Monmouth University football quarterback Derek Robertson has been announced as one of 35 finalists for the 2024 Stats Perform Walter Payton Award, the honor given to the top offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
Robertson had an exceptional season, leading the FCS in total passing yards (3,937) and passing yards per game (328.1). He set Monmouth single-season records for passing yards and touchdowns (31), with his touchdown total topping the CAA and ranking third nationally. Robertson paced the Hawks’ offense as he threw at least one touchdown pass in every game, with six games featuring three or more TD passes. He also excelled in total offense, averaging 325.3 yards per game, while completing 65 percent of his 435 passes with only six interceptions. A team captain, Robertson burst on the scene by throwing for 390 yards in his debut, one of seven games with at least 350 yards passing.
Against No. 8/9 Villanova, he completed 22-of-23 passes (95.7%), setting the season’s FCS single-game completion percentage mark. In a career-day against No. 20/18 Stony Brook, Robertson threw for a program-record 536 yards and three touchdowns. Other key outings included a four-touchdown game against Delaware and 361 yards with two touchdowns in the program’s first FBS win at FIU. His contributions earned him multiple accolades, such as Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week and two CAA Offensive Player of the Week awards.
Eight Hawks have been finalists for the Walter Payton Award in Monmouth’s history. Robertson joins David Sinisi (2008), Reggie White Jr. (2018), Pete Guerriero (2019), Kenji Bahar (2019), Juwon Farri (Spring 2021), Jaden Shirden (2022 and 2023) and Dymere Miller (2023). Guerriero and Shirden (twice) each previously finished third in the voting.