Tarleton State's junior running back Tylan Hines has earned a spot on the Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List, a preseason honor that highlights the most dynamic offensive players in Division I FCS football.
A milestone for the program
The Walter Payton Award, now in its 40th year, is often called the Heisman of the FCS, recognizing the top offensive player across the subdivision.
Hines entered his first season with the Texans after a injury sidelined him for nine games, but he returned with a vengeance, delivering 490 rushing yards and three touchdowns over the final four contests, including the playoff run.
His most memorable performance came in the UAC co‑championship clincher against Austin Peay, where he logged a season‑high 215 yards and a touchdown, and he opened the FCS Playoffs with 120 yards against North Dakota.
Joining a storied list of past winners such as Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo and Cooper Kupp, Hines joins a lineage of players who have leveraged the award as a springboard to professional success.
Coaches and analysts alike see the inclusion of Hines on the watch list as a testament to his resilience and a signal that Tarleton State's offense could be a formidable force in the upcoming season.