Philadelphia, PA – The 20 finalists for the 2012 Jerry Rice Award must think they are playing a video game.
And they're starring in it.
The group's impressive statistics in the regular season almost don't seem real for first-year players. As a result, each is hoping to be honored with the national freshman of the year award in the Football Championship Subdivision.
The list was finalized Monday with the addition of Delaware State safety Terrick Colston, Southern Utah defensive end James Cowser and Cornell running back Luke Hagy.
The Rice Award, in its second year, is named for legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice, who was a two-time first-team All-American in the FCS (then Division I- AA) at Mississippi Valley State. The award will be voted on by a national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries this week, and presented at the FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation on Dec. 17 in Philadelphia.
The 20 finalists for the Jerry Rice Award:
Vernon Adams, Eastern Washington, Quarterback, 6-0, 180
10 games: 57 carries, 308 yards, 1 TD; 116-of-186, 1,581 yards, 14 TD, 6 INT, 152.15 passing efficiency; 188.9 ypg of total offense
Zak Browning, Southern Utah, Linebacker, 5-11, 215
10 games: 115 tackles (69 solo) - 11.5 tpg, 5.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 3 PBU, 1 FR, 4 FF
Terrick Colston, Delaware State, Safety, 6-1, 180
11 games: 95 tackles (46 solo) - 8.6 tpg, 2.5 TFL, 3 INT, 5 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF, 1 TD
James Cowser, Southern Utah, Defensive End, 6-4, 244
11 games: 61 tackles (32 solo), 13.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 5 QBH, 1 FR, 1 FF
Luke Hagy, Cornell, Running Back, 6-0, 186
10 games: 118 carries, 528 yards, 7 TD; 48 receptions, 513 yards, 2 TD
Reese Hannon, Furman, Quarterback, 6-2, 201
10 games: 160-of-260, 1,896 yards, 7 TD, 8 INT, 125.52 passing efficiency; 184.6 ypg of total offense
Jacob Huesman, Chattanooga, Quarterback, 6-1, 190
11 games: 195 carries, 904 yards, 7 TD; 167-for-256, 1,707 yards, 13 TD, 5 INT, 134.10 passing efficiency; 237.4 ypg of total offense
Jake Hutson, Valparaiso, Running Back, 5-6, 180
11 games: 152 carries, 753 yards, 8 TD; 35 receptions, 266 yards; 1,216 all- purpose yards (110.6 per game)
Jameer Jackson, North Dakota, Wide Receiver, 6-3, 233
11 games: 56 receptions, 709 yards, 6 TD, 12.7 ypc, 64.5 ypg
Sawyer Kollmorgen, Northern Iowa, Quarterback, 6-2, 215
11 games: 185-of-313, 2,450 yards, 21 TD, 8 INT, 141.88 passing effiency; 228.4 ypg of total offense
T.J. Lally, South Dakota State, Linebacker, 6-0, 225
11 games: 89 tackles (63 solo) - 8.1 tpg, 8 TFL, 6 sacks, 2 INT, 2 QBH, 1 FR, 2 FF
Scott Lathrop, Southeast Missouri State, Quarterback, 5-10, 175
11 games: 211 carries, 824 yards, 7 TD; 91-for-158, 1,025 yards, 7 TD, 5 INT; 168.1 ypg of total offense
Kieran McDonagh, Portland State, Quarterback, 6-1, 240
11 games: 171-of-314, 2,192 yards, 14 TD, 13 INT, 119.53 passing efficiency; 89 carries, 406 yards, 9 TD; 236.2 ypg of total offense
Sean Price, Appalachian State, Wide Receiver, 6-5, 210
9 games: 68 receptions, 1,029 yards, 8 TD, 15.1 ypc, 114.3 ypg
J.J. Raffelson, Western Illinois, Linebacker, 6-3, 235
11 games: 105 tackles (41 solo) - 9.5 tpg, 4 TFL, 2 PBU
Luke Rhodes, William & Mary, Linebacker, 6-2, 230
11 games: 72 tackles (31 solo), 4 TFL, 3 PBU, 1 QBH, 1 FF
Elandon Roberts, Morgan State, Linebacker, 6-1, 225
11 games: 107 tackles (59 solo) - 9.7 tpg, 8.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 2 QBH
John Robertson, Villanova, Quarterback, 6-1, 200
11 games: 174 carries, 936 yards, 13 TD; 137-of-222, 1,830 yards, 14 TD, 5 INT, 147.26 passing efficiency; 251.5 ypg of total offense
Jeff Williams, Delaware, Linebacker, 6-2, 210
10 games: 61 tackles (36 solo), 14 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 3 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF
Josh Woodrum, Liberty, Quarterback, 6-3, 210
11 games: 183-of-267 (68.5 percent), 1,966 yards, 11 TD, 9 INT, 137.24 passing effiency; 178.5 ypg of total offense
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