WACO, Texas | Stats Perform has announced a 30-player preseason watch list for the 2025 Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the national offensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football with a pair of Jackson State student-athletes named to the list.

JaCobian Morgan continues to add to his preseason award by earning a spot on the Preseason Watch List. The two-time Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Morgan finished last season with 2,051 yards through the air on 150-of-234 passing, finishing the season 10-1 as a starter, including 10 consecutive wins. He also threw 19 touchdown passes with just eight interceptions, finishing with a 64.1 completion percentage. He also rushed for 225 yards and four touchdowns. Morgan completed the season ranked nationally in several categories including passing efficiency (13th/157.9), points responsible for (16th/164), passing yards per completion (17th/13.72), passing touchdowns (24th/21),  completion percentage (31st/0.637), points responsible for per game (35th/11.7), passing yards (43rd/2,236), passing yards per game (69th/159.7), completions per game (80th/11.64), and rushing touchdowns (98th/6).

Meanwhile, he was joined on the list by Travis Terrell Jr., a highly-decorated player last season including being named the Freshman of the Year by the SWAC and Phil Steele. He was ranked among the best in the nation in returns, leading the nation in kick returns for touchdowns with two. He also ranked in the top five nationally in three other categories, including third in punt returns (16.7), fourth in combined kick returns (851), fifth in kickoff returns (30.6), and 36th in all-purpose yards (108.08). The sophomore also ran the ball 459 yards on 75 carries with four touchdowns, and also caught 15 passes for 95 yards on the offensive side of the ball. Terrell was named First Team All-SWAC this season and earned four selections on the Phil Steele all-conference team, while also earning a pair of Preseason All-American teams.

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. All 13 FCS conferences are represented on the watch list, which includes nine past finalists. This season's recipient will be announced at the Stats Perform National Awards Banquet on Jan. 3, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Walter Payton Award was first presented in 1987. More players can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner after the regular season from a group of finalists.

Jackson State is one of just four schools with two players named to the Preseason List including Illinois State, South Dakota, and Stephen F. Austin.

Jackson State Season Tickets
Season tickets begin at $110 for youth general admission and $170 for general admission. Reserved seating is sold at $235 this season, and box seats $300.  All ticket packages include a $10 donation, which directly supports the Sonic Boom of the South and enhances the NIL infrastructure for the Division of Athletics. There are seven options for parking passes during the 2025 season, beginning at $135 for the VIP Tiger Lot. Four different lots (Lots B, C, D, and H) are $360 for the season, while Lot A is $660. The car tailgate lot will be sold at $560 for the year, and the RV tailgate lot is $810. All passes include a $10 donation, which directly supports the Sonic Boom of the South and enhances the NIL infrastructure for the Division of Athletics, and Fans must purchase a minimum of two (2) season tickets to be eligible for season parking. 

For answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs), click here, and all ticketing information can be found on the Ticket Central page by clicking here. The deadline for season parking and single-game ticket pre-sales is July 31. Meanwhile, reserved and single-game ticket sales begin August 5.

Las Vegas HBCU Classic Tickets
Tickets and travel packages are on sale for the inaugural Las Vegas HBCU Classic at Allegiant Stadium on Oct. 25. For more information, click here.

Southern Miss Single-Game Tickets
Jackson State and Southern Miss single-game tickets go on sale to the general public on July 30 at 10 a.m. for the game in Hattiesburg. More information and links will follow at a later date. Due to expected high demand and increased call traffic, fans are encouraged to purchase tickets online. The game is set for a 4 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+ on Sept. 6. 

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