South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski won the 2023 Walter Payton Award as the best offensive player in FCS football, beating out fellow top-three finalists Jaden Shirden (Monmouth) and Max Brosmer (New Hampshire). Gronowski is the first South Dakota State player to win the award in its 37-year history.
PAYTON AWARD: Complete history of the top FCS offensive honor
Gronowski received the Payton Award one day before playing in the 2023-24 FCS Championship game, his third appearance in as many years as a starter. In 11 regular season games, the Jackrabbit quarterback completed 159 of 232 passes (68.5 percent) for 2,359 yards, 23 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He also ran for 220 yards and seven touchdowns, leading South Dakota State to an undefeated record.
"Without the guys around I couldn't get it done. I just got to thank them for that."@stan_becton sat down with @mgronowski11 ahead of the FCS Football National Championship.#FCSChampionship pic.twitter.com/hdVLJxRcLh
— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 5, 2024
Gronowski is the 26th quarterback to win the Payton Award — the most of any position — since the award debuted in 1987. Quarterbacks have won the Payton Award in each of the last eight seasons and 19 of the last 20 seasons, with wide receiver Cooper Kupp's 2015 win being the lone exception.
@mgronowski11 🤝 @JadonJanke #GoJacks 🐰🏈 pic.twitter.com/gTYOsQCVuG
— SDSU Football (@GoJacksFB) October 8, 2023
As the 2023 Walter Payton Award winner, Gronowski joins an elite fraternity of FCS greats including Steve McNair (Alcorn State, 1994), Adrian Peterson (Georgia Southern, 1999), Brian Westbrook (Villanova, 2001), Tony Romo (Eastern Illinois, 2002), Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington, 2015) and more.
MORE AWARDS: Buck Buchanan Award history | Jerry Rice Award history
Top moments
See some more of Gronowski's top moments from 2023 below.
First game, first catch, first TD for @GriffinWilde1!#GoJacks 🐰🏈 pic.twitter.com/Xp9nUwduFv
— SDSU Football (@GoJacksFB) September 1, 2023
.@JadonJanke hauls it in from 36 yards! 🙌#FCSPlayoffs x 🎥 ESPN2 x #GoJacks 🐰🏈 pic.twitter.com/KEx5XAr9Ue
— SDSU Football (@GoJacksFB) December 16, 2023
Griffin Wilde takes it to the 🏠!
— SDSU Football (@GoJacksFB) September 10, 2023
🎥 @MidcoSports#GoJacks 🐰🏈 pic.twitter.com/i40u4YyuxB
ON A DIME@mgronowski11 connects with @JadonJanke for the score!
— SDSU Football (@GoJacksFB) November 4, 2023
Q2, 5:15 | SDSU 17, NDSU 9#GoJacks 🐰🏈 pic.twitter.com/ELJHCcjh6D
TOUCHDOWN JACKRABBITS!@ZachHeins is in for another 6. @MidcoSports x #GoJacks 🐰🏈 pic.twitter.com/1KwgQKLOlY
— SDSU Football (@GoJacksFB) September 16, 2023
Touchdown, Jackrabbits!
— SDSU Football (@GoJacksFB) October 7, 2023
Zach Heins clears Mark Gronowski's path to the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown run by the SDSU quarterback
South Dakota State 20, Illinois State 0 with 4:08 to play in Q1#GoJacks 🐰🏈 pic.twitter.com/la8Hrn0r6d
