NORMAL — Four finalists for the Walter Payton Award as the top player in FCS football were announced this week.
Illinois State’s All-American tailback James Robinson was not among them. In fact, Robinson wasn’t in the top nine. Places for those who finished fifth and lower were released and Robinson was 10th.
“I was really surprised. I can’t believe he’s not one of the top three players in the country,” ISU coach Brock Spack said. “It’s hard for me to believe that.”
The top four — quarterbacks Trey Lance of North Dakota State, Case Cookus of Northern Arizona and Kevin Thomson of Sacramento State and Monmouth running back Pete Guerriero — were invited to the announcement of the Payton Award winner in January.