FRISCO, Texas - Indiana State sophomore tailback Shakir Bell finished tied for second in the Walter Payton Award voting as announced at the FCS Awards Banquet presented by The Sports Network and Fathead.com at the Frisco Convention Center on the eve on the NCAA FCS Championship Game. Bell is the first sophomore to be invited to the Walter Payton Award ceremony and is also the first Sycamore to be invited as well. The Walter Payton Award goes to the most outstanding player in the FCS Football Subdivision and was voted upon by a panel of national media, sports information directors and other dignitaries.

Bo Levi Mitchell of Eastern Washington won the award with 453 votes, including 57 first place votes. Bell tied with Chris Lum of Lehigh with 219 points. Bell received 10 first place votes, 20 second place votes, 12 third place votes, 18 fourth place votes and 17 fifth place votes.

Bell has been named earlier this season to a school-record four First Team All-America squads. He was also named First Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference as well as the MVFC Offensive Player Of The Year. Bell led the nation in rushing with 1,670 total yards and a 151.8 per game average. His 1,670 yards this season broke the school record for single-season rushing yards and rank eighth in league history. Bell also broke the single-game rushing record when he rushed for 256 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries in ISU's victory over Youngstown State on Sept. 24. Those 256 yards against the Penguins are the 12th highest single-game total in MVFC history. For the year, Bell hit the end zone 14 times.

Bell had the chance to interact with former NFL great Jerry Rice as well as the mother of Walter Payton during the evening. He will participate on January 7 in a youth clinic and autograph session at Tailgate City located next to Pizza Hut Park prior to the FCS National Championship Game between Sam Houston State and North Dakota State.

His second place finish in the Walter Payton Award voting is tied for the best ever by a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference and is the highest ever by a member of the Indiana State Football Team.