DAVIS, Calif. – Continuing a preseason of accolades, UC Davis football senior running back Lan Larison has been named to the Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List becoming one of 35 student-athletes in the Football Championship Series to be named to the list as announced by Stats Perform on July 30.
 
The Walter Payton Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding offensive playing in the FCS as chosen by a nationwide panel of media and college sports information directors. The honor was first given 37 years ago in 1987 and in 1995 it became specifically for offensive players, as the Buck Buchanan Award began to be awarded to the nation's top defensive player.

Larison ended the 2023 season on the final Walter Payton Award Watch List, and the Preseason Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year returns to the list ahead of 2024. He is one of five Big Sky student-athletes to be named to the list.
 
He has already earned Preseason First Team All-American honors from FCS Football Central and Phil Steele and he was named to the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference teams. HERO Sports also named him the nation's best returning running back as part of their 2024 FCS season preview.
 
Despite only playing in eight games due to injury, Larison finished 2023 with 1,101 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns, placing him among the nation's best. He finished ranked 12th in the nation in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns and his 15 total touchdowns put him eighth in the country. And he led the conference in all-purpose yards (1,299) and finished second in the league in rushing yards and third in rushing touchdowns.
 
2024 FALL CAMP: UC Davis opens fall camp on July 31 and all practices are open to media and fans. The Aggies will split time between the grass of Bob Biggs Practice Field and the turf of UC Davis Health Stadium. Fans and media can watch the Aggies regardless of which field they are on.
 
Filming and photography are ALLOWED for all sessions of practice held on BOB BIGGS PRACTICE FIELD (grass-field). Filming and photography are PROHIBITED for all sessions of practice held on the UC DAVIS HEALTH STADIUM turf field.
 
Players and coach Plough will be available to the media in the Bruce Edwards Club Room following each practice. Specific times are listed on the fall camp schedule.
 
UC Davis opens 2024 at Cal on Aug. 31, with kick set for 2 p.m. The Aggies open UC Davis Health Stadium on Sept. 7 with a 7 p.m. kickoff against Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
Fans can buy season tickets, group tickets, mini plans, single game tickets and corporate ticket packages, by clicking the links or by calling the Aggie Ticket Office at (530) 752-2471 or by emailing aggietickets@ucdavis.edu.