Franklin Finishes 9th in Jerry Rice Award Balloting

Franklin Finishes 9th in Jerry Rice Award Balloting

Complete Jerry Rice Award Release and Voting Totals

In results of voting for the 2022 Jerry Rice Award, presented by Stats Perform to the FCS National Freshman of the Year, UT Martin redshirt freshman Sam Franklin finished in a three-way tie for ninth place among the 25 finalists.

The award, first presented in 2011, is named after the legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver and former FCS All-American and will be presented at the FCS Awards Banquet January 7 in Frisco, Texas – on the eve of the national championship game. No OVC player has ever won the award.

The award was voted on by a 54-member, national media panel after the regular season. The winner of the award was Idaho quarterback Gevani McCoy.

Franklin received 17 total points with two third-place, four fourth-place and three fifth-place votes.

Franklin, the 2022 OVC Freshman of the Year was part of a two-headed rushing attack for UT Martin, spelling first-team All-OVC selection Zak Wallace for a change of pace. During the regular season he ranked fifth in the OVC in total rushing yards (676) despite having almost 25 less carries than any player who ranked ahead of him. He finished the season with 85 rushes to average 8.0 yards/carry, while scoring eight touchdowns and also catching 12 passes for 55 yards. Franklin scored a season-best three touchdowns in a win over Lindenwood, and added two scores and a season-high 157 rushing yards against Murray State. He also had 139 rushing yards in a win at Houston Christian.