The watchlist for the 2023 Walter Payton Award is out and the CAA is well represented. 

The Walter Payton Award goes to the most outstanding offensive player in the FCS. The list includes 35 players from across the country, and four of them play in the CAA. 

The four CAA players include: 

• New Hampshire running back Dylan Laube, 
• UAlbany quarterback Reese Poffenberger, 
• Monmouth running back Jaden Shirden, 
• William & Mary running back Bronson Yoder. 

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The three CAA running backs on the list all made quite the name for themselves in 2022. 

Dylan Laube of UNH led the FCS in all-purpose yardage (194.3), and rushed for 1,205 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2022. His performance in 2022 led to him being named a first team All-American. 

Monmouth’s Jaden Shirden was also a first team All-American after leading the FCS in rushing yards with 1,722 yards. 

Bronson Yoder of WIlliam & Mary also made a huge impact on the field, rushing for 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns. 

Yoder was named to the All-CAA team in 2022. 

Jaden Shirden is currently projected to be the 2023 CAA Player of the Year, which is no surprise given that he led the entire FCS in total rushing yards, along with scoring 13 touchdowns and averaging 8.4 yards per carry. 

His efforts in 2022 led to him not only being named to the All-America team, but being named the CAA Offensive Player of the Year. 

Shirden is expected to once again be one of the top running backs in the nation, and will be a vital part of the Monmouth offense in 2023. 

The only CAA quarterback on the list is UAlbany’s Reese Poffenbarger.

In his freshman year, Poffenbarger was named the CAA rookie of the year after throwing for 2,999 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2023. 

Poffenbarger was a shining light in a bleak Albany season, and has given fans hope for the future. 

Complete Walter Payton Watchlist

• Bret Bushka - QB - Butler
• Zach Calzada - QB - Incarnate Word
• Theo Day - QB - Northern Iowa
• Cole Doyle - QB - Saint Francis
• Zevi Eckhaus - QB - Bryant
• Mark Gronowski - QB - South Dakota State
• Nolan Grooms - QB - Yale
• Miles Hastings - QB - UC Davis
• Michael Hiers - QB - Samford
• Gevani McCoy - QB Idaho
• Parker McKinney - QB -Eastern Kentucky
• Tommy Mellott - QB - Montana State
• Justin Miller - QB - Southern Utah
• Reese Poffenbarger - QB - UAlbany
• Davius Richard - QB - North Carolina Central
• Tommy Schuster - QB - North Dakota
• Matthew Sluka - QB - Holy Cross
• Isaiah Davis - RB - South Dakota State
• Ailym Ford - RB - Chattanooga 
• Narii Gaither - RB - Gardner-Webb
• Malik Grant - RB - Sacred Heart
• Geno Hess - RB - Southeast Missouri
• Jarveon Howard - RB - Alcorn State
• Dylan Laube - RB - New Hampshire
• ShunDerrick Powell - RB - Central Arkansas 
• Dominic Roberto - RB - Furman
• Jaden Shirden - RB - Monmouth
• TaMerik Williams - RB - North Dakota State
• Bronson Yoder - RB - William & Mary
• Jalen Coker - WR - Holy Cross
• Devron Harper - WR - Mercer
• Hayden Hatten - WR - Idaho
• Ty James - WR - Mercer
• Jaxon Janke - WR - South Dakota State
• Marshel Martin - TE - Sacramento State

How To Watch CAA Football In 2023?

All CAA football games will stream live on FloFootball and the FloSports app this fall. Some non-conference games may not be available on FloSports.