Oct. 4, 2002

Villanova University senior quarterback Brett Gordon has been added to the "Payton Watch" list by the Sports Network. The Walter Payton Award is given annually to the top player in NCAA Division I-AA Football. Gordon is one of 16 players and six quarterbacks who are currently listed on the "Payton Watch" ballot.

The official "Payton Watch" list will undergo two additional revisions prior to the mailing of ballots on Nov. 25th. The next revision will be announced on Oct. 30, and the third and final revision just prior to the mailing of ballots.

Gordon is coming off his best performance of the season in Villanova's 30-26 win at James Madison last Saturday. In the victory, Gordon completed a career-high 40 passes in a career-best 57 attempts for 421 yards and four touchdowns. For his efforts versus James Madison, Gordon was named both Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Week and the Sports Network National Offensive Player of the Week.

After five games in 2002, Gordon is 131-of-197 (66.5%) for 1,548 yards to go with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. He is currently leading the Atlantic 10 in passing yards per game (309.6 yards per game), total offense (299.2 yards per game), passing touchdowns (11) and pass efficiency (145.9).

Villanova and the University of Idaho are the only two schools to have had two Walter Payton Award winners. In 1997, Villanova wide receiver Brian Finneran became the only wide out to ever win the award, while running back Brian Westbrook garnered the honor last year. Finneran is currently a member of the Atlanta Falcons, while Westbrook is playing for the Philadelphia Eagles.

PAYTON WATCH LIST (as of Oct. 2)Muhammad Abdulqaadir                 RB     Southern IllinoisAri Confesor                WR/RS            Holy CrossDavid Corley                QB      William & MaryJohn Edwards                QB      MontanaRyan Fuqua              RB      Portland StateChas Gessner                WR      BrownBRETT GORDON                     QB     VILLANOVAC.J. Hudson             RB      Eastern KentuckyRyan Johnson                RB      Montana StateRobert Kent             QB      Jackson StateStephan Lewis               RB      New HampshireP.J. Mays                        RB     Youngstown StateCarl Morris             WR      HarvardWillie Ponder               WR      Southeast MissouriTony Romo                        QB     Eastern IllinoisAllen Suber             QB      Bethune-Cookman