2025 Walter Camp FBS Player of Year Finalists – Jeremiyah Love, Fernando Mendoza, Diego Pavia, Jacob Rodriguez and Julian Sayin
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the five finalists for its 2025 Football Bowl Subdivision Player of the Year award, the fourth-oldest college football award in the nation. The Walter Camp Player of the Year award is presented by Crabtree Lexus of New Haven.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin are the five finalists.
The Walter Camp Player of the Year is selected by the 136 FBS head coaches and sports communicators and will be announced on ESPN’s College Football Live on Wednesday, December 10.
Walter Camp Player of Year FINALISTS
JEREMIYAH LOVE, Junior, RB, NOTRE DAME
Has rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns for the 10-2 Fighting Irish… has 27 receptions for 280 yards and three touchdowns… Has rushed for 100+ yards in a game six times this season.
FERNANDO MENDOZA, Junior, QB, INDIANA
Has completed 72.0 percent of this passes (211-of-293) for 2,758 yards and 32 touchdowns for the 12-0 Hoosiers… Has rushed for 243 yards and six touchdowns. Has thrown for 200+ yards in a game nine times this season.
DIEGO PAVIA, Graduate Student, QB, VANDERBILT
Has completed 242-of-340 passes for 3,192 yards and 27 touchdowns for the 10-2 Commodores… Has rushed for 826 yards and nine touchdowns… Has thrown for 200+ yards in a game seven times this season.
JACOB RODRIGUEZ, Senior, LB, TEXAS TECH
Has recorded 104 tackles (57 solo) for the 11-1 Red Raiders this season… Has forced seven fumbles and four interceptions on the season. Has posted 10+ tackles in a game five times this season.
JULIAN SAYIN, Sophomore, QB, OHIO STATE
Has completed 78.9 percent (258-of-327) of his passes for 3,065 yards and 30 touchdowns for the 12-0 Buckeyes. Has passed for 200 or more yards eight times this season.
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients dating back to 1935.
About Crabtree Lexus of New Haven
Crabtree Lexus of New Haven is located at 655 Main Street in East Haven, CT, convenient from anywhere in the Northeast directly off of I-95. Visit them at https://www.CrabtreeLexus.com
About Lexus
Lexus’ passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for its customers. Lexus began its journey in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of global luxury customers in more than 90 countries. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 244 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. With eight models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers nine F SPORT models, one F performance model and one F model. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers.
Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss and Penn State’s Amare Campbell Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 14 (Dec. 2)
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending November 29.
About the Award: This is the 22nd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season. It is the nation’s longest running Player of Week award.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior, Quarterback, Grand Rapids, MI
Trinidad Chambliss completed 23-of-34 passes for 359 yards and four touchdowns as No. 7 Ole Miss (11-1, 7-1 in SEC) defeated Mississippi State, 38-19, in the Egg Bowl. It was Chambless’ seventh 300-yard passing game and he earned SEC Co-Offensive Player of Week honors.
Notes: It is the 15th time since 2004 (and second time this season – LB Anthony Hill, Oct. 27) that a Texas player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior, Linebacker, Manassas, VA
Amare Campbell posted a game-high 14 tackles (5 solo) and 0.5 quarterback sacks as Penn State became bowl eligible with a 40-36 victory at Rutgers. Campbell’s fourth-quarter fumble recovery, which he returned 61 yards for a touchdown, was the game-winning score.
Notes: It is the 11th time since 2004 (and first since defensive Abdul Carter, Nov. 12, 2024) that a Penn State player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.
2025 Walter Camp Player of Year Watch Lists for Division II, III and NAIA
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the 2025 player of year watch lists for Divisions II, III and NAIA.
The Walter Camp Players of the Year, presented by Crabtree Lexus of New Haven, will be determined in mid-December. It is the second year the Walter Camp Foundation has presented the award.
The 2024 Division II Player of Year was Central Missouri redshirt senior quarterback Zach Zebrowski.
The 2024 Division III Player of Year was Saint John’s University senior quarterback Aaron Syverson.
