There hasn’t been a learning curve for many standout freshmen in the 2024 FCS college football season. The Jerry Rice Award, which will honor the nation’s top freshman, has a rich history since its debut in 2011.
Stats Perform has announced a standout list of 25 finalists for the 2024 Jerry Rice Award, which honors the national freshman player of the year in college football’s Division I FCS subdivision.
The Jerry Rice Award, now in its 14th season, is named after the legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver, who played on the FCS level at Mississippi Valley State. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders.
2024 Jerry Rice Award Finalists
Offense
David Avit, Villanova, RB, 6-0, 220 (CAA Football)
146 carries, 793 yards (5.4 ypc), 9 TDs; 9 receptions, 100 yards (12 games)
CharMar Brown, North Dakota State, RB, 5-11, 224 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
189 carries, 965 yards (5.1 ypc), 14 TDs; 5 receptions, 54 yards (12 games)
Matt Childs, Brown, RB, 6-0, 200 (Ivy League)
91 carries, 361 yards (4.0 ypc), 2 TDs; 29 receptions, 384 yards, 2 TDs (9 games)
Jason Collins Jr., Morgan State, RB, 5-9, 185 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
102 carries, 520 yards (5.1 ypc), 6 TDs; 10 receptions, 54 yards (11 games)
Carson Conklin, Sacramento State, QB, 6-1, 180 (Big Sky Conference)
261 of 419 (62.9%), 2,876 yards, 28 TDs, 8 INTs (12 games)
Taron Dickens, Western Carolina, QB, 5-11, 180 (Southern Conference)
127 of 172 (73.8%), 1,428 yards, 12 TDs, 3 INTs; 56 rush yards, 2 TDs (7 games)
Jaden Green, Lehigh, RB, 5-9, 195 (Patriot League)
118 carries, 693 yards (5.9 ypc), 9 TDs; 9 receptions, 65 yards; 535 KOR yards (11 games)
Steve Hall, Lindenwood, RB, 5-9, 195 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
111 carries, 808 yards (7.3 ypc), 5 TDs; 14 receptions, 83 yards (12 games)
Mark Hamper, Idaho, WR, 6-2, 210 (Big Sky Conference)
41 receptions, 858 yards (20.9 ypc), 5 TDs (12 games)
Malachi Henry, Central Arkansas, WR, 6-1, 185 (United Athletic Conference)
41 receptions, 683 yards (16.7 ypc), 5 TDs (12 games)
Collin Hurst, Presbyterian, QB, 5-10, 165 (Pioneer Football League)
187 of 281 (66.5%), 2,382 yards, 17 TDs, 4 INTs; 175 rush yards, 5 TDs (12 games)
Adam Jones, Montana State, RB, 6-1, 200 (Big Sky Conference)
123 carries, 904 yards (7.3 ypc), 9 TDs; 16 receptions, 150 yards, TD (11 games)
Elijah Owens, Indiana State, QB, 6-2, 225 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
181 of 263 (68.8%), 1,717 yards, 12 TDs, 5 INTs; 645 rush yards, 8 TDs (11 games)
Travis Terrell Jr., Jackson State, RB/Returns, 5-8, 165 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
64 carries, 412 (6.4 ypc), 3 TDs; 13 receptions, 79 yards; 792 return yards, 2 TDs (11 games)
Tariq Thomas, Bucknell, RB, 5-11, 185 (Patriot League)
166 carries, 783 yards (4.7 ypc), 4 TDs; 13 receptions, 71 yards; 133 KOR yards (11 games)
Drew VanVleet, Dayton, QB, 6-5, 205 (Pioneer Football League)
195 of 312 (62.5%), 1,963 yards, 18 TDs, 10 INTs (11 games)
Defense
Josh Anglin, North Alabama, LB, 6-0, 215 (United Athletic Conference)
81 tackles (29 solos), 7 TFL (22 yards), 1.5 sacks (11 yards), 1 FF, 2 QBH, 1 PBU (12 games)
Charles Battaglia, Stonehill, LB, 6-1, 225 (Northeast Conference)
70 tackles (31 solos), 3 TFL (8 yards), 1 FF, 1 INT, 1 PBU (11 games)
C.J. Coombes, Wofford, S, 6-0, 208 (Southern Conference)
88 tackles (59 solos), 5 TFL (23 yards), 1 sack (12 yards), 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT, 2 PBU (12 games)
Sanders Ellis, Tennessee State, LB, 6-2, 225 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
71 tackles (49 solos), 11 TFL (50 yards), 1.5 sacks (21 yards), 1 FR, 1 QBH, 2 PBU (12 games)
Derek Ganter Jr., Eastern Washington, S, 6-0, 188 (Big Sky Conference)
95 tackles (55 solos), 3.5 TFL (15 yards), 1 sack (8 yards), 1 FF, 1 QBH, 4 PBU (12 games)
Christopher Jean, Central Connecticut State, CB, 5-9, 170 (Northeast Conference)
30 tackles (19 solos), 2.5 TFL (6 yards), 2 FF, 4 FR, 3 INTs, 7 PBU (9 games)
Matthew Traynor, Richmond, LB, 6-1, 200 (CAA Football)
64 tackles (48 solos), 4.5 TFL (8 yards), 2 INTs, 3 PBU (12 games)
Andrew Zock, Mercer, DE, 6-2, 250 (Southern Conference)
32 tackles (18 solos), 13.5 TFL (74 yards), 6.5 sacks (56 yards), 2 FF, 15 QBH, 2 PBU (12 games)
Special Teams
Finn Lappin, McNeese, P, 5-11, 178 (Southland Conference)
68 punts, 2,811 yards (41.3 avg.), 68 long, 21 fair catches, 19 I20, 21 50+ (12 games)
True and redshirt freshmen are eligible for the Jerry Rice Award. A player must be considered a freshman by his conference in his first academic year or second if he did not surpass four regular-season games played in the true freshman season (the NCAA redshirt rule).
The Jerry Rice Award recipient, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced on Dec. 4 and honored at the Stats Perform National Awards Banquet on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas.
Other awards at the banquet are the Walter Payton Award (FCS Offensive Player of the Year), Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year), Urban Edge Network HBCU+ Player of the Year and the FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Follow all of our FCS football coverage, including on X, Facebook and Instagram.
