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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
For the latest on the Delaware football program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @DelawareFB and Instagram @DelawareFootball, and like "Delaware Football" on Facebook.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
For the latest on the Delaware football program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @DelawareFB and Instagram @DelawareFootball, and like "Delaware Football" on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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