Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - The number they focused on was in the win column, and that grew because of their leadership and individual excellence. Theres no denying quarterbacks Vernon Adams Jr. of Eastern Washington, Justin Arias of Idaho State and John Robertson of Villanova were at the head of the class in the FCS this season. All three have been invited to the announcement of the 28th Walter Payton Award, given to the nations outstanding player and considered the Heisman Trophy of the former Division I-AA level. The winner will be announced at The Sports Networks FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation on Dec. 15 in Philadelphia. The winners of the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS outstanding defensive player), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman of the year) and Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) also will be feted that night. Awards voting, conducted by a national panel, is based on the regular season. Following are short descriptions of Vernon Adams Jr., Justin Arias and John Robertson, and then the voting totals for fourth through 25th place for the 2014 Walter Payton Award: VERNON ADAMS JR., EASTERN WASHINGTON, QUARTERBACK, REDSHIRT-JUNIOR The first jersey Vernon Adams Jr.s son, Vernon III, received after being born in June was a Russell Wilson Seahawks No. 3. At our (school) bookstore, theyre not making (Eastern Washington University) No. 3 jerseys yet, weve just got No. 1 jerseys, said the Eagles star quarterback, who draws comparisons to the signal caller with the same number. Ill get him a No. 3 jersey here soon. No doubt, an EWU No. 3 jersey would sell out. Adams has been a human highlight reel for three seasons, helping the Eagles to win the Big Sky Conference title each time. Last years Walter Payton Award runner-up is back for another chance to win FCS outstanding player honors. When he redshirted in 2011, Adams watched as EWU quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell captured the Payton to put alongside the Eagles 2010 national championship trophy. Bo Levi has both of them. Thats what makes him one of the greats, if not the greatest quarterback, to ever come through Eastern Washington, Adams said. My goal is to win a national championship. If the Walter Payton comes along, then it comes along. I tell guys all the time, thats a team award. Ironically, what EWU has in the 6-foot, 200-pounder from Pasadena, California, was even more evident this season because the Eagles played without the redshirt junior for four games after he broke his right foot. All he did in his return against FCS power Montana on Nov. 8 was pass for 410 yards and four touchdowns. The Big Skys all-time leader in touchdown passes threw for 30 in only eight regular-season games, and he would have led the FCS in total offense per game (391.5 yards) if he had played one more game to qualify for the NCAA statistics. Adams, a recreation management major with a coaching minor, and his girlfriend Cheyenne Merritt, a nursing major at EWU, will have plenty of fond tales to tell Vernon III. JUSTIN ARIAS, IDAHO STATE, QUARTERBACK, GRADUATE STUDENT One of Justin Arias hobbies is to build something from scratch, like his new desktop computer. His big project in the fall, though, was helping rebuild what was a struggling football program at Idaho State University. I like new challenges, the quarterback said. I really like to do things Ive never done before because I like the process of learning and becoming good at it. The Bengals had won only nine games over the previous six years, but this season they went 8-4, tied for second place in the Big Sky Conference and became nationally ranked for the first time since 2005. The 6-foot, 213-pound Arias was one of the chief architects of the turnaround, throwing for an FCS- high 4,076 yards and a school-record 38 touchdowns, while putting himself in the running for the Walter Payton Award which honors the outstanding player in the FCS. Idaho State trusted the vision of its coaching staff and seemed to find a higher level of achievement with each game. With the Bengals establishing a more consistent run game, their composed signal caller was even more dangerous throwing downfield, and the offense accounted for 6,744 yards, which is a Big Sky record for a 12-game schedule. I think its pretty special to come into a program and help rebuild it, said Arias, a former transfer who will earn a graduate degree in athletic administration in December. Hes from Agoura Hills, California. Last year I did pretty well, had good stats, but we just didnt win. Its awesome to get those stats and win games. It was definitely a team effort; I couldnt have done it without the team, without the O-line, without my receivers. It was awesome to accomplish it together. JOHN ROBERTSON, VILLANOVA, QUARTERBACK, REDSHIRT-JUNIOR On the night Villanova University quarterback John Robertson received national freshman of the year honors at the 2012 FCS Awards Presentation, Wildcats offensive coordinator Sam Venuto told the Jerry Rice Award recipient, You better be back here for the Walter Payton Award eventually. Two years later, Robertson has followed the order. One of three players eagerly awaiting the announcement of the 2014 Payton winner, the 6-1, 221-pound dual- threat has shredded opposing defenses throughout his redshirt junior campaign. He was named CAA Football offensive player of the week an incredible six times during the regular season while Villanova went 10-2 with only a pair of one- point losses. He was then named the conferences offensive player of the year. One of the big differences from this year and last year was just the