The Jerry Rice Award presented by Stats Perform named its group of 30 standout players to the in-season watch list for honor presented to the FCS freshman player of the year in college football’s Division I subdivision. The prestigious award list included three players from the United Athletic Conference (UAC) as North Alabama's duo of Josh Anglin and Jalen Fletcher along with Southern Utah's Jayden Robertson were recognized.
The Rice Award, now in its 14th season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders.
Anglin, a freshman linebacker, ranks second on the UNA squad with 51 total tackles including 17 solo stops. The three-time UAC Freshman of the Week honoree has recorded a pair of double-digit tackle performances and owns four TFLs on the season.
A freshman running back for the Lions, Fletcher is ranked second on the team with 305 yards rushing on 36 carries for an average of 8.5 yards per carry. He owns a pair of 100+ yard rushiing contests highlighted by a season-best 123 yard effort in an upset win over then No.10 ACU. Fletcher, who has been named UAC Freshman of the Week twice, has scored one rushing touchdown as well as one receiving this year
Robertson, a freshman defensive back, ranks tied for third in the FCS with four interceptions featuring one pick-six. He has six PBUs and 15 total tackles (13 solo) as a key member of the Thunderbirds defensive backline.
To be eligible for the Jerry Rice Award, a player must be considered a freshman by his conference in his first academic year or second if he did not surpass four regular-season games played in the true freshman season (the NCAA redshirt rule). More players can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner following the regular season.
The 2024 Jerry Rice Award recipient will be announced on Dec. 4 and honored at the Stats Perform National Awards Banquet on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas. Other awards at the banquet are 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), Urban Edge Network HBCU+ Player of the Year and FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.