Oct. 3, 2002

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Senior wide receiver Willie Ponder of Southeast Missouri State University has been added to The Sports Network's 16-man Payton Watch list, a preliminary grouping of candidates for the Walter Payton Award, the Division I-AA football equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.

"This is certainly a great honor for Willie to be considered for the Payton Award," said Southeast coach Tim Billings. "He is certainly deserving because he is one of the top receivers in the nation."

Ponder has 37 catches for 585 after five games this season. He leads the Ohio Valley Conference in all receiving categories and ranks eighth nationally in receptions per game and receiving yards per game. He has over 100 yards receiving in all but one game this season.

Ponder, who also has seven kickoff returns for 123 yards, ranks third in the OVC and 27th nationally in all-purpose running.

Ponder, a preseason All-America pick by Lindy's football magazine and Don Hansen's Football Gazette, led the OVC in receiving last season with 70 catches for 1,090 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Other players on the Payton Watch are Holy Cross wide receiver Ari Confesor, Villanova quarterback Brett Gordon, Portland State running back Ryan Fuqua, Montana quarterback John Edwards, William & Mary quarterback David Corley, Brown wide receiver Chas Gessner, Eastern Kentucky running back C.J. Hudson, Montana State running back Ryan Johnson, Jackson State quarterback Robert Kent, New Hampshire running back Stephan Lewis, Youngstown State running back P.J. Mays, Harvard wide receiver Carl Morris, Bethune- Cookman quarterback Allen Suber, Eastern Illinois quarterback Tony Romo and Southern Illinois running back Mo Abdulqaadir.

Ponder will be in the lineup Saturday night when Southeast Missouri hosts Tennessee State in the OVC opener for both teams. Game time is 6 p.m. at Houck Stadium.