After a productive 2020-21 six-game campaign, Eastern Washington University quarterback Eric Barriere is among the 16 finalists for the Stats Perform FCS Walter Payton Award, which is presented to the national offensive player of the year in college football's NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.
 
A 40-member national media panel will select the winner from the unprecedented 2020-21 season, which has spanned the fall and spring semesters. The recipient will be announced on May 15.
 
The Payton Award, named for the legendary running back and in its 34th season, has served as a stepping-stone for such NFL players as Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo and former Eagle Cooper Kupp. Kupp was EWU's latest recipient in 2015, with other former Eagles honored including Erik Meyer (2005) and Bo Levi Mitchell (2011).
 
Also, the most recent recipient in 2019, former North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance, is projected to be one of the early selections in the NFL Draft on April 29.
 
Barriere, who will lead Eastern against NDSU this Saturday in the first round of the FCS Playoffs, finished fifth in the voting as a junior in the 2019 season. He has made his case for the award this season by passing for at least 300 yards in five of six games this season and having at least 400 yards of total offense in three of them. In the other game, he had 284 passing/324 total offense in barely over two quarters of action in a 62-10 romp.
 
Through six games this season, Barriere is ranked in the top 10 in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision in total offense (fourth, 387.3 per game), passing offense (fourth, 364.8), passing touchdowns (third, 18) and points responsible for (11th, 18.3 per game). So far in the 2020-21 season, he's completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 2,189 yards, 18 touchdowns and 2,324 total yards of offense.
 
"He's been phenomenal," said Eastern head coach Aaron Best. "His play-making ability, ability to escape rush and ability to extend plays has been second-to-none. And we've had a first-hand glimpse of some great ones here. But Eric's development has been thorough and consistent."
 
In his illustrious 37-game career, Barriere is 20-8 as a starter, including 13-0 at home. He is just 157 yards from hitting the coveted 10,000-yard mark for total offense with a current total of 9,843 – including 8,489 through the air. He ranks fifth in school history in both categories, as well as his career total of 74 TD passes.
 
He has completed 60.3 percent of his passes in his career (629-of-1043), good for 8,489 yards, 74 touchdowns and 20 interceptions, and has rushed 274 times for 1,354 net yards and 17 more TDs. He had a passing efficiency rating of 146.9 as a sophomore, 151.6 in 2019 and a 148.3 mark in his career to currently rank fifth in school history. Barriere has surpassed the school record for rushing yards by a quarterback -- he now has 1,354 with Vernon Adams Jr. closing his career with 1,232. Eastern is 19-1 when Barriere has rushed for at least 21 yards, with the lone loss coming at Sacramento State (10/5/19) when he finished with 103.
 
"He was thrust into the role in the middle of 2018 and put the team on his shoulders, and really carried that team through a better part of that year," added Best. "He's only grown since then and is a very hungry individual. He studies his tail off and doesn't just rely on his talents. He's made reads and checked the ball down when necessary, he's tucked the ball and ran when necessary and he's gotten out of bounds when necessary. He's given our team the best chance to win play-in and play-out. I commend him 100 percent for his growth, including off the field. He's part of something special, not just on Saturdays."
 
Also in the next month, Stats Perform will present the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman player of the year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
 
 

2020-21 WALTER PAYTON AWARD FINALISTS

 
Percy Agyei-Obese, James Madison, RB, Sr. (CAA)
Statistics: 69 carries, 381 yards, 5.5 ypc, 5 TDs; 4 receptions (4 games)
Notable: TD in all 4 games; 132 rush yards, TD vs. Elon
 
Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington, QB, Sr. (Big Sky)
Statistics: 166 of 268 (61.9 percent), 2,189 yards, 18 TDs, 6 INTs; 135 rush yards (6 games)
Notable: 300+ pass yards in 5 of 6 games, multiple TD passes in all 6 games
 
Julius Chestnut, Sacred Heart, RB, Jr. (Northeast)
Statistics: 93 carries, 717 yards, 7.7 ypc, 8 TDs; 8 receptions, 171 yards, 3 TDs (4 games)
Notable: 173+ rushing yards, TD in all 4 games
 
