Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – With the college football season in its
November stretch run, some of the better freshman players in the FCS are
making important contributions to their teams that prove well beyond their
years.
Southern University quarterback Austin Howard and Butler University running
back Sam Schrader have both made such high marks that they were named to the
Jerry Rice Award Watch List on Tuesday.
The Rice Award, now in its fourth season, and named for the legendary wide
receiver who played in the FCS (then Division I-AA) at Mississippi Valley
State, honors the nation’s top first-year player, whether a true freshman or a
redshirt freshman.
Howard is guiding the offense of the defending Southwestern Athletic
Conference champions. He has accounted for 203.4 yards of total offense per
game with 17 total touchdowns.
Schrader is coming off 162 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in a win
over Morehead State. His 561 rushing yards rank fifth among all FCS freshmen
and his 11 total touchdowns rank third.
The Rice Award winner will be announced at The Sports Network FCS Awards
Presentation Dec. 15 in Philadelphia.
The Jerry Rice Award Watch List:
Mike Basile, Monmouth, Safety, 6-1, 185, Brick, New Jersey
8 games: 52 TT, 44 solo, 2 TFL, 3 INT, 4 PBU
Al Cobb, VMI, Quarterback, 6-3, 190, Pulaski, Tennessee
10 games: 223-for-350 (63.7 percent), 2,254 yards, 16 TD, 8 INT; 128.3 passing
efficiency, 225.4 ypg; 2 rush TD
Chandler Curtis, Mercer, Wide Receiver/Return Specialist, 5-10, 186, Calhoun,
Georgia
10 games: 3 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD; 23 receptions, 455 yards, 4 TD; 13 kick
returns, 27.1-yard average, 1 TD; 9 punt returns, 28.8-yard average, 3 TD;
112.2 all-purpose ypg
Garrett Dolan, Houston Baptist, Linebacker, 6-2, 235, Mont Belveiu, Texas
9 games: 75 TT, 51 solo, 6 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 PBU
Chase Edmonds, Fordham, Running Back/Kick Returner, 5-9, 185, Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania
9 games: 207 carries, 1,322 yards, 6.4 ypc, 18 TD, 146.9 ypg; 9 receptions, 65
yards, 1 TD; 193 all-purpose ypg
Josh Gontarek, Albany, Wide Receiver/Return Specialist, 5-11, 170, Mt. Airy,
Maryland
9 games: 45 receptions, 498 yards, 6 TD; 4 carries, 77 yards
Christian Guzman, Houston Baptist, Punter, 5-9, 160, Brookshire, Texas
9 games: 46 punts, 42.8-yard average, 61 long, 3 TB, 4 FC, 9 I20, 14 50+
P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State, Defensive End, 6-1, 270, Seguin, Texas
9 games: 53 TT, 22 solo, 16 TFL, 5 sacks, 1 INT, 3 PBU, 1 QBH, 1 FF, 1 BLK
Austin Howard, Southern, Quarterback, 6-0, 190, Edgard, Louisiana
9 games: 119-for-236, 1,675 yards, 14 TD, 7 INT; 48 carries, 156 yards, 3 TD
Mario Jenkins, Idaho State, Linebacker, 6-1, 205, Nampa, Idaho
9 games: 84 TT, 32 solo, 9.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 INT, 3 PBU, 2 QBH, 1 FF, 1 FR
Alex Lakes, Mercer, Running Back, 5-10, 205, Newnan, Georgia
10 games: 170 carries, 981 yards, 5.8 ypc, 13 TD, 98.1 ypg; 3 receptions, 44
yards
Justin Lea, Jacksonville State, Right Tackle, 6-4, 275, Henagar, Alabama
Starter at right tackle for Gamecocks team that is ranked No. 5 nationally in
rushing offense and No. 6 in total offense.
Darius Leonard, South Carolina State, Linebacker, 6-3, 200, Lake View, South
Carolina
8 games: 53 TT, 41 solo, 8 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 PBU, 2 FR, 1 FF
Yedidiah Louis, Sam Houston State, Wide Receiver, 5-8, 187, Richardson, Texas
9 games: 42 receptions, 488 yards, 1 TD; 3 carries, 29 yards
Octayvius Miles, Alabama A&M, Wide Receiver/Kick Returner, 5-10, 165,
Mesquite, Texas
9 games: 10 receptions, 291 yards, 4 TD; 19 kick returns, 25.6-yard average, 1
TD
Jimmy Moreland, James Madison, Cornerback, 5-10, 175, Royal Palm Beach,
Florida
9 games: 34 TT, 24 solo, 3 INT, 6 PBU, 2 FR, 4 BLK
Daniel Riddle, Western Carolina, Linebacker, 6-1, 225, Raleigh, North Carolina
9 games: 62 TT, 27 Solo, 5 TFL, 1.5 SK, 2 FF
Sam Schrader, Butler, Running Back, 5-10, 185, Mishawaka, Indiana
9 games: 64 carries, 561 yards, 8.8 ypg, 9 TD; 11 receptions, 157 yards, 2 TD
James Simms, Towson, Linebacker, 6-3, 190, Laurel, Maryland
9 games: 87 TT, 31 solo, 6 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 3 QBH, 1 FF
Nathan Stone, Duquesne, Linebacker, 5-11, 234, Scottsdale, Pennsylvania
9 games: 69 TT, 31 solo, 6 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 PBU, 2 QBH, 1 FF
Emmett Tela, Weber State, Linebacker, 6-1, 220, Provo, Utah
8 games: 79 TT, 46 solo, 10 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 2 QBH
Lucas Webb, Chattanooga, Free Safety, 6-1, 190, Northport, Alabama
9 games: 38 TT, 23 solo, 0.5 TFL, 4 INT, 1 PBU, 1 FR
Hunter Wells, Youngstown State, Quarterback, 6-5, 195, Navarre, Ohio
7 games: 81-for-127, 1,295 yards, 9 TD, 2 INT
Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State, Wide Receiver, 6-4, 205, Maple Grove,
Minnesota
9 games: 44 receptions, 810 yards, 9 TD, 18.4 ypc; 1 carry, 52 yards
Blaine Woodson, Delaware, Defensive Tackle, 6-2, 270, East Stroudsburg,
Pennsylvania
9 games: 43 TT, 24 solo, 10 TFL, 8.5 sacks, 1 QBH
