2023 Jerry Rice Award Watch List

[bonarae]

Just 22 of them... xcoffeex

https://theanalyst.com/na/2023/10/22-fcs-freshman-standouts-nominated-to-2023-jerry-rice-award-watch-list/

Marqui Adams, Delaware State, QB, 6-1, 175 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Camden Coleman, Richmond, QB, 6-3, 220 (CAA Football)
Quincy Craig, Portland State, RB, 5-9, 185 (Big Sky Conference)
Champ Dozier, Houston Christian, RB, 5-8, 180 (Southland Conference)
MJ Flowers, Eastern Illinois, RB, 6-1, 195 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
Syeed Gibbs, Rhode Island, DB, 6-0, 180 (CAA Football)
Eli Gillman, Montana, RB, 6-0, 206 (Big Sky Conference)
Carter Glassmyer, Saint Francis, LB, 6-1, 210 (Northeast Conference)
Malachi Hosley, Penn, RB, 5-10, 185 (Ivy League)
Brendan Jenkins, Samford, WR, 6-1, 200 (Southern Conference)
Jaylon Joseph, Lafayette, DE, 6-2, 240 (Patriot League)
Alex McLaughlin, Northern Arizona, DB, 6-2, 190 (Big Sky Conference)
Mack Mikko, Presbyterian, PK, 5-8, 175 (Pioneer Football League)
Zach Mitchell, Southern Utah, WR, 5-11, 200 (United Athletic Conference)
Connor Moore, Montana State, LT, 6-5, 306 (Big Sky Conference)
Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, LB, 6-3, 230 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Marco Patierno, Elon, LB, 6-0, 225 (CAA Football)
Aaron Sears, Stephen F. Austin, CB, 5-10, 190 (United Athletic Conference)
Beau Sparks, Utah Tech, WR, 5-11, 180 (United Athletic Conference)
Tak Tateoka, St. Thomas, QB, 6-3, 196 (Pioneer Football League)
VJ Wilkins, Campbell, WR, 5-10, 160 (CAA Football)
Ty’Jarian Williams, Mississippi Valley State, QB, 6-3, 240 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)

[Redbird 4th & short]

Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, LB, 6-3, 230 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)

We lost top 3 LBers from last year .. Vandenburg graduated and 2 to portal. Then we lost a projected starter this year to season ending injury. So this is the main reason Niekamp is getting a chance to shine as a starter, though he would certainly have gotten reps. Some Montana fans will recall this name .. he is the son of our DC Travis Niekamp, who came over from Montana 6 years ago .. nepotism is alive and well, but he's ours and a local boy now. Obviously he's been a very pleasant surprise with 41 tackles thru 6 games. He redshirted last season, but not sure he even saw the field ... he had zero stats in 2022. He's got a great frame to build on too .. so Spack will put another 5-10 lbs on him the next 3 seasons.