EASTON, Pa. - Junior running back Jamar Curtis has been selected as one of 35 national finalists for the Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the Division I FCS college football national offensive player of the year. 

Tuesday's nomination is the second of Curtis' career and follows a season in which he eclipsed 3,000 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns for his Lafayette career.

Curtis followed up his historic 2023 campaign with an equally impressive 2024 season. He ran for 1,139 yards while collecting 16 rushing scores. The Waldorf, Md. native also demonstrated his ability to be a threat in the pass game, hauling in 30 receptions for 232 yards and a touchdown. Curtis' rushing yards and touchdowns paced the Patriot League, while finishing 15th and fourth in the country, respectively. 

In 2024, Curtis became the fifth Leopard to rush for 3,000 yards in his career. The film and media studies major tallied seven 100-yard rushing games, bringing him to 16 across three seasons. Curtis' last time out saw him churn out 131 yards and two touchdowns against Lehigh.

Curtis' 2024 campaign earned him his second straight All-Patriot League First-Team selection. The junior's first selection came last year after Curtis scurried for 1,460 yards and 15 touchdowns. Prior to this season, Curtis was named to FCS Football Central Preseason All-America First Team and Phil Steele's All-America Second Team.

The award, in its 38th season and affectionately known as the Heisman of the FCS, 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 and Trey Lance.

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 Banquet on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas.