Black History Month Feature - Walter Payton Award Winner Archie Amerson
OGDEN, Utah (February 8, 2018) – In 1996, history was made. He was fast. He was strong. He was a Lumberjack. He was a Walter Payton Award winner. He is Archie Amerson.
As we celebrate Black History Month, the league flashes back to one of the greatest players to ever represent the Big Sky in football and the year that he carved his name in stone as the “Best Player in FCS Football.”
The two-year product representing Northern Arizona took the Big Sky by storm in 1995, zipping past opponents with ease. Fast forward one year to 1996 and Amerson’s achievements on the field still amaze football fans.
The San Diego native rushed for 2,079 yards on 333 carries with 25 rushing touchdowns. He averaged 189 yards per game with a then-single-season Big Sky record to lead the nation. His on your feet, make them get up and cheer 25 touchdowns remain the most ever by a Big Sky running back in a season.
Amerson’s run game assisted the Lumberjacks in averaging a nation-high 523.7 yards of offense and an average of 43 points per game, aiding NAU to a postseason appearance.
His talents helped him garner First Team All-Big Sky accolades, Co-Offensive Big Sky Most Valuable Player honors, numerous All-America honors, and a Hula Bowl appearance where he was tabbed North Most Valuable Player.
For defenses, Amerson was a threat. Maybe you could slow him down, but there was no stopping the back that powered through defenses like a man on a mission. With 10 games of 100 or more yards and five games with 200-plus yards, he was in a league of his own.
The moment Amerson turned any and all doubters into believers came on October 5, 1996, when he suited up in his blue and gold NAU uniform and took the field.
He scored not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, but seven touchdowns! He cruised to 281 rushing yards like it was a normal day. Amerson’s performance garnered him many accolades that week, as he set a new Big Sky and FCS single-game record.
When it came down to national player of the year honors, Amerson’s name was rightfully so in the mix.
History was made when the defensive back turned running back’s name was called as the 1996 Walter Payton Award winner, an honor given to the best offensive player in the FCS. Spring forward to today, and Amerson is the only running back from the Big Sky to win the honor. He’s also, the only African-American to win the Walter Payton Award in league history.
In the words of Booker T. Washington, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.”
Archie Amerson was not a four-year Division I FCS football player. He began his collegiate career at Dixie State College, where he worked hard to become a junior college All-American. He transferred to NAU with the intention of playing on defense. The Lumberjack coaches moved him to offense, due to an injury of another player. Instead of being selfish and staying on defense, Amerson moved his talents to offense and overcame the fact that he wanted to play defense. His determination was put on display, as he became an All-American running back for Northern Arizona and topped his college career off as the best offensive player in the game.