Tim DeMorat, Fordham, QB, Jr. (Patriot)
Statistics: 93 of 129 (72.1 percent), 1,049 yards, 5 TDs, 3 INTs; 2 rush TDs (3 games)
Notable: 39 of 56, 440 yards, 2 TDs vs. Holy Cross
 
Juwon Farri, Monmouth, RB, Jr. (Big South)
Statistics: 79 carries, 422 yards, 5.3 ypc, 9 TD (3 games)
Notable: 119+ rushing yards, multiple TDs in all 3 games
 
Aqeel Glass, Alabama A&M, QB, Sr. (SWAC)
Statistics: 67 of 113 (59.3 percent), 1,084 yards, 13 TDs, 3 INTs; 1 rush TD (3 games)
Notable: 27 of 40, 440 yards, 6 TDs, 1 rush TD vs. Jackson State
 
Jakob Herres, VMI, WR, Jr. (Southern)
Statistics: 67 receptions, 807 yards, 12.0 ypc, 7 TDs (7 games)
Notable: 29 receptions, 373 yards, 5 TDs over consecutive games vs. Samford and Wofford
 
Quay Holmes, ETSU, RB, Jr. (Southern)
Statistics: 122 carries, 640 yards, 5.2 ypc, 8 TDs; 182.3 all-purpose ypg (6 games)
Notable: 310 all-purpose yards vs. Western Carolina, 293 vs. VMI
 
Tyler Hudson, Central Arkansas, WR, So. (Southland)
Statistics: 50 receptions, 845 yards, 16.9 ypc, 7 TDs; 15 punt returns, 119 yards, 1 TD (9 games)
Notable: 12 receptions, 154 receiving yards vs. Arkansas State was one of 4 100-yard games
 
Cole Kelley, Southeastern Louisiana, QB, Sr. (Southland)
Statistics: 210 of 305 (68.9 percent), 2,662 yards, 18 TDs, 4 INTs; 7 rush TDs; 2 TD catches (7 games)
Notable: 300+ pass yards in all 7 games; 4+ total TDs in 5 of 7 games
 
Dejoun Lee, Delaware, RB, Sr. (CAA)
Statistics: 77 carries, 498 yards, 6.5 ypc, 5 TDs; 87-yard KOR TD; 152.2 all-purpose ypg (5 games)
Notable: 221 rush yards, 2 TDs, 275 all-purpose yards vs. Rhode Island
 
Keith Pearson, Presbyterian, WR, Sr. (Pioneer)
Statistics: 65 receptions, 831 yards, 12.8 ypc, 5 TDs; 6 punt returns, 90 yards (7 games)
Notable: 10+ receptions in 4 of 7 games; 100+ receiving yards in 5 of 7 games
 
Pierre Strong Jr., South Dakota State, RB, Jr. (Missouri Valley)
Statistics: 80 carries, 453 yards, 5.7 ypc, 2 TDs; 12 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD (5 games)
Notable: 90+ rush yards in 4 of 5 games
 
Otis Weah, North Dakota, RB, So. (Missouri Valley)
Statistics: 76 carries, 570 yards, 7.5 ypc, 7 TDs (5 games)
Notable: 129 rush yards, TD vs. North Dakota State; TD rush in all 5 games
 
Liam Welch, Samford, QB, Grad (Southern)
Statistics: 161 of 236 (68.2 percent), 2,242 yards, 12 TDs, 5 INTs; 303 rush yards, 4 TDs (6 games)
Notable: 37 of 59, 570 yards, 4 TDs vs. VMI; 39 of 49, 443 yards, 1 TD vs. Mercer
 
DeAngelo Wilson, Austin Peay, WR, Sr. (Ohio Valley)
Statistics: 44 receptions, 619 yards, 14.1 ypc, 3 TDs (7 games)
Notable: 99+ receiving yards in all 5 OVC games
 
 
 
 
 

More on Barriere's Winter/Spring Season . . .

 
A Stats Perform FCS Offensive Player of the Week honor and three Big Sky Conference Player of the Week accolades are among the many accomplishments of Barriere this season. The end result is a 5-1 record for the Eagles, including a five-game winning streak entering the FCS Playoffs.
 