The 2024 NAIA Player of Year was Morningside quarterback Zack Chevalier.
And for the first time in 2025, the Walter Camp All-America Fan Vote and Player Impact Rankings for all divisions is available for fans, families, and alumni to support their favorite players and have access to proprietary data sourced player impact rankings at www.votegridiron1880.com. The platform features real-time Walter Camp Impact Rankings and NIL valuations alongside performance data.
Division II Player of Year Watch List
Curtis Allen, RB, Virginia Union
TJ Chukwurah, WR, Black Hills State
Luke Dehnicke, TE, Minnesota-Duluth
Dawson Forgy, RB, Wayne State
Kenyon Garner, DL, Livingstone
RJ Martinez, QB, West Texas A&M
Drew Nash, QB, Western Colorado
Reggie Retzlaff, WR, CSU-Pueblo
Michael Shimek, DE, Ashland
Marcus Stokes, QB, West Florida
Jack Strand, QB, Minnesota State-Moorhead
Gavin Sukup, QB, Indianapolis
Division III Player of Year Watch List
Connor Barry, QB, Christopher Newport
Jeremiah Belizaire, DL, Westminster College
Kaleb Blaha, QB, Wisconsin-River Falls
Cooper Drews, QB, Bethel (MN)
Bay Harvey, QB, Johns Hopkins
Gary Lewis, WR, Franklin & Marshall
Montie Quinn, RB, Curry
Albert Rundell, WR, Bethel (MN)
Jaxon Schreiber, QB, Mount St. Joseph (OH)
Tyler Szalkowski, QB, Utica
Eddie Williams, RB, Alma
Garrett Wilson, QB, North Central (IL)
NAIA Player of Year Watch List
K’Vonte Baker, QB, Friends
Tre’ Bass, RB, Campbellsville
Jalil Brown, RB, McPherson
Zack Chevalier, QB, Morningside
Destynd Loring, RB, William Penn
Tai Lologo, DL, Keiser
Arjun Lothe, QB, Indiana Wesleyan
Michael Palandri, QB, Montana Western
Kylon Polk, S, Louisiana Christian
Davontaye Saunders, RB, Lindsey Wilson
Drew Sellon, WR, Morningside
Jackson Waring, QB, Grand View
Texas’ Arch Manning and Wisconsin’s Darryl Peterson III Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 13 (Nov. 25)
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending November 22.
About the Award: This is the 22nd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season. It is the nation’s longest running Player of Week award.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore, Quarterback, New Orleans, LA
Arch Manning became the first Texas quarterback since Bobby Layne in 1946 to record touchdowns (passing, rushing and receiving) three different ways in a game. Manning threw for 389 yards and four touchdowns and added a three-yard rushing score along with a 54-yard touchdown reception as the Longhorns (8-3) defeated Arkansas, 52-37.
Notes: It is the 15th time since 2004 (and second time this season – LB Anthony Hill, Oct. 27) that a Texas player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
DARRYL PETERSON III, WISCONSIN
Graduate Student, Outside Linebacker, Akron, OH
Darryl Peterson III recorded six tackles, three quarterback sacks, two pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and forced one fumble as Wisconsin defeated No. 21 Illinois, 27-10. Peterson, who was also selected as the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Week, was the first Badger player to record three sacks in a game since 2021. Peterson led a Wisconsin defense that held Illinois to just 50 rushing yards.
Notes: It is the eighth time since 2004 (and first since former linebacker Leo Chenal on Oct. 24, 2021) that a Wisconsin player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
We’re excited to share for the first time, the Walter Camp All-America Fan Vote and Player Impact Rankings — a national platform for fans, families, and alumni to support their favorite college football players and have access to proprietary data sourced player impact rankings.
The Walter Camp Football Foundation Fan Vote is live! Fans, families, and alumni can now support our players by casting a vote at www.votegridiron1880.com. The platform features real-time Walter Camp Impact Rankings and NIL valuations alongside performance data. Vote daily and help elevate our athletes to national recognition with the Walter Camp Football Foundation — curators of the America’s oldest college football All-America team, which will be announced in early December.