amount of weapons (on offense), said the economics major from Paramus, New Jersey. Last season, he placed ninth in the Payton Award voting for the FCSs outstanding player. As the quarterback, you need help out there, and theyre really just giving it their all. During the regular season, Robertson led the FCS in passing efficiency (182.99), throwing for 2,629 yards and 34 touchdown passes against only three interceptions. He rushed for 978 yards and nine touchdowns, and was responsible for 260 points - the most in the nation. Robertson is on pace to graduate after the spring semester, but he plans to pursue a masters degree next year and direct the Nova offense again as a redshirt senior. He hopes to work on Wall Street in the future. For now, he will keep doing his best work in an opponents end zone. 2014 WALTER PAYTON AWARD VOTING In the 2014 Walter Payton Award voting, there were 160 ballots cast by a national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries. The results for No. 4-25 were as follows: 2014 Walter Payton Award.......1st....2nd....3rd....4th....5th....Total 4. Vad Lee, James Madison...........9.....18.....12.....17.....12.....199 5. Marshaun Coprich, Illinois State.8......8.....20.....16......8.....172 6. Zach Zenner, South Dakota State..5......5......8.....17.....11.....114 7. Alex Ross, Coastal Carolina......3......8......8.....11......7.....100 8. R.J. Harris, New Hampshire.......3......8......8.....10......3......94 9. Gus Johnson, Stephen F. Austin...3......4......9......7.....14......86 10. David Johnson, Northern Iowa.....2......6......5......8.....13......78 11T.DeAndre Carter, Sacramento State.1......8......3......4.....17......71 11T.Jacob Huesman, Chattanooga.......1......6......6......7.....10......71 13. Dakota Prukop, Montana State.....2......4......6......6......3......59 14. Tyler Varga, Yale................0......4......7......4......8......53 15. Chase Edmonds, Fordham...........0......2......6......9......6......50 16. Khairi Dickson, Saint Francis....1......4......5......3......6......48 17. Malcolm Cyrus, Alabama State.....2......3......1......2......1......30 18. Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington..1......1......3......1......5......25 19. DyShawn Mobley, E. Kentucky.....1......1......1......4......4......24 20. DaMarcus James, Jacksonville St..1......0......2......2......3......18 21. Bryan Bennett, SE Louisiana......0......1......1......3......1......14 22. Herb Walker Jr., Morgan State....0......1......1......2......1......12 23. MyCole Pruitt, Southern Illinois.0......1......0......1......0.......6 24. Connor Kacsor, Dayton............0......1......0......0......1.......5 25. Rob Hollomon, Central Connecticut0......0......0......0......1.......1 A first-place vote was worth five points, a second-place vote four points, a third-place vote three points, a fourth-place vote two points and a fifth-place vote one point. Cheap Nike Shoes Uk Outlet . - Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II says the NFL has told the team it will not be docked a pick in this years draft for coach Mike Tomlins foray onto the field against Baltimore last November. Cheap Nike Shoes Free Shipping . - Ryan Spooner scored twice to lead the Boston Bruins to a 6-1 victory over the New York Islanders in a preseason game Friday night. http://www.nikeshoescheapuk.com/. While the pair of Spain internationals return, midfielder Xavi Hernandez will not be included in the squad after failing to recover from a muscle strain to his left leg. Discount Nike Shoes Uk .J. - Percy Harvin is ready to go, and theres no question in his mind hell be playing Sunday. Authentic Wholesale Nike Shoes . Left-handed reliever Boone Logan agreed to a $16.5 million, three-year contract on Friday, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.1. JABARI PARKER (Bucks): Lost for the season - what a shame. He was having a nice rookie campaign. Bucks have been a surprise at 13-12 and will really miss him. He was averaging over 12 ppg and over five rpg and looking every day like hed emerge as the Rookie of the Year on a solid team. Based upon what Ive seen so far, hell be a good one for a long time. 2. KYLE OQUINN (Magic): Back in the lineup for them and I love his athleticism and toughness. Averaging close to nine ppg and five rpg off the bench. He reminds me a bit of a young Amir Johnson. He plays with good energy and is a tough guy. Good second effort. I like his game. 3. VINNY DEL NEGRO: Hearing his name associated with the Kings job and Im wondering why. He did a solid job in both Chicago and LA (Clippers) but when it was time to take the next step both of those teams fired him and brought in Tom Thibodeau and Doc Rivers to take it to the next level. Mike Malone is a good ccoach- - what level do they think DelNegro is going to take this further? I guess they have all the answers.dddddddddddd Well see. Im a skeptic. 4. COURTNEY LEE (Grizzlies): Some guys just fit a system and serve their purpose. This guy does. Averaging 12 ppg and shoots an impressive 54 per cent from three-point range. On many other teams his value wouldnt be appreciated. Here, they need him and respect him. With terrific post guys like Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, you need a floor spacer who doesnt need plays run for him. He makes sense. 5. DIVISION GAME (Raptors vs. Nets): First meeting between these two teams this season after their 11 games last season were so tight. Very little separation then between the two in 2013-14. Closest team to Toronto in the Atlantic Division currently. New season: same close competitive situation or a distancing. Good test for the Raps tonight. Folks will say its not personal - it is. ' ' '