University at Albany running back Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks was one of 22 players named to the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award watch list Wednesday.

Ibitokun-Hanks, a junior, is one of four running backs on the watch list for the award, which honors the top offensive player in the country.

The list will be updated during the season. A national panel of more than 150 sports information directors and media members vote on the 25 finalists after the regular season.

Ibitokun-Hanks finished with a CAA-best 1,388 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore. He also ranked fourth in the FCS with an average of 126.2 yards per game.

Already this summer Ibitokun-Hanks has been named to preseason All-America teams by STATS and Athlon Sports. He also was placed on the CAA Preseason All-Conference team.

The Great Danes open their season Sept. 2 at Old Dominion.