University of Delaware Athletics
Rocco Named Robinson Award Finalist, Lee Selected as Payton Award Finalist
4/19/2021 2:00:00 PM | Football
CHICAGO – STATS Perform FCS has announced the finalists for the Division I football subdivision major awards with fourth-year head coach Danny Rocco named as a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award and redshirt senior Dejoun Lee has been selected as a Walter Payton Offensive Player of the Year Finalist. Â
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Lee started adding to his resume early by taking the season-opening kickoff back for a touchdown for 87 yards. He holds the second-most rushing yards in the FCS in a single game with 221 at then-No. 18 Rhode Island and ranks sixth in all of FCS in all-purpose yards per game.
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He became just the eighth player in program history to achieve 200-plus yards rushing in a single game and has been selected CAA Player of the Week on three separate occasions, two offensive and one special teams.
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Lee becomes the fourth Blue Hen and just fourth running back in program history to be named a finalist. In 2003, quarterback Andy Hall finished third in voting and running back Omar Cuff was voted fourth in 2007. In 2009, quarterback Pat Devlin finished 12th in Payton Award voting.
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This is the seventh time Rocco has been named a Coach of the Year finalist in his career. He has helped Delaware earn its 17th conference title, clinching it with a 27-20 win over Villanova Saturday. He takes the Blue Hens into their 22nd playoff appearance
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Both the Robinson and the Payton Awards are in their 34th season, named after legendary FCS (then Division I-AA) greats, former Grambling State head coach Eddie Robinson and Jackson State running back Walter Payton and they are decided by a 40-member national media panel.
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The win over Villanova helped Delaware clinch the CAA Championship and a berth in the FCS Playoffs, beginning Saturday when the Blue Hens host Sacred Heart at Delaware Stadium at 7 p.m. Ticket information can be found here.
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For the latest on the Delaware football program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @DelawareFB and Instagram @DelawareFootball, and like "Delaware Football" on Facebook.
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Lee started adding to his resume early by taking the season-opening kickoff back for a touchdown for 87 yards. He holds the second-most rushing yards in the FCS in a single game with 221 at then-No. 18 Rhode Island and ranks sixth in all of FCS in all-purpose yards per game.
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He became just the eighth player in program history to achieve 200-plus yards rushing in a single game and has been selected CAA Player of the Week on three separate occasions, two offensive and one special teams.
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Lee becomes the fourth Blue Hen and just fourth running back in program history to be named a finalist. In 2003, quarterback Andy Hall finished third in voting and running back Omar Cuff was voted fourth in 2007. In 2009, quarterback Pat Devlin finished 12th in Payton Award voting.
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This is the seventh time Rocco has been named a Coach of the Year finalist in his career. He has helped Delaware earn its 17th conference title, clinching it with a 27-20 win over Villanova Saturday. He takes the Blue Hens into their 22nd playoff appearance
Â
Both the Robinson and the Payton Awards are in their 34th season, named after legendary FCS (then Division I-AA) greats, former Grambling State head coach Eddie Robinson and Jackson State running back Walter Payton and they are decided by a 40-member national media panel.
Â
The win over Villanova helped Delaware clinch the CAA Championship and a berth in the FCS Playoffs, beginning Saturday when the Blue Hens host Sacred Heart at Delaware Stadium at 7 p.m. Ticket information can be found here.
Â
For the latest on the Delaware football program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @DelawareFB and Instagram @DelawareFootball, and like "Delaware Football" on Facebook.
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Players Mentioned
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