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University of New Hampshire Athletics
Photo by: Ryan Szepan
Football's O'Connor Named to Walter Payton Award Watch List
8/1/2018 1:57:00 PM | Football
Senior WR Among 25 Players On List for National Player of Year
CHICAGO – One day after being named to the STATS FCS Preseason All-America First Team, University of New Hampshire senior wide receiver Neil O'Connor (Leominster, Mass.) has been tabbed to the STATS Walter Payton Award Watch List.
The Walter Payton Award is presented annually to the FCS national offensive player of the year. Previous UNH recipients are running back Jerry Azumah (1998) and quarterback Ricky Santos (2006).
O'Connor was previously tabbed to the HERO Sports Preseason All-America First Team and All-CAA Preseason Team. In 2017, the native of Leominster, Mass., was named to five All-America teams following a junior season in which he ranked No. 1 in the CAA and third nationally in receptions (97) and also paced the conference in receptions/game (6.9), receiving yards (1,396), receiving yards/game (99.7) and TD receptions (10). The 97 catches were the second-most in a UNH single season (R.J. Harris, 100, 2014) and the 1,369 receiving yards ranked No. 4 in program single-season history, a mere 155 yards shy of all-time co-leaders Harris (2014) and David Ball (2005).
Neil O'Connor's 2017 Season CAA and NCAA Rankings
The Walter Payton Award is presented annually to the FCS national offensive player of the year. Previous UNH recipients are running back Jerry Azumah (1998) and quarterback Ricky Santos (2006).
O'Connor was previously tabbed to the HERO Sports Preseason All-America First Team and All-CAA Preseason Team. In 2017, the native of Leominster, Mass., was named to five All-America teams following a junior season in which he ranked No. 1 in the CAA and third nationally in receptions (97) and also paced the conference in receptions/game (6.9), receiving yards (1,396), receiving yards/game (99.7) and TD receptions (10). The 97 catches were the second-most in a UNH single season (R.J. Harris, 100, 2014) and the 1,369 receiving yards ranked No. 4 in program single-season history, a mere 155 yards shy of all-time co-leaders Harris (2014) and David Ball (2005).
Neil O'Connor's 2017 Season CAA and NCAA Rankings
| Category | 2017 Stats | CAA Rank | NCAA Rank |
| Receptions | 97 | 1 | 3 |
| Receptions/Game | 6.9 | 1 | 11 |
| Receiving Yards | 1,396 | 1 | 4 |
| Receiving Yards/Game | 99.7 | 1 | 11 |
| TD Receptions | 10 | 1 | T-14 |
The Payton Award, first presented in 1987, has watched past winners such as Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, John Friesz, Brian Finneran, Jimmy Garoppolo and Cooper Kupp move on to the NFL.
The watch list will have updates during the season. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will select the winner following the regular season.
UNH has reached the NCAA playoffs 14 consecutive years, which is the longest current streak in the nation. The Wildcats reached the national quarterfinals last season and boasted a 9-5 mark and a No. 12 final ranking in the STATS FCS Football Top 25. The Wildcats open the season Thursday, Aug. 30 (7 p.m.) in the Battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket at Maine in the second edition of the Thursday Night Throwdown.
Get Tickets Here
The 'Cats welcome Colgate to Wildcat Stadium for Youth Football Night, presented by Tuscan Kitchen and Market, on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. For more information on group ticket opportunities, season tickets and single-game tickets, CLICK HERE or call 603-862-4000.
Wildcat Stadium saw a 13-percent attendance increase in 2017, highlighted by the all-time largest crowd for a home opener (15,854) and largest on-campus crowd (22,135) in school history. The Wildcats averaged 12,751 fans per home game (regular season), up from the previous high of 11,108 in 2016. The overall attendance of 63,756 for five home dates eclipsed the regular-season attendance of 55,542 in 2016.
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