Idaho State running back Xavier Finney was one of 32 players Monday named to the College Football Performance Awards 2015 FCS National Performer of the Year Watch List.

Finney is coming off a record-breaking junior campaign where he was a first-team All-Big Sky performer after rushing for 1,495 yards and 14 touchdowns.

The senior was recently named to the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference team along with Bengal teammates Christian Diehm, Madison Mangum, Tyler Kuder, Mario Jenkins and Taison Manu.

Finney was at the center of ISU’s turnaround a season ago. The Bengals had their first winning season 2003 and finished the year ranked No. 25 in the nation.

“We were living in the moment, enjoying every moment of it,” Finney said July 20 at the Big Sky media days. “Going through a season like that, it’s an amazing feeling — especially when the previous season was horrible. You’ve just got to enjoy it.”

Joining Finney on the CFPA National Performer of the Year Watch List from the Big Sky are Montana State quarterback Dakota Prukop and Cal Poly quarterback Chris Brown.

The award winner will be announced Jan. 13, 2016.

The Bengal football team opens practice Aug. 12 in preparation for the Sept. 5 opener versus Black Hills State.

2015 CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy Watch List:

John Gibbs Jr. (QB), Alcorn State; Chris Brown (QB), Cal Poly; Austin Brown (QB), Charleston Southern; Jacob Huesman (QB), Chattanooga; De’Angelo Henderson (RB), Coastal Carolina; Alex Ross (QB), Coastal Carolina; Dalyn Williams (QB), Dartmouth; Jalen Whitlow (QB), Eastern Illinois; Dy’Shawn Mobley (RB), Eastern Kentucky; Chase Edmonds (RB), Fordham; Xavier Finney (RB), Idaho State; Marshaun Coprich (RB), Illinois State; Tre Roberson (QB), Illinois State; Eli Jenkins (QB), Jacksonville State; Vad Lee (QB), James Madison; Josh Woodrum (QB), Liberty; Daniel Sams (QB), McNeese; John Russ (QB), Mercer; Dakota Prukop (QB), Montana State; Herb Walker Jr. (RB), Morgan State; Sean Goldrich (QB), New Hampshire; Tarik Cohen (RB), North Carolina A&T; Carson Wentz (QB), North Dakota State; Sawyer Kollmorgen (QB), Northern Iowa; Khairi Dickson (RB), Saint Francis U; Jared Johnson (QB), Sam Houston State; Mark Iannotti (QB), Southern Illinois; John Robertson (QB), Villanova; Troy Mitchell (QB), Western Carolina; Trenton Norvell (QB), Western Illinois; Morgan Roberts (QB), Yale; Hunter Wells (QB), Youngstown State