Devron Harper Named Walter Payton Award Finalist
11/23/2022 2:51:00 PM | Football
One of 30 finalists for the best offensive player of the year award
MACON, Ga. – Devron Harper was named a finalist for the 2022 Walter Payton Award given to the best offensive player in the FCS. Harper is one of 30 finalists and one of only six wide receivers.
The junior from Conyers, Georgia, had a record-breaking season for the Bears, adding six school records to his resume.
Harper set a school record for the most receiving touchdowns in a season with his eighth against Western Carolina. He increased his total to 10 with two more touchdown receptions against Chattanooga. Harper finished the season with a conference-leading 16 total touchdowns including four rushing touchdowns, one kickoff return for a touchdown, and one punt return for a touchdown.
Across 11 games, Harper averaged 12.7 yards per catch and 89.7 yards per game. He finished with 987 total receiving yards, second only to Ty James who set the Mercer school record for single-season receiving yards with 1,105 yards. Harper recorded his longest reception of the season with a 62-yard touchdown catch against Wofford. He notched six multi-touchdown games this season, featuring two receiving scores against Auburn. In a tight matchup with Furman, Harper carried the Mercer offense with a career-high 192 receiving yards from a school-record 14 receptions.
1,566 all-purpose yards this season by Harper is a school record and ranks third in the country. Harper also set the school record for the most all-purpose yards recorded in a single game with 293 against VMI. 126 of those yards came on four punt returns, another a school-record.
Harper's 87-yard punt return for a touchdown against VMI is the second-longest punt return in program history and the first touchdown on a punt return since 2014. His performance against VMI earned him Southern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
It was announced on November 22nd that Harper earned all-conference first team honors for offense and special teams.
The winner of the Walter Payton Award will be announced on January 7.
FOLLOW THE BEARS:
For complete coverage of Mercer Football, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerFootball (Twitter), /MercerFootball (Facebook) and @MercerFootball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.Â
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The junior from Conyers, Georgia, had a record-breaking season for the Bears, adding six school records to his resume.
Harper set a school record for the most receiving touchdowns in a season with his eighth against Western Carolina. He increased his total to 10 with two more touchdown receptions against Chattanooga. Harper finished the season with a conference-leading 16 total touchdowns including four rushing touchdowns, one kickoff return for a touchdown, and one punt return for a touchdown.
Across 11 games, Harper averaged 12.7 yards per catch and 89.7 yards per game. He finished with 987 total receiving yards, second only to Ty James who set the Mercer school record for single-season receiving yards with 1,105 yards. Harper recorded his longest reception of the season with a 62-yard touchdown catch against Wofford. He notched six multi-touchdown games this season, featuring two receiving scores against Auburn. In a tight matchup with Furman, Harper carried the Mercer offense with a career-high 192 receiving yards from a school-record 14 receptions.
1,566 all-purpose yards this season by Harper is a school record and ranks third in the country. Harper also set the school record for the most all-purpose yards recorded in a single game with 293 against VMI. 126 of those yards came on four punt returns, another a school-record.
Harper's 87-yard punt return for a touchdown against VMI is the second-longest punt return in program history and the first touchdown on a punt return since 2014. His performance against VMI earned him Southern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
It was announced on November 22nd that Harper earned all-conference first team honors for offense and special teams.
The winner of the Walter Payton Award will be announced on January 7.
FOLLOW THE BEARS:
For complete coverage of Mercer Football, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerFootball (Twitter), /MercerFootball (Facebook) and @MercerFootball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.Â
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