• Complete Jerry Rice Award Watch List Release
A pair of Ohio Valley Conference football players are among 22 players nationally named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List by Stats Perform. The award is presented to the national freshman of the year in college football’s Division I subdivision.
The OVC selections were Austin Peay wide receiver
Drae McCray and Southeast Missouri linebacker
Bryce Norman.
McCray has seemed all seven games, catching 33 passes for 417 yards and two touchdowns. He ranks third in the OVC in receptions/game (4.7) and fourth in receiving yards/game (59.6). He had five catches for 87 yards and a touchdown in a win over nationally-ranked Chattanooga in the season-opener and added eight at Eastern Kentucky.
Norman did not move into the starting lineup until the fifth game of the season but currently leads SEMO with 55 tackles (27 solo) in eight games. He has 7.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, three quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles. His three forced fumbles ranks him fifth nationally while his 6.9 tackles/game is tied for sixth in the OVC.
The Rice Award, now in its 11th season, is named for the legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver. Past recipients include Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington), Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds (Fordham) and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (North Dakota State).
To be eligible for the Rice Award, a freshman can’t have surpassed four games played in one previous academic year – similar to the NCAA’s regular redshirt rule. More players can join the watch list before a 50-member, national media panel selects the winner following the regular season.
Also this season, Stats Perform will present 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 Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
2021 Jerry Rice Award Watch List
Quarterbacks
Demeatric Crenshaw, Youngstown State (MVFC)
Zevi Eckhaus, Bryant (NEC)
RJ Martinez, Northern Arizona (Big Sky)
Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State (SWAC)
Running Backs
Elijah Burris, Hampton (Big South)
Kobe Dillon, Southern (SWAC)
Darius Hale, Central Arkansas (ASUN)
Sy’Veon Wilkerson, Delaware State (MEAC)
Wide Receivers
Nate Bennett, Portland State (Big Sky)
Jacari Carter, Merrimack (NEC)
Drae McCray, Austin Peay (OVC)
Jalyn Witcher, Presbyterian (Pioneer)
Defensive Linemen
Thor Griffith, Harvard (Ivy)
Josiah Silver, New Hampshire (CAA)
Linebackers
James Conway, Fordham (Patriot)
Rodney Dansby, Houston Baptist (Southland)
Tyler King, Stony Brook (CAA)
Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri (OVC)
Defensive Backs
Marsean Fisher, Tarleton (WAC)
Andreas Keaton, Western Carolina (Southern)
Dominick Poole, The Citadel (Southern)
Placekickers
Blake Gessner, Montana State (Big Sky)