Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - An impressive 11 different positions were represented among the 25 Jerry Rice Award finalists when voting began on Monday.
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.
A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries select the Rice Award. The winner will be announced Dec. 15 at The Sports Network FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation.
The Rice Award has been a barometer for FCS greatness. The first three winners have been former Towson running back Terrance West (2011), now with the Cleveland Browns, and two 2014 Walter Payton Award finalists for FCS player of the year, Villanova quarterback John Robertson (2012) and Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp (2013).
The Sports Network FCS Awards package is located at http://tinyurl.com/n5ysh8x.
The 2014 Jerry Rice Award finalists:
Arron Baker, Alcorn State, Running Back, 5-10, 235, Belle Glade, Florida
12 games: 101 carries, 682 yards, 6.6 ypc, 13 TD
Mike Basile, Monmouth, Safety, 6-1, 185, Brick, New Jersey
11 games: 78 TT, 59 Solo, 4 TFL, 1 SK, 4 INT, 5 PBU
De'Andre Brown, Abilene Christian, Running Back, 5-9, 190, Lewisville, Texas
10 games: 137 carries, 962 yards, 7.0 ypc, 9 TD; 12 receptions, 91 yards; 123.8 all-purpose ypg
Al Cobb, VMI, Quarterback, 6-3, 190, Pulaski, Tennessee
12 games: 269-for-438 (61.4 percent), 2,971 yards, 20 TD, 10 INT, 128.9 passing efficiency, 247.6 ypg; 56 carries, 124 yards, 2 TD
Chandler Curtis, Mercer, Wide Receiver/Return Specialist, 5-10, 186, Calhoun, Georgia
12 games: 5 carries, 92 yards, 1 TD; 28 receptions, 564 yards, 5 TD; 17 kick returns, 29.6-yard average, 1 TD; 11 punt returns, 24.6-yard average, 3 TD; 119.2 all-purpose ypg
Chase Edmonds, Fordham, Running Back/Kick Returner, 5-9, 185, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
12 games: 252 carries, 1,539 yards, 6.1 ypc, 21 TD, 128.2 ypg; 15 receptions, 97 yards, 1 TD; 17 kick returns, 20.6-yard KO return average; 165.5 all-purpose ypg
Josh Gontarek, Albany, Wide Receiver/Return Specialist, 5-11, 170, Mt. Airy, Maryland
12 games: 58 receptions, 687 yards, 8 TD; 6 carries, 92 yards; 7 KO returns, 15.7-yard average; 76.6 all-purpose ypg
Christian Guzman, Houston Baptist, Punter, 5-9, 160, Brookshire, Texas
11 games: 67 punts, 44.1-yard average, 68 long, 4 TB, 5 FC, 14 I20, 23 50+
P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State, Defensive End, 6-1, 270, Seguin, Texas
12 games: 60 TT, 27 Solo, 19 TFL, 8 SK, 1 INT, 5 PBU, 2 QBH, 2 FF, 3 BLK
Austin Howard, Southern, Quarterback, 6-0, 190, Edgard, Louisiana
11 games: 139-for-272 (51.1 percent), 1,924 yards, 14 TD, 7 INT, 122.4 passing efficiency; 56 carries, 161 yards, 4 TD
Damond Jackson, Prairie View A&M, Safety, 6-0, 195, New Orleans
10 games: 80 TT, 36 Solo, 5.5 TFL, 0.5 SK, 1 INT, 5 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF
Mario Jenkins, Idaho State, Linebacker, 6-1, 205, Nampa, Idaho
12 games: 120 TT, 48 Solo, 10.5 TFL, 2 SK, 3 INT, 4 PBU, 5 QBH, 1 FF, 1 FR
Alex Lakes, Mercer, Running Back, 5-10, 205, Newnan, Georgia
12 games: 200 carries, 1,107 yards, 5.5 ypc, 17 TD, 92.2 ypg; 4 receptions, 40 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. 4 in total offense with only 14 sacks allowed in 11 games
Darius Leonard, South Carolina State, Linebacker, 6-3, 200, Lake View, South Carolina
11 games: 86 TT, 72 Solo, 14 TFL, 5 SK, 1 PBU, 5 QBH, 2 FR, 2 FF
Jimmy Moreland, James Madison, Cornerback, 5-10, 175, Royal Palm Beach, Florida
12 games: 43 TT, 27 Solo, 1.5 TFL, 3 INT, 10 PBU, 2 FR, 5 BLK
Troy Pelletier, Lehigh, Wide Receiver, 6-3, 190, Deerfield, New Hampshire
10 games: 49 receptions, 815 yards, 7 TD; 12 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD
Daniel Riddle, Western Carolina, Linebacker, 6-1, 225, Raleigh, North Carolina
12 games: 74 TT, 35 Solo, 5 TFL, 1.5 SK, 2 PBU, 1 QBH, 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; 81 all-purpose ypg
James Simms, Towson, Linebacker, 6-3, 190, Laurel, Maryland
11 games: 99 TT, 42 Solo, 7 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 3 QBH, 1 FF
Nathan Stone, Duquesne, Linebacker, 5-11, 234, Scottsdale, Pennsylvania
12 games: 100 TT, 53 Solo, 8 TFL, 3 SK, 3 PBU, 3 QBH, 1 FF
Lucas Webb, Chattanooga, Free Safety, 6-1, 190, Northport, Alabama
12 games: 53 TT, 35 Solo, 2.5 TFL, 5 INT, 1 PBU, 1 FR
Hunter Wells, Youngstown State, Quarterback, 6-5, 195, Navarre, Ohio
10 games: 121-for-202 (59.9 percent), 1,772 yards, 14 TD, 7 INT, 149.5 passing efficiency; 1 rushing TD
Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State, Wide Receiver, 6-4, 205, Maple Grove, Minnesota
12 games: 66 receptions, 1,318 yards, 15 TD, 20.0 ypc; 1 carry, 52 yards
Blaine Woodson, Delaware, Defensive Tackle, 6-2, 270, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
12 games: 51 TT, 28 Solo, 11 TFL, 8.5 SK, 1 QBH, 1 BLK
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