1997, Brian Finneran, WR, Villanova
-- Finneran graduate from Villanova as the most decorated receiver in the history of the program. He finished his career with 265 receptions for 3,872 yards and 34 touchdowns, all of which are Villanova records. He is currently the holder of 21 school records, including receptions in a season (96 in 1997), receptions in a game (16 twice) and receiving touchdowns in a season (19 in 1997). In 1997, Finneran made 96 receptions for 1,389 yards and 19 touchdowns. He was named first team All-NFL Europe following the 1999 season for the Barcelona Dragons. He is currently on the roster of the Philadelphia Eagles.

1996, Archie Amerson, RB, Northern Arizona
-- Amerson finished 1996 as the NCAA I-AA single-season record holder in all-purpose yards (2,429) and rushing touchdowns (25). The rushing touchdowns record still stands, while the all-purpose yards total has since been surpassed. Amerson finished second in the nation with an average of 189 yards per game, and also averaged 6.2 yards per carry. He rushed for over 200 yards in a game five times in 1996. He also set the NCAA single-game record scoring seven touchdowns and 42 points. Amerson rushed for 2,079 yards on 333 carries in 1996. He finished his career with 3,196 yards rushing in just two seasons with the Lumberjacks. He currently holds seven Northern Arizona school records. He is currently in his third season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

1995, Dave Dickenson, QB, Montana
-- Dickenson completed 309 of 455 passes for 4,176 yards and 38 touchdowns in the 1995 regular season before leading the Grizzlies to the national championship. Dickenson led I-AA in total offense with 4,206 yards for a 382.64 yards per game average. He was named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week three times during the season. He earned the Big Sky Offensive MVP an unprecedented three times. Dickenson holds 26 Montana, six Big Sky and three NCAA career records. His career record as a starter at Montana was 27-3. Dickenson is second in NCAA I-AA history in career passing efficiency (168.6) and third in touchdowns passes (96) and total yards per game (328.9). His 11,080 career passing yards rank him fifth all-time in NCAA I-AA history. He is currently the starting quarterback for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.

1994, Steve McNair, QB, Alcorn State University
-- McNair finished an amazing 1994 season by throwing for NCAA record 4,863 yards and rushing for another 936 yards for an astonishing total of 5,799 yards in total offense. He finished the season with a quarterback rating of 155.4 and 44 touchdowns. He set a single-game NCAA I-AA record with 649 yards of total offense versus Southern University. On October 1, 1994, McNair became the NCAA all-time leader in total offense and finished his career with 16,823 yards. He is also the NCAA I-AA all-time leader in passing yards with 14,496. He holds the I-AA record for most consecutive games throwing a touchdown pass (36), and holds or shares over 40 other NCAA I-AA records. He was drafted in the first round (third overall pick) by the Houston Oilers in the 1995 NFL draft. He is currently the starting quarterback for the Tennessee Titans.

1993, Doug Nussmeier, QB, University of Idaho
-- Nussmeier recorded an astonishing 175.2 quarterback rating in 1993. He completed 214 of 355 passes for 3,470 yards and 33 touchdowns, while only being intercepted seven times. He also rushed for 629 yards on 110 attempts. In 1992, Nussmeier finished the season ranked second in the nation in total offense averaging 312.5 yards per game. He finished his four-year career with a .607 completion percentage. Nussmeier holds the NCAA I-AA record for highest percentage of passes for a touchdown in a season with a minimum of 300 attempts (10.9 % in 1993). He became the second Idaho quarterback to win the Payton Award (John Friesz, 1989). He is currently on the roster of the Indianapolis Colts.

1992, Michael Payton, QB, Marshall University
-- Payton was named the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year in both 1991 and 1992. As a senior, he completed 200 of 313 passes for 2,788 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also averaged 263.3 yards per game in total offense. He finished his career as the Southern Conference all-time career leader in passing yards (8,900), touchdowns passes (66), completions (650) and total offense (9,279 yards). Payton still holds the NCAA I-AA record for most yards passing in a half when he threw for 383 yards in the first half of a game versus VMI in 1991. He is currently attending Marshall University to finish his degree.

1991, Jamie Martin, QB, Weber State
-- Martin finished his career with three consecutive seasons in which he passed for over 3,000 yards. In 1991, his junior season, he completed 310 of 500 passes for 4,125 yards and 35 touchdowns. Martin holds the NCAA I-AA record for most passes completed in a career with 934. He also holds the I-AA records for passing yards in a game (624 vs. Idaho State in 1991) and most consecutive games passing for 200 yards in a season (11 in 1991). Martin ended his career having completed 934 of 1,544 passes for 12,207 yards and 87 touchdowns. He still holds eight Big Sky Conference and Weber State records, including the records for single season total offense (4,377 yards in 1991) and career total offense (12,287 yards). He is currently on the roster of the Cleveland Browns.

1990, Walter Dean, RB, Grambling State
-- Dean ended his career at Grambling 121 yards shy of the school's career all-time rushing mark. He finished with 3,328 yards rushing on 526 carries and scored 41 touchdowns. In 1990, he broke his own school record for rushing yards in a season and led I-AA in rushing when he ran for 1,401 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. As a junior, Dean rushed for 1,269 yards on 201 carries to break Hall-of-Famer Paul "Tank" Younger's previous school record of 1,207 yards. Dean was selected in the sixth round of the 1990 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers.

1989, John Friesz, QB, University of Idaho
-- One of the most prolific passers to ever come out of the Big Sky Conference, Friesz finished his career as Idaho's all-time career leader in passing yards with 10,697, and his 77 touchdowns passes rank him second in Vandal history. In 1989, Friesz threw for 4,041 yards, and threw 173 consecutive passes without an interception. He still holds NCAA I-AA records for most 300-yard passing games in a season (10 in 1989), most consecutive games with 300 yards passing (10 in 1989) and most yards gained per passing attempt in a season (9.5 yards per attempt in 1989). Friesz was a sixth round selection of the San Diego Chargers in the 1990 NFL draft. After four years with the Chargers, Friesz moved on to play for the Washington Redskins and Seattle Seahawks. He is currently a member of the New England Patriots.

1988, Dave Meggett, RB, Towson
-- Meggett was one of the most explosive players to ever come out of Division I-AA. Meggett finished his two-year career at Towson with 3,403 all-purpose yards. In 1998, he had 844 yards rushing, 216 yards receiving, 134 yards in punt returns, 418 yards in kickoff returns and 12 touchdowns. His 1997 stats were even more impressive. Meggett had 814 yards rushing, 572 yards receiving, 82 yards in punt returns, 323 yards in kickoff returns and 11 touchdowns. His 1,791 all-purpose yards in 1997 led the nation. He is currently out of football after enjoying a 10-year NFL career with the New York Giants, New England Patriots and New York Jets.

1987, Kenny Gamble, RB, Colgate
-- Gamble became the first winner of the Walter Payton Award following a stellar career at Colgate. Gamble finished his career as the school's all-time leading rusher with 5,220 yards and a school-best average of 124.4 yards per game. In 42 career games he scored 55 touchdowns, and his 21 scores in 1986 set a single-season school record. He was a 10th round draft choice of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1988 NFL draft.