Stats Perform has announced a midseason watch list of 22 FCS players for the 2023 Jerry Rice Award presented by FedEx Ground, which honors the national freshman of the year in college football’s Division I subdivision, with United Athletic Conference (UAC) Football rookie standouts Zach Mitchell (Southern Utah), Aaron Sears (Stephen F. Austin) and Beau Sparks (Utah Tech) all included in the group.
Mitchell ranks among the top receivers in the UAC with 32 receptions (5th) for 416 yards (3rd), 5.3 receptions per game (3rd) and 69.3 receiving yards per game (5th) to go along with his four touchdown receptions (5th) for the Thunderbirds.
Sears, a two-time UAC Freshman of the Week honoree, has amassed 44 tackles for the Lumberjacks including 21 solo stops. He ranks second at SFA for total tackles after posting a career best 15 tackles and first career sack against #20/25 Central Arkansas.
Another UAC Freshman of the Week selection this season, Sparks leads the Trailblazers and is second in the conference with 39 receptions. His 417 yards receiving ranks fourth among UAC wideouts and he tops the league with 6.5 yards per catch. Sparks has four TDs (5th) and averages 69.5 receiving yards per game (3rd).
The Rice Award, now in its 13th season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance and Shedeur Sanders.
To be eligible for the Jerry Rice Award, a player must be considered a freshman by his conference in his first or second academic year without surpassing four games played in the previous academic year – similar to the NCAA’s regular redshirt rule. More players can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner following the regular season.
Jerry Rice Award Watch List
(Includes both true and redshirt freshmen)
Marqui Adams, Delaware State, QB, 6-1, 175 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Camden Coleman, Richmond, QB, 6-3, 220 (CAA Football)
Quincy Craig, Portland State, RB, 5-9, 185 (Big Sky Conference)
Champ Dozier, Houston Christian, RB, 5-8, 180 (Southland Conference)
MJ Flowers, Eastern Illinois, RB, 6-1, 195 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
Syeed Gibbs, Rhode Island, DB, 6-0, 180 (CAA Football)
Eli Gillman, Montana, RB, 6-0, 206 (Big Sky Conference)
Carter Glassmyer, Saint Francis, LB, 6-1, 210 (Northeast Conference)
Malachi Hosley, Penn, RB, 5-10, 185 (Ivy League)
Brendan Jenkins, Samford, WR, 6-1, 200 (Southern Conference)
Jaylon Joseph, Lafayette, DE, 6-2, 240 (Patriot League)
Alex McLaughlin, Northern Arizona, DB, 6-2, 190 (Big Sky Conference)
Mack Mikko, Presbyterian, PK, 5-8, 175 (Pioneer Football League)
Zach Mitchell, Southern Utah, WR, 5-11, 200 (United Athletic Conference)
Connor Moore, Montana State, LT, 6-5, 306 (Big Sky Conference)
Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, LB, 6-3, 230 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Marco Patierno, Elon, LB, 6-0, 225 (CAA Football)
Aaron Sears, Stephen F. Austin, CB, 5-10, 190 (United Athletic Conference)
Beau Sparks, Utah Tech, WR, 5-11, 180 (United Athletic Conference)
Tak Tateoka, St. Thomas, QB, 6-3, 196 (Pioneer Football League)
VJ Wilkins, Campbell, WR, 5-10, 160 (CAA Football)
Ty’Jarian Williams, Mississippi Valley State, QB, 6-3, 240 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
The Rice Award will be presented at the national awards banquet on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas, along with 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) and FedEx Ground Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.