Andrew Body and Chance Peterson named to Walter Payton Award watch list

Two FCS offensive playmakers, Alabama State running back Andrew Body and North Carolina Central star Chance Peterson, have been highlighted on the preseason Walter Payton Award watch list. The Walter Payton Award is presented to the most outstanding offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision, so being named to the early list indicates that voters will be watching for impact production throughout the season.

The watch list placement matters because it frames each player’s season narrative before games start. For Body, the focus is on whether Alabama State’s offense can consistently generate points with him as a central weapon in the running game. For Peterson, the storyline is similar but shaped by his role in North Carolina Central’s offensive plans, where his production can become a major driver of team momentum on a weekly basis.

The Walter Payton Award watch list also helps clarify the type of players the award committee tends to emphasize, namely those who create offense in multiple ways, not just in one narrow category. Even when teams do not reach the same level of national exposure, a player can still build a case through game-by-game influence, including how they contribute to sustaining drives and finishing red-zone opportunities.

At this stage, what counts most is the “watch” part. A watch list does not guarantee final candidacy, and it does not replace the primary reality of college football, which is that late-season form, consistency, and postseason performance usually separate the eventual winner from the early names. In many years, players on the list either surge with an impressive stretch of games or fade if production does not match preseason expectations.

Body and Peterson’s inclusion also reflects the broader competitive landscape within FCS. Alabama State and North Carolina Central are not the same program in terms of history and recruiting pipeline, but both schools can still produce nationally recognized individual talent. For opponents, the practical implication is simple: they will be preparing with additional attention on two players already deemed worthy of award consideration.

For fans, the next checkpoint will be how each player’s early season output builds, especially as nonconference matchups give way to conference play and defenses get better reads on tendencies. If either player turns the watch list notice into a season-long résumé, they could emerge from the early group and move into the more serious conversation later in the year.