PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Junior quarterback John Robertson (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) has won the Walter Payton Award given to the top player in FCS Football. He was presented with the award by Mickey Charles, CEO of the Sports Network at the annual FCS Awards Banquet at the Sheraton Society Hill in Philadelphia.

Robertson earned 467 points and 66 first place votes in voting by a nationwide panel of sports information directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries from the division. Eastern Washington quarterback Vernon Adams finished second in the balloting (383 points, 29 first-place votes), while Idaho State signal caller Justin Arias was third with 220 points and 22 first-place votes. Each of the three finalists attended Monday night's banquet.

"I want to congratulate the other finalists for this award, who each had great seasons," Robertson said. "I also want to thank head coach Andy Talley and [quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator] Sam Venuto for putting me in position to succeed. I have never been a part of a team that played with so much passion. I cannot say enough about my teammates and about my offensive line, running backs and receivers. They are the ones who got me this award."

This is the second national award for Robertson in the last three years. In 2012, he earned the Jerry Rice Award as the top rookie in FCS football.

Robertson becomes the third Villanova player to win the Payton Award, with all three winners playing different positions. Wide receiver Brian Finneran won the award in 1997 and running back Brian Westbrook earned the honor in 2001. Villanova is now the only school to have three Walter Payton Award winners.

"We are all really excited tonight to congratulate John on winning the Walter Payton Award," Wildcats head coach Andy Talley said. "He is our third award winner, joining Brian Finneran [1997] and Brian Westbrook [2001]. This is a tremendous night for our university and a fantastic honor for our football program."

Robertson finished the 2014 season by completing 197-of-301 passes (65.4%) with 35 touchdowns and three interceptions. He also had 227 carries for a team-high 1,078 yards and 11 scores. Robertson joins Westbrook (1997-2001) as the only two Villanova players to have three 1,000 yard rushing seasons. In seven of his 13 games this year, Robertson threw at least three touchdown passes.

"You could not meet a more All-American guy than John Robertson," Talley said. "He is a tremendous student and he is extremely humble. He is a family guy and he perfectly exemplifies what a Villanova student-athlete is. John worked extremely hard to develop his skills. He is a great runner and has made himself into an equally terrific passer. Sam Venuto has done a great job mentoring him, and John is one of the hardest workers we have ever had in our program."

In the latest NCAA statistics, Robertson ranks in the top two in five different categories. He leads all FCS players in passing efficiency (181.3), points responsible for (280) and points responsible for per game, (21.5) and he ranks second in passing touchdowns (35) and passing yards per attempt (9.46).

Robertson has led Villanova to a 25-10 record as the starting quarterback by completing 518-of-801 (64.6%) career passes with 62 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, to go along with 634 carries for 3,505 yards (5.5 avg.) and 45 touchdowns. In a second round playoff win over Liberty on Dec. 6, he became Villanova's all-time total offense leader with 10,273 yards.

Entering play next season, Robertson ranks second in school history in career rushing yards (3,505), total touchdowns (45), rushing touchdowns (45), scoring (272 points) and career 100-yard rushing games (15) and he is fourth in both career passing yards (6,768) and passing touchdowns (62).

The other national awards presented on Monday evening were the Buck Buchanan Award (top FCS defensive player), the Jerry Rice Award (top FCS rookie), the Eddie Robinson Award (top FCS coach) and the inaugural Mickey Charles Award (honoring academic and athletic excellence).

The award recipients included North Dakota State senior linebacker Kyle Emanuel (Buck Buchanan Award), Fordham freshman running back Chase Edmonds (Jerry Rice Award), New Hampshire head coach Sean McDonnell (Eddie Robinson Award) and South Dakota State senior running back Zach Zenner (Mickey Charles Award).