Freshman duo join Jerry Rice Award Watch List

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

Categorized in: NCAA Football