WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth University wide receiver Dymere Miller and running back Jaden Shirden have been announced as finalists for the 2023 Stats Perform Walter Payton Award, the honor given to the best offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
 
Miller ended a historic regular season as the nation's leading receiver with 1,293 yards and 117.5 yards per game while adding 10 total touchdowns. His 1,293 yards along with his 90 catches are new Monmouth Football single-season records. The senior tallied six 100+ receiving yard games and scored twice in three games through the air.
 
On November 11, Miller posted a record-breaking 11-catch, 333-yard performance versus New Hampshire in which he found the endzone twice. The 333 yards is a new program record, the second-most in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) history, and the most by any receiver in college football this year. Miller was named the FedEx Ground FCS National Offensive Player of the Week and CAA Co-Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts.

At Elon on October 21, the Coatesville, PA native broke off a career-long 68-yard touchdown run to go along with 11 catches for 144 yards and a score in the passing game.
 
Shirden, who finished in the top-three in voting for the Walter Payton Award in 2022, finished his regular season as the leading rusher for the second consecutive season. Entering the season at seventh on MU's all-time rushing yardage list, Shirden's 1,478 yards on the ground in 2023 saw him rise to third, and his 10 touchdowns on the season brought him into the program's top-10. The junior notched seven 100+ rushing yard games including two games eclipsing the 250 mark. 

Shirden's biggest game came at home on October 14 against Hampton where he ran for 276 yards and scored a career-best four touchdowns – including a 63-yard score and 72-yard score – on 16 carries. Two weeks later at No. 24/22 William & Mary, the West Haven, CT native ran for two touchdowns while notching 251 yards on 21 carries.
 
Seven Hawks have been finalists for the Walter Payton Award in Monmouth's history. David Sinisi (2008), Reggie White Jr. (2018), Pete Guerriero (2019), Kenji Bahar (2019), Juwon Farri (Spring 2021), Shirden (2022 and 2023) and Miller (2023). Guerriero and Shirden each finished third in 2019 and 2022, respectively.