PRINCETON, N.J. – Harvard senior quarterback Jaden Craig and Cornell junior wide receiver Samuel Musungu were two of 30 FCS standouts
named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List, announced Tuesday by Stats Perform.
The award, in its 39th season and affectionately known as the Heisman of the FCS, is named for legendary running back Walter Payton, who starred at Jackson State as part of his Hall of Fame career. Past recipients include Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo and Cooper Kupp; Montana State’s Tommy Mellott was last season’s winner.
Craig, a finalist for the award last season, returns as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation. A third-team Preseason All-America selection by Phil Steele, he threw for 2,430 yards and 23 touchdowns with just three interceptions in 2024. The Montclair, N.J., native ranks among the national leaders among returning quarterbacks in several key statistical categories: TD/INT ratio (2nd, 7.67), TD percentage (2nd, 8.2), fewest interceptions (2nd, 3), passing yards per game (3rd, 243.0), passing TDs (3rd, 23), yards per completion (14.38), QB rating (4th, 158.8) and passing yards (8th, 2,430).
Musungu enjoyed a breakout sophomore season at Cornell, leading the Ivy League with 83 receptions for 960 yards and 10 touchdowns. Musungu has received preseason All-America nods from Stats Perform (second team), FCS Football Central (second team) and Phil Steele (third team). Among returning FCS wideouts, he ranks in the top 10 in multiple categories: receiving yards per game (1st, 96.0), receptions per game (1st, 8.3), receiving TDs (6th, 10) and receiving yards (7th, 960).
The Ivy League is set to make its historic debut in the FCS Playoffs this fall.
Columbia, Dartmouth, and Harvard shared the Ivy League title in 2024 following another fiercely competitive season. It marked the second consecutive year -- and just the sixth time in league history -- that three teams finished as co-champions.
The 2025 Ivy League football season kicks off on Friday, Sept. 19.