Barriere closed the 2020-21 regular season by rallying the ninth-ranked Eagles to a 38-31 victory over Idaho on April 10 at Roos Field in Cheney, Wash., to keep alive EWU's postseason playoff hopes. Barriere passed for 309 yards and two touchdowns, and had another 40 on the ground to give him 349 yards of total offense in swirling, 25 mile-per-hour sustained winds. He directed Eastern to scoring drives of 63, 60, 95, 75, 87 and 78, with the latter two coming in the fourth quarter on game-tying and game-winning marches. Barriere was 5-of-10 for 50 yards and also rushed for another 33 yards on the final two drives, and finished 18-of-38 on the day with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
 
 "Eric Barriere is the best player in America -- he is the most dynamic player at this level and we've known that for some time," said Eastern head coach Aaron Best. "He played really, really well for a four or five game stretch. The final game against Idaho wasn't his best, but there were 40 mile-an-hour winds, and that plays no matter who is on the field. You can't just lean on one player to win games. We are all lucky that Eric Barriere is part of our Eastern Washington football team for many reasons – not just because of his play on the field but also who he is as a person."
 
Prior to that, three times the All-America quarterback was selected by the league office as the ROOT Sports Offensive Player of the Week in the 2020-21 season, giving his six such honors in his career. His latest award came after helping lead EWU to a 32-22 victory over 11th-ranked UC Davis on April 3 in Davis, Calif. Eastern out-gained the Aggies 563-397 in the game as Barriere passed for 392 yards and three touchdowns on his way to finishing with 435 yards of total offense. Barriere completed 30-of-41 passes, and also rushed six times for 43 yards. Barriere directed EWU to scoring drives of 68 and 84 yards on EWU's first two possessions, then another of 94 yards in the second quarter as EWU took a 16-0 lead. In the second half, he had a 77-yard TD pass to Talolo Limu-Jones -- one of his two TD receptions of the game -- and then led EWU on a 91-yard drive in fourth quarter that gave EWU a 29-15 lead. The last scoring drive of 11 plays and 69 yards ended with a field goal late in the game as EWU took 5:37 off the clock.
 
It's not often that a player wins a national player of the week honor, then comes off the bench in his next game, but that's what happened earlier this season. A week after earning STATS Perform National Offensive Player of the Week honors, Barriere came off the bench on March 27 versus Cal Poly, which in turn gave backup Gunner Talkington the starting nod and some meaningful – and productive -- snaps. After Talkington led EWU on a game-opening touchdown drive, Barriere took over after that and had 246 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone. Eastern scored a school-record 45 points (as a member of FCS) in the first half of the 62-10 victory, and for the game Barriere was 23-of-33 for 284 yards and three touchdowns.
 
A week earlier, Barriere helped rally the Eagles to a 46-42 Big Sky Conference victory over Idaho State on March 13 in Pocatello, Idaho. He has previously received national recognition as an All-American and received weekly honorable mention accolades, but it was his first national player of the week award from STATS. Barriere also earned the ROOT SPORTS Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week Award on March 14.
 
Barriere passed for 455 yards and five touchdowns versus ISU, rallying Eastern from a 42-31 deficit with 8:41 left. He completed 34-of-50 passes and had 19 yards rushing, giving him 474 yards of total offense. His passing yardage total was the second-best of his career and his total offense tally was third. Besides accounting for 30 points with his five TD passes, he had a key two-point conversion pass to bring Eastern to within a field goal of the Bengals. He passed for TDs on three of EWU's first four scoring drives of 80, 75, 70 and 62 yards. He then led EWU on a 10-play, 86-yard TD drive with 5:49 left to pull Eastern to within three after he passed for the two-point conversion. After an ISU punt, he directed EWU on a game-winning, nine-play, 60-yard drive that included a game-winning 6-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Boston with 25 seconds to play.
 
Barriere was honored by the Big Sky after he passed for 413 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-13 victory over Northern Arizona on March 6 at Roos Field in Cheney, Wash.  Eastern piled up 622 yards of total offense in the 32-point victory.
 
Barriere opened his senior season at Idaho on Feb. 27 by completing 32-of-57 passes for 330 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Barriere extended his streak of passes without an interception to 250 when his pass went through an EWU receiver's hands and was picked off by the Vandals. His last interception came on his 14th attempt at Sacramento State on Oct. 5, 2019.