The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.
Walter Camp 2025 Football Championship Subdivision Player of Year Watch List
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the names of fifteen player watch for” for its 2025 Football Championship Subdivision Player of the Year award.
The watch list includes five running backs, four quarterbacks, three wide receivers and three defensive players.
The Walter Camp FCS Player of the Year, presented by Crabtree Lexus of New Haven, will be determined in mid-December. It is the third year the Walter Camp Foundation has presented the award.
Former Monmouth running back Jaden Shirden was the first recipient in 2023, while former Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott was the 2024 recipient.
And for the first time in 2025, the Walter Camp FCS All-America Fan Vote and Player Impact Rankings is available for fans, families, and alumni to support their favorite FCS players and have access to proprietary data sourced player impact rankings at www.votegridiron1880.com. The platform features real-time Walter Camp Impact Rankings and NIL valuations alongside performance data.
2025 Walter Camp FCS Player of Year Watch List
Keali’i Ah Yat, QB, Montana
Braden Atkinson, QB, Mercer
Lando Brown, DE, Southern Utah
Marquis Buchanan, WR, Rhode Island
Jaden Craig, QB, Harvard
Josh Derry, WR, Monmouth
Joshua Dye, RB, Southern Utah
Kente Edwards, RB, Lafayette
Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State
Rodney Nelson, RB, Monmouth
LJ Phillips, RB, South Dakota
Ty Pennington, QB, Northern Arizona
Josh Stoneking, DE, Furman
Luke Yoder, RB, Lehigh
Andrew Zock, DL, Mercer
About Walter Camp
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
The Walter Camp Football Foundation Fan Vote is live! Fans, families, and alumni can now support our players by casting a vote at www.votegridiron1880.com. The platform features real-time Walter Camp Impact Rankings and NIL valuations alongside performance data. Vote daily and help elevate our athletes to national recognition with the Walter Camp Football Foundation — curators of the America’s oldest college football All-America team, which will be announced in early December.
The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients dating back to 1935. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.
About Crabtree Lexus of New Haven
Crabtree Lexus of New Haven is located at 655 Main Street in East Haven, CT, convenient from anywhere in the Northeast directly off of I-95. Visit them at https://www.CrabtreeLexus.com
About Lexus
Lexus’ passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for its customers. Lexus began its journey in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of global luxury customers in more than 90 countries. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 244 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. With eight models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers nine F SPORT models, one F performance model and one F model. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers.
Ole Miss’ Kewan Lacy and Notre Dame’s Tae Johnson Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 12 (Nov. 18)
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending November 15.
About the Award: This is the 22nd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season. It is the nation’s longest running Player of Week award.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore, Running Back, Dallas, TX
Kewan Lacy rushed for a career-high 224 yards (on 31 carries) and three touchdowns as No. 6 Ole Miss defeated Florida, 34-24. It was the eighth-most rushing yards in Ole Miss single-game history, and Lacy, who was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week, set the school season record for touchdowns in the contest. With the win, the Rebels improved to 10-1, 6-1 in the SEC.
Notes: It is the seventh time since 2004 that an Ole Miss player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. Lacy is the first Rebel honoree since
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Freshman, Safety, Fort Wayne, IN
Freshman safety Tae Johnson was all over the field for No. 9 Notre Dame in its 37-15 win over No. 22 Pittsburgh. Johnson had one interception in which he returned for a touchdown, five tackles and a shared tackle for loss in the contest. Johnson led the Irish defense which stifled a Pitt offense all afternoon, which entered the day averaging 39.7 points (to just 15 points), 426.8 yards per game (to just 219 yards). With the win, Notre Dame improved to 8-2.
Notes: It is the second time this season a Notre Dame player has earned Walter Camp National Player of Week honors (fellow Irish Safety Leonard Moore was honored on Oct. 7) and 17th overall since the award was started in 2004.
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.
