselfish kid and that is hard to do at that position.”

McCarty, who enters his senior campaign as the school’s career leader in rushing yards (3,353), was picked by Sporting News Yearbook as the 2009 preseason NEC offensive player of the year. He has toppled the 100-yard rushing mark 19 times as a collegian, a school record, and reached the century mark in 11 of 12 games as a junior. McCarty established the program’s single-game FCS rushing record with 271 yards and four touchdowns en route to receiving the Gridiron Classic MVP.

“Walter Payton was one of the great running backs to have ever played the game,” said McCarty, who was recently named to the Preseason Sports Network FCS All-America third team. “This is an honor and a good thing that people are paying attention to what the Albany program is accomplishing. I have never been one for personal glory. All the credit for any accolades that I receive goes to my coaches, teammates and offensive line. They make the right decisions at the right time to put me in a position to be successful.”

A total of 20 candidates will be announced in alphabetical order prior to the start of the season, with four candidates being released each week. The Payton Award watch list will be revised in October and again in November before the final ballot is announced. Current NFL standouts Brian Westbrook and Tony Romo are among the previous recipients.

Voting from a panel of FCS sports information directors, writers, broadcasters and other football experts will be conducted after the regular season ends. Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 30 and will be invited to the 23rd annual Sports Network Awards banquet on Dec. 17 in Chattanooga, Tenn., the night prior to the NCAA Division I championship game. The Eddie Robinson Award (top FCS Coach) and Buck Buchanan Award (top FCS Defensive Player) will also be presented that evening.