Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – It’s hard not to do a double-take late
in the college football season when you look at players whose work is coming on
strong and then realize they are freshmen.
Three more freshmen joined the Jerry Rice Award Watch List on Thursday for
their continued excellence: The Citadel cornerback Dee Delaney, Prairie
View A&M safety Damond Jackson and Lehigh wide receiver Troy Pelletier.
The Rice Award, now in its fourth season, and named for the legendary wide
receiver who starred collegiately at Mississippi Valley State, honors the top
first-year player on the FCS level of college football, whether a true freshman
or a redshirt freshman.
Delaney’s season has been highlighted by his performance in The Citadel’s Nov.
1 win over Mercer, when he earned the Southern Conference’s defensive player of
the week award. Jackson’s emergence in the secondary has helped Prairie View to
wins in four of its last five games. Pelletier has been named the Patriot
League Rookie of the Week each of the past two weeks, including for his 10-
reception, 214-yard game for Lehigh this past weekend.
The Jerry 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
9 games: 60 TT, 46 solo, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 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
—
Dee Delaney, The Citadel, Cornerback, 6-1, 185, Seabrook, South Carolina
10 games: 41 TT, 31 solo, 3 TFL, 2 INT, 2 PBU
—
Chase Edmonds, Fordham, Running Back/Kick Returner, 5-9, 185, Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania
10 games: 228 carries, 1,425 yards, 6.2 ypc, 20 TD, 142.5 ypg; 11 receptions,
92 yards, 1 TD; 20.6-yard KO return average; 186.7 all-purpose ypg
—
Josh Gontarek, Albany, Wide Receiver/Return Specialist, 5-11, 170, Mt. Airy,
Maryland
10 games: 51 receptions, 616 yards, 8 TD; 4 carries, 77 yards
—
Christian Guzman, Houston Baptist, Punter, 5-9, 160, Brookshire, Texas
10 games: 57 punts, 43.6-yard average, 68 long, 3 TB, 4 FC, 11 I20, 19 50+
—
P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State, Defensive End, 6-1, 270, Seguin, Texas
10 games: 56 TT, 24 solo, 17 TFL, 6 sacks, 1 INT, 5 PBU, 2 QBH, 1 FF, 1 BLK
—
Austin Howard, Southern, Quarterback, 6-0, 190, Edgard, Louisiana
10 games: 134-for-261, 1,852 yards, 14 TD, 7 INT; 53 carries, 173 yards, 4 TD
—
Damond Jackson, Prairie View A&M, Safety, 6-0, 195, New Orleans
9 games: 76 TT, 35 solo, 5.5 TFL, 0.5 sack, 1 INT, 5 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF
—
Mario Jenkins, Idaho State, Linebacker, 6-1, 205, Nampa, Idaho
10 games: 98 TT, 37 solo, 10 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 INT, 4 PBU, 4 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. 4 nationally in
rushing offense and No. 7 in total offense.
—
Darius Leonard, South Carolina State, Linebacker, 6-3, 200, Lake View, South
Carolina
9 games: 67 TT, 54 solo, 11 TFL, 5 sacks, 1 PBU, 2 QBH, 2 FR, 2 FF
—
Yedidiah Louis, Sam Houston State, Wide Receiver, 5-8, 187, Richardson, Texas
10 games: 45 receptions, 547 yards, 1 TD; 3 carries, 29 yards
—
Jimmy Moreland, James Madison, Cornerback, 5-10, 175, Royal Palm Beach, Florida
10 games: 36 TT, 25 solo, 3 INT, 6 PBU, 2 FR, 4 BLK
—
Troy Pelletier, Lehigh, Wide Receiver, 6-3, 190, Deerfield, New Hampshire
8 games: 39 receptions, 701 yards, 6 TD; 5 carries, 34 yards, 1 TD
—
Daniel Riddle, Western Carolina, Linebacker, 6-1, 225, Raleigh, North Carolina
10 games: 62 TT, 27 solo, 5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 2 FF
—
Sam Schrader, Butler, Running Back, 5-10, 185, Mishawaka, Indiana
10 games: 74 carries, 604 yards, 8.2 ypg, 9 TD; 11 receptions, 157 yards, 2 TD
—
James Simms, Towson, Linebacker, 6-3, 190, Laurel, Maryland
10 games: 94 TT, 38 solo, 6 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 3 QBH, 1 FF
—
Nathan Stone, Duquesne, Linebacker, 5-11, 234, Scottsdale, Pennsylvania
10 games: 81 TT, 40 solo, 7 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 PBU, 2 QBH, 1 FF
—
Lucas Webb, Chattanooga, Free Safety, 6-1, 190, Northport, Alabama
10 games: 47 TT, 30 solo, 1.5 TFL, 5 INT, 1 PBU, 1 FR
—
Hunter Wells, Youngstown State, Quarterback, 6-5, 195, Navarre, Ohio
8 games: 95-for-153, 1,531 yards, 11 TD, 3 INT
—
Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State, Wide Receiver, 6-4, 205, Maple Grove,
Minnesota
10 games: 50 receptions, 982 yards, 11 TD, 19.6 ypc; 1 carry, 52 yards
—
Blaine Woodson, Delaware, Defensive Tackle, 6-2, 270, East Stroudsburg,
Pennsylvania
10 games: 46 TT, 26 solo, 10 TFL, 8.5 sacks, 1 QBH
