30 outstanding FCS freshmen on the Jerry Rice Award watch list

For many standout rookies, there was little learning curve in the 2024 FCS college football season. The best freshman in the country will be honored with the 14th annual Jerry Rice Award at the FCS National Awards Banquet in early January.

A stellar list of 30 players have been named to the Stats Perform 2024 Jerry Rice Award Season Watch List, which honors the FCS Freshman of the Year in college football's Division I.

The Rice Award, now in its 14th season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Previous receivers include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders.

Players joining the Jerry Rice Award watch list, which includes both true and redshirt freshmen:

Josh Anglin, North Alabama, LB, 6-0, 215, Buford, Georgia (United Athletic Conference)

David Avit, Villanova, RB, 6-0, 220, Potomac, Maryland (CAA Football)

Charles Battaglia, Stonehill, LB, 6-1, 225, Massapequa, New York (Northeast Conference)

CharMar Brown, North Dakota State, RB, 5-11, 224, Omaha, Nebraska (Missouri Valley Football Conference)

Matt Childs, Brown, RB, 6-0, 200, Medway, Massachusetts (Ivy League)

Jason Collins Jr., Morgan State, RB, 5-9, 185, Washington, DC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)

Carson ConklinSacramento State, QB, 6-1, 180, Yorba Linda, California (Big Sky Conference)

CJ Coombes, Wofford, S, 6-0, 208, Bellefonte, Delaware (Southern Conference)

Sanders Ellis, Tennessee State, LB, 6-2, 225, Nashville (Big South-OVC Football Association)

Jalen Fletcher, North Alabama, RB, 5-7, 175, Trinity, Alabama (United Athletic Conference)

Derek Ganter Jr., Eastern Washington, S, 6-0, 188, Pasadena, Calif. (Big Sky Conference)

Steve HallLindenwood, RB, 5-9, 195, St. Louis (Big South-OVC Football Association)

Trey Hedden, Furman, QB, 6-3, 231, Tampa, Florida (Southern Conference)

Jamarie Hostzclaw, Alabama State, RB, 5-9, 176, North Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (Southwestern Athletic Conference)

Collin Hurst, Presbyterian, QB, 5-10, 165, Davie, Florida (Pioneer Football League)

Adam JonesMontana State, RB, 6-1, 200, Missoula, Montana (Big Sky Conference)

Ayden Jones, Prairie View A&M, LB, 6-2, 215, Houston (Southwestern Athletic Conference)

Finn Lappin, McNeese, P, 5-11, 178, Melbourne, Australia (Southland Conference)

Cole Nilles, Bryant, LB, 6-4, 252, Philadelphia (CAA Football)

Elijah Owens, Indiana State, QB, 6-2, 225, Jacksonville, Illinois (Missouri Valley Football Conference)

AJ PigfordPrinceton, DE, 6-3, 230, Snellville, Georgia (Ivy League)

Brennan RidleyHampton, WR, 5-11, 177, Richmond, Va. (CAA Football)

Jayden Robertson, Southern Utah, CB, 5-10, 180, Henderson, Nevada (United Athletic Conference)

Isaac Saffold, Georgetown, DE, 6-1, 285, Chicago (Patriot League)

Travis Terrell Jr., Jackson State, RB/Returns, 5-8, 165, Atlanta (Southwestern Athletic Conference)

Tariq Thomas, Bucknell, RB, 5-11, 185, Springfield, Massachusetts (Patriot League)

T.J. Thomas Jr., Elon, RB, 5-8, 181, Thomasville, Georgia (CAA Football)

Drew VanVleet, Dayton, QB, 6-5, 205, Richmond, Indiana (Pioneer Football League)

Jack Wagner, Idaho, QB, 6-4, 190, Tualatin, Oregon (Big Sky Conference)

Dallas Winner JohnsonMissouri State, LB, 6-5, 230, St. Louis (Missouri Valley Football Conference)

To be eligible for the Jerry Rice Award, a player must be designated a freshman by his conference in his first or second academic year if he has not played more than four regular season games in the true freshman season (the NCAA redshirt rule) . Additional players may be added to the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner after the regular season.

The 2024 Jerry Rice Award recipient will be announced on December 4th and honored at the Stats Perform National Awards Banquet on January 4th in Frisco, Texas. Other awards at the banquet include the Walter Payton Award (FCS Offensive Player of the Year), the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year), the Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year) and the Urban Edge Network HBCU+ Player of the Year and FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

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