PITTSBURGH - Duquesne junior running back A.J. Hines (Wilson, N.C./Fike) was one of 25 players named to the watch list for the 2018 Walter Payton Award on Wednesday. The Payton Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding offensive player in the FCS.
Hines, the recipient of the 2016 Jerry Rice Award for the FCS Freshman of the Year, has compiled 2,329 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns through his first two seasons with the Dukes.
A two-time First Team All-NEC performer, he finished with 1,038 yards with 10 scores as a sophomore in 2017 following a 1,291-yard, 13-touchdown showing in his debut season at Duquesne.
Hines has eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark 13 times in his first two years which ranks fourth in program history.
The Wilson, N.C. native was also named a STATS FCS Preseason All-American on Tuesday alongside teammate Nehari Crawford (Fort Pierce Fla./Fort Pierce Central).
The Payton Award, first presented in 1987, has watched past winners such as Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, John Friesz, Brian Finneran, Jimmy Garoppolo and Cooper Kupp move on to the NFL.
The watch list will have updates during the season. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will select the winner following the regular season.
Duquesne has had two Walter Payton Award finalists in each of the last two seasons in quarterbacks Dillon Buechel in 2016 and Tommy Stuart in 2017.
Hines was one of two players from the Northeast Conference named to the Payton Award watch list along with Saint Francis U wide receiver Kamron Lewis.
2018 Walter Payton Award Watch List
Tyrie Adams, Western Carolina, QB, Jr., 6-2, 180
Bruce Anderson, North Dakota State, RB, Sr., 5-11, 216
Dominick Bragalone, Lehigh, RB, Sr., 5-11, 230
Chandler Burks, Kennesaw State, QB, Sr., 5-10, 187
Taryn Christion, South Dakota State, QB, Sr., 6-2, 225
Case Cookus, Northern Arizona, QB, Jr., 6-4, 200
Davion Davis, Sam Houston State, WR, Sr., 5-11, 180
Keelan Doss, UC Davis, WR, Sr., 6-3, 210
Zane Dudek, Yale, RB, So., 5-9, 190
Gage Gubrud, Eastern Washington, QB, Sr., 6-2, 205
A.J. Hines, Duquesne, RB, Jr., 5-11, 225
Devlin Hodges, Samford, QB, Sr., 6-1, 205
Anthony Lawrence, San Diego, QB, Sr., 6-1, 195
Kamron Lewis, Saint Francis, WR, Sr., 6-4, 195
John Lovett, Princeton, QB, Sr., 6-3, 225
Jake Maier, UC Davis, QB, Jr., 6-0, 200
Brad Mayes, Lehigh, QB, Sr., 6-2, 220
Tevin McCaster, Youngstown State, RB, Sr., 5-10, 195
Neil O'Connor, New Hampshire, WR, Sr., 5-11, 190
Lamar Raynard, North Carolina A&T, QB, Sr., 6-4, 200
P.J. Simmons, Alcorn State, RB, Sr., 5-10, 190
Daniel Smith, Campbell, QB, So., 6-0, 200
Nathan Stewart, Sam Houston State, WR, Jr., 5-11, 175
Easton Stick, North Dakota State, QB, Sr., 6-2, 221
Marquis Terry, Southeast Missouri State, RB, Sr., 5-6, 179
