KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island wide receiver Marquis Buchanan and quarterback Devin Farrell were both announced as finalists for the 2025 Walter Payton Award it was announced on Tuesday afternoon. 

Buchanan and Farrell are two of 30 finalists for the award which is presented to the national offensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football. The award is in 39th season and is named for legendary running back Walter Payton, who starred at Jackson State as part of his Hall of Fame career. Past recipients include Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Kupp, Taylor Heinicke and Trey Lance.

Rhode Island is one of three teams to have two players amongst the finalists. Montana is represented by quarterback Keali'l Ah Yat and receiver Michael Wortham. North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton and receiver Bryce Lance are both on the list. 

Buchanan is one of five receivers on the finalists list. Buchanan's 1,123 receiving yards is tied for the best in FCS Football with Monmouth's Josh Derry. He is 17th in the nation with 66 receptions. With over 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons, Buchanan joins Brian Forster as the only Rams with multiple 1,000-yard seasons. 

One of 16 quarterbacks named to as a finalist, Farrell is top 10 nationally in multiple passing categories. He is sixth in FCS with 3,086 passing yards, ninth in pass yards per game with 257.2, 10th in yards per completion with 13.96. Farrell's 66.6 percent completion percentage is 22-best in FCS and second best in a single season in program history. 

There are three finalists from the CAA; Buchanan, Farrell, and Monmouth running back Rodney Nelson. 

All 13 FCS conferences are represented by a finalist. The winner, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee.