Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Quarterbacks Kade Bell of Jacksonville and
Josh Woodrum of Liberty and wide receiver Jameer Jackson of North Dakota joined
the Jerry Rice Award Watch List on Thursday.
The Rice Award honors the national freshman of the year in the Football
Championship Subdivision.
Bell has been Jacksonville's starting quarterback all season, leading the
Dolphins' 6-1 start. Woodrum became Liberty's starter in the Flames' third
game and has been outstanding ever since.
The 6-foot-3 Jackson has become a touchdown-maker for North Dakota.
The Rice Award 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, and will be voted on by a national panel of sports information
and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries
following the regular season. The list will grow to 20 finalists by then.
Nominees for the Jerry Rice Award Watch List:
Vernon Adams, Eastern Washington, Quarterback, 6-0, 180 - The surprise starter
for the Eagles' third game, he entrenched himself a week later by totaling 407
yards of total offense and throwing two of his three touchdown passes in the
final 2:19 of a win over rival Montana. The redshirt freshman has passed for
724 yards and eight touchdowns (with a 141.03 pass efficiency rating) and
rushed for 159 yards for the top-ranked Eagles.
Kade Bell, Jacksonville, Quarterback, 6-1, 185 - The son of Jacksonville head
coach Kerwin Bell surely has made his father proud. Bell has been steady
throughout the season. In his first seven starts, the redshirt freshman
has completed 104-of-173 passes for 1,379 yards with 12 touchdowns and five
interceptions. He had five total touchdowns (four passing, one rushing) in a
win over Morehead State.
Zak Browning, Southern Utah, Linebacker, 5-11, 215 - Browning has been an all-
around force to start his career. Keyed by a career-high 18 tackles against
Montana, Browning ranks fifth nationally at 11.3 per game through the
Thunderbirds' first six games. He also has forced four fumbles, broken up two
passes and been in on 1 1/2 sacks.
Reese Hannon, Furman, Quarterback, 6-2, 201 - Hannon became the Paladins'
starting quarterback in their second game and proceeded to throw four
touchdown passes against Coastal Carolina. Through his first six starts, he
has a 133.28 pass efficiency rating, having completed 105-of-169 passes for
1,291 yards and six touchdowns with four interceptions. He also rushed for a
touchdown against Chattanooga.
Ryan Heaston, Missouri State, Running Back, 5-10, 174 - After earning more
carries, Heaston rushed for 126 yards against Southern Illinois and 148 yards
against South Dakota State. The speedy redshirt freshman has 415 yards on 81
carries and 14 receptions for 166 yards through his first six games.
Telvin Hooks, Tennessee State, Running Back, 5-10, 190 - A redshirt freshman,
Hooks has been a consistent threat in the Tigers' 7-0 start this season. His
season has been highlighted by 108 rushing yards against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
He has totaled 398 yards (on 5.9 yards per carry) and two touchdowns in the
season-opening stretch.
Jacob Huesman, UT-Chattanooga, Quarterback, 6-1, 190 - Huesman has made it
easy for his father, Mocs coach Russ Huesman, to play him often as a redshirt
freshman. The younger Huesman has gone out and performed well, compiling 1,233
yards of total offense in his first six games. He has completed 88-of-134
passes for 870 yards and eight touchdowns with three interceptions. Having
rushed for 166 yards and one touchdown against Jacksonville State, he has 363
yards for the season.
Jameer Jackson, North Dakota, Wide Receiver, 6-3, 233 - Jackson has terrific
size for a wide receiver. He has emerged as a playmaker behind UND standout
Greg Hardin, catching 33 passes for 453 yards and six touchdowns in his first
seven games. Against nationally ranked Northern Arizona, Jackson reeled in six
passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns.
Miles Killebrew, Southern Utah, Strong Safety, 6-3, 201 - Talk about a safety
valve, Killebrew has 46 tackles, including 27 solos, two pass breakups and a
fumble recovery in his first seven games. The redshirt freshman totaled 15
stops in the Thunderbirds' first-ever Big Sky Conference game - a 49-42 win
over Portland State.
Sawyer Kollmorgen, Northern Iowa, Quarterback, 6-2, 215 - UNI has faced some
early season growing pains, but its redshirt freshman signal-caller has held
his own. Through his first six games, Kollmorgen ranks 10th in the FCS in
passing efficiency (151.66), completing 108-of-178 pass attempts for 1,528
yards and 12 touchdowns against three interceptions. He threw for a career-
high 333 yards with three touchdowns against Youngstown State.
T.J. Lally, South Dakota State, Linebacker, 6-0, 225 - Lally broke out for a
four-sack game against UC Davis - the most in SDSU's Division I era - along
with 10 solo tackles and a fumble recovery. Overall, the redshirt freshman has
48 tackles in his first six games, adding one interception, two pass breakups
and one forced fumble to his all-around production.
Trent McKinney, Montana, Quarterback, 6-0, 198 - McKinney has given Montana
some Hawaiian punch this season. The native of Miliani, Hawaii, is a dual-
threat under center. He has completed 125-of-192 pass attempts for 1,277 yards
and eight touchdowns with eight interceptions, while rushing for 379 yards
and seven touchdowns in the Grizzlies' first seven games.
Sean Price, Appalachian State, Wide Receiver, 6-5, 210 - Price already has
drawn comparisons to former ASU great Brian Quick. The redshirt freshman
didn't play in two of the Mountaineers' first three games, but went over 100
receiving yards in three straight games to tie a school record. He has caught
34 passes for 488 yards and six touchdowns in his first five games.
J.J. Raffelson, Western Illinois, Linebacker, 6-3, 235 - Possessing terrific
size for a redshirt freshman, Raffelson is off to a big start to his career.
He has averaged nine tackles through WIU's first six games, which ranks second
nationally among freshman players. He had 13 tackles and a pass breakup
against Illinois State.
Luke Rhodes, William & Mary, Linebacker, 6-2, 230 - It appears all Rhodes
for ball carriers lead to the Tribe's middle linebacker. A redshirt freshman,
Rhodes began his career with 11 tackles against Maryland. Through seven games,
he has 61 tackles, including four for loss, with three pass breakups and one
forced fumble.
Brendon Riddick, Norfolk State, Running Back, 5-11, 210 - Riddick has shared
time in the NSU backfield, but come on strong. In his first seven games,
including three starts, he has rushed for 354 yards and six touchdowns on 65
carries. The redshirt freshman also has another touchdown on seven receptions.
He was the Spartans' scout team quarterback last year, but moved to running
back this past spring.
John Robertson, Villanova, Quarterback, 6-1, 200 - A dual-threat under center,
Robertson has run the surging Wildcats' offense efficiently. The redshirt
freshman has completed 89-of-153 pass attempts for 1,184 yards and six
touchdowns with four interceptions in the Wildcats' 5-2 start. On the ground,
he has rushed for 627 yards (best among freshmen) on 104 carries with eight
touchdowns.
Andre Stubbs, Youngstown State, All-Purpose, 5-6, 160 - Officially Stubbs is
listed at wide receiver, but the redshirt freshman does a little bit of
everything for the Penguins. As a runner, receiver and return specialist, he
has averaged 120 all-purpose yards through his first six games. He collected
172 all-purpose yards and scored two touchdowns in the season-opening win at
Pittsburgh.
Josh Woodrum, Liberty, Quarterback, 6-3, 210 - An accurate passer, Woodrum
came on strong after becoming the starter in the Flames' third game. Through
his first six games, the redshirt freshman ranks fifth nationally with a
162.38 pass efficiency rating, completing 98-of-131 pass attempts for 1,186
yards and seven touchdowns with four interceptions. Included was a 373-yard,
three-touchdown performance against Gardner-Webb.
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