PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- For the fifth straight year, the Elon Phoenix football team has seen at least one of its members finish in the top 20 in the balloting for the Walter Payton Award which is presented annually to the top player at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level.  This year, junior wide receiver Aaron Mellette placed fifth in the voting and was the top finisher among Southern Conference representatives.

Mellette, who garnered two first-place votes, was a first-team All-Southern Conference selection by both the Southern Conference's coaches and media members.  The Sanford, N.C., native ended the regular season as the FCS leader in both receptions per game (10.27) and receiving yards per game (149.0).  His 1,639 receiving yards established a new Elon and SoCon record, surpassing the mark of 1,633 yards set by Hudgins in 2009.  Mellette had nine 100-yard receiving games and twice went over 200 yards receiving during his junior campaign.  He began the season with an 11-catch, 180-yard performance at Vanderbilt.  In a win at North Carolina Central, Mellette caught 16 passes for a career-high 237 yards.  In the season finale against Appalachian State, Mellette hauled in 14 balls for 236 yards.  He made a SoCon-best 113 catches and led the league with 12 touchdown receptions.

In his three seasons in the maroon and gold Mellette has caught 207 passes for 2,856 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Since 2007, Elon has had at least one player in the top 20 of the final voting.  In 2007, wide receiver Terrell Hudgins placed 11th while quarterback Scott Riddle was 20th.  Hudgins finished 15th in 2008 before being the runner-up for the award in 2009.  Last year, Riddle was 13th.

A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries selected all of the FCS awards.

The top three candidates, quarterbacks Chris Lum of Lehigh and Bo Levi Mitchell of Eastern Washington and running back Shakir Bell of Indiana State, will attend the annual FCS Awards Banquet in Frisco, Texas on Jan. 6 where the winner of the 25th Walter Payton Award will be announced.

Payton Voting (4-22)
4. Jonathan Grimes, William & Mary (10 first-place votes, 185 points)
5. Aaron Mellette, Elon (2, 144)
6. Terrance West, Towson (5, 120)
7. Tim Flanders, Sam Houston State (10, 112)
8. Kevin Decker, New Hampshire (5, 95)
9. Jordan Brown, Bryant (2, 94)
10. Casey Therriault, Jackson State (3, 86)
11. Casey Brockman, Murray State (3, 73)
12. Tirrell Rennie, Northern Iowa (3, 39)
13. DeNarius McGhee, Montana State (3, 35)
14. Eric Breitenstein, Wofford (2, 30)
15. Brian Quick, Appalachian State (0, 27)
16. Andrew Pierce, Delaware (1, 13)
17. Mike Brown, Liberty (0, 10)
18. Brad Sorensen, Southern Utah (0, 8)
19. Jamaine Cook, Youngstown State (0, 6)
20. Rodrick Rumble, Idaho State (0, 6)
21. Matt Denham, Eastern Kentucky (0, 5)
22. Tre Gray, Richmond (0, 1)