WACO, Texas- Jackson State's Irv Mulligan has been named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, presented to the national offensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football, announced by Stats Perform on Tuesday afternoon.

The award, in its 38th 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, Cooper Kupp, and Trey Lance.

After missing all of spring practice, summer workouts, fall camp, and the first two games of the season; Mulligan returned to the Jackson State backfield with limited carries in his first two games. Since being inserted into the starting lineup, Mulligan helped lead Jackson State to a 9-1 record during the 10-game stretch and helped lead the Tigers to a 10-2 regular season record and a SWAC East Division Championships (and a berth in the conference championship game). 

He rushed for 100-plus yards five times and leads the conference as the only rusher with 1,000 yards on the season (becoming the 13th player in school history to reach that mark). Mulligan sits seventh in the nation in yards per carry (6.74), ninth in rushing yards per game (105.8), and 21st in rushing yards (1,058) – all conference-leading numbers. He is also 31st in all-purpose yards (109.70), 33rd in rushing touchdowns (10), and 46th in total touchdowns (10) making him one of the best backs in the nation. 

Mulligan joins a list that includes Mark Adams (Davidson), Hope Adebayo (St. Thomas), Kayvon Britten (Tarleton State), Jeff Caldwell (Lindenwood), Zach Calzada (UIW), Efton Chism III (Eastern Washington), Jacob Clark (Missouri State), Jermaine Corbett (Merrimack), Jaden Craig (Harvard), Jamar Curtis (Lafayette), Paxton DeLaurent (Southeast Missouri State), Roland Dempster (Stony Brook), Cole Gonzales (Western Carolina), Charles Grant (William & Mary), Mark Gronowski (South Dakota State), Miles Hastings (UC Davis), Malachi Hosley (Penn), Elijah Howard (Central Connecticut State), Targhee Lambson (Southern Utah), Lan Larison (UC Davis), Antonio Martin (Southeastern Louisiana), Dwayne McGee (Mercer), Maverick McIvor (Abilene Christian), Tommy Mellott (Montana State), Cam Miller (North Dakota State), Eric Phoenix (South Carolina State), ShunDerrick Powell (Central Arkansas), Daniel Richardson (Florida A&M), Derek Robertson (Monmouth), Ralph Rucker IV (Bucknell), J'Mari Taylor (North Carolina Central), Sam Vidlak (Stephen F. Austin), Jalen Walthall (UIW), and Jameson Wang (Cornell).

All 13 FCS conferences are represented by a finalist, and the list includes 16 quarterbacks, 15 running back, three receivers, and one offensive lineman. The winner will be selected by a national voting panel, and will be announced at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas.

About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
 
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org