CHICAGO – Eastern Illinois senior wide receiver Alexander Hollins has been named one of 25 finalists for this year's Walter Payton FCS Offensive Player of the Year Award.  Voting for the award will take place this week by a national panel with the top three finalists invited to the FCS National Championship Game in January.

Hollins was one of the most dynamic play makers in the nation this season as he ranked in the top 15 nationally in touchdown receptions, pass receptions and receiving yards.  Hollins was second in the FCS with 16 touchdowns after he caught two on Saturday in the Panthers final game of the season at Southeast Missouri.  He is eighth in the nation in receptions with 80 and 11th in the FCS with 1,102 receiving yards.

Hollins had five games this season with 100 or more yards receiving and five games with two or more touchdowns.  He opened the season with a three touchdown performance against SEC member Arkansas.

Hollins is the first EIU player to be a finalist for the Walter Payton Award since Jimmy Garoppolo won the award for EIU in 2013.  Tony Romo was the 2002 Walter Payton Award winner for the Panthers.