Sam Houston State quarterback Rhett Bomar was added to the Walter Payton Award watch list, which was revised Thursday by The Sports Network.
The Payton Award is given to the top offensive player of the year in the Football Championship Subdivision. Bomar is the fifth Bearkat player in school history to be on the list, joining former quarterbacks Chris Chaloupka (1999), Josh McCown (2001), Dustin Long (2004) and running back D.D. Terry (2006). Long finished as the runner-up for the award in 2004.
“It’s an honor and it’s good that they put me on there since they didn’t do it at the beginning of the year,” Bomar said Thursday afternoon. “It’s good knowing that you’re getting respect around the country. We have been playing well offensively, but we need to keep it up.
“Individual awards don’t mean anything. As long as I keep playing well and keep our offense playing well, I’ll be happy.”
Bomar is off to a solid start this season and has guided the Bearkats to a 2-2 overall record. He leads the FCS in total yards per game (342), is fourth in passing yards (309.8), is seventh in passing efficiency and is 14th in completitions per game (22.8).
In his second season as Sam Houston State’s starter, Bomar has thrown for 1,239 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. The senior has completed 63 percent of his passes and has also rushed for 129 yards and three scores.
“I do feel a lot more comfortable this season to tell the truth,” Bomar said. “I think everybody feels more comfortable. Last year, I was new and the receivers hadn’t played a lot before. We were young at the skill positions, but it is a whole new ballgame because we are older and more comfortable with each other.”
Last year, Bomar threw for 2,209 yards and 10 touchdowns in nine games before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the first half against Nicholls State. He also rushed for 497 yards and seven scores.
Bomar is one of 16 Payton Award candidates. Central Arkansas quarterback Nathan Brown is also up for the award. The list will be revised one more time in November and final ballots will be announced at the end of the regular season.
The award will be handed out at The Sports Network Awards banquet on Dec. 18 in Chattanooga, Tenn., the night before the FCS national championship game.
