There’s hardly been a learning curve for many standout freshmen in the 2025 FCS college football season. The nation’s top freshman will receive the Jerry Rice Award, which celebrates its 15th anniversary season.
Stats Perform has announced a standout list of 25 finalists for the 2025 Jerry Rice Award, which honors the national freshman player of the year in college football’s Division I FCS subdivision.
The Rice Award, celebrating its 15th anniversary season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, who starred in the FCS at Mississippi Valley State University. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders.
The Jerry Rice Award includes true and redshirt freshmen, and all 13 FCS conferences are represented by a finalist. The recipient, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced on Dec. 3 and honored at the Stats Perform National Awards Show on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jerry Rice Award Finalists – Offense
Braden Atkinson, Mercer, QB, 6-1, 215 (Southern Conference)
250 of 367 (68.1%), 3,448 yards, 34 TDs, 7 INTs, 173.8 pass efficiency; 1 rush TD (10 games)
Chase Bingmon, Prairie View A&M, RB, 5-9, 185 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
143 carries, 857 yards (6.0 ypc), 8 TDs; 17 receptions, 122 yards (11 games)
Rico Bond, Lindenwood, WR, 6-1, 177 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
60 receptions, 694 yards (11.6 ypc), 6 TDs; 51 return yards (12 games)
Jaqai Carter, Robert Morris, WR, 6-0, 160 (NEC Football)
32 receptions, 389 yards (12.2 ypc), 2 TDs; 19 rush yards (12 games)
Landen Clark, Elon, QB, 6-0, 186 (CAA Football)
155 of 277 (56.0%), 2,321 yards, 18 TDs, 8 INTs, 142.0 pass efficiency; 614 rush yards, 11 TDs (12 games)
EJ Colson, UIW, QB, 6-1, 190 (Southland Conference)
210 of 296 (70.9%), 2,142 yards, 16 TDs, 4 INTs, 146.9 pass efficiency; 287 rush yards, 3 TDs (10 games)
Rashawn Cunningham, Charleston Southern, WR, 6-2, 205 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
33 receptions, 604 yards (18.3 ypc), 7 TDs (12 games)
Brooks Davis, Montana, WR, 6-0, 174 (Big Sky Conference)
48 receptions, 611 yards (12.7 ypc), 5 TDs; 23 rush yards, 1 TD (12 games)
Tony Diaz, UTRGV, WR, 5-11, 176 (Southland Conference)
68 receptions, 875 yards, 11 TDs; 13 punt return yards (12 games)
Xai’Shaun Edwards, Houston Christian, RB, 5-9, 195 (Southland Conference)
194 carries, 1,019 yards (5.3 ypc), 12 TDs; 18 receptions, 106 yards; 289 KOR yards (12 games)
Matt Fogler, Colgate, WR, 6-3, 200 (Patriot League)
23 receptions, 413 yards (18.0 ypc), 7 TDs (8 games)
Nick Herman, Drake, RB, 5-11, 190 (Pioneer Football League)
131 carries, 960 yards (7.3 ypc), 6 TDs; 12 receptions 113 yards (11 games)
Andrew Indorf, Towson, QB, 6-1, 195 (CAA Football)
187 of 314 (59.6%), 2,344 yards, 16 TDs, 4 INTs, 136.5 pass efficiency; 108 rush yards (12 games)
Evan James, Furman, WR, 5-11, 170 (Southern Conference)
65 receptions, 796 yards (12.2 ypc), 7 TDs; 72 rush yards, 1 TD (9 games)
Raymond Moore III, Morgan State, QB, 6-4, 180 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
90 of 166 (54.2%), 1,049 yards, 9 TDs, 7 INTs, 116.8 pass efficiency; 414 rush yards, 6 TDs (9 games)
Tre Page III, Tarleton State, RB, 5-9, 180 (United Athletic Conference)
112 carries, 839 yards (7.5 ypc), 7 TDs; 7 receptions, 29 yards (8 games)
Caden Pinnick, UC Davis, QB, 6-0, 200 (Big Sky Conference)
194 of 275 (70.5%), 2,527 yards, 24 TDs, 8 INTs, 170.7 pass efficiency; 312 rush yards, 3 TDs (10 games)
Josh Robinson, Princeton, WR, 5-7, 165 (Ivy League)
46 receptions, 569 yards (12.4 ypc), 2 TDs; 63 PR yards (10 games)
Mitchell Summers, Sacred Heart, RB, 5-7, 155 (FCS Independent)
198 carries, 1,071 yards (5.4 ypc), 12 TDs; 9 receptions, 119 yards (12 games)
Jerry Rice Award Finalists – Defense
Chase Hatton, Marist, S, 5-11, 208 (Pioneer Football League)
89 tackles (40 solos), 5.0 TFL (20 yards), 1 FR, 4 INTs, 3 QBH, 1 PBU (12 games)
Jaiden Haygood, UTRGV, LB, 6-0, 215 (Southland Conference)
102 tackles (45 solos), 2.5 TFL (11 yards), 1.0 sacks (10), 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 QBH, 2 PBU (12 games)
Lamont Lester Jr., Monmouth, DE, 6-2, 230 (CAA Football)
37 tackles (17 solos), 11.5 TFL (84 yards), 9.5 sacks (77), 2 FF, 10 QBH, 1 PBU (12 games)
Darius Malcolm Jr., Wofford, DB, 5-11, 175 (Southern Conference)
76 tackles (48 solos), 4.0 TFL (9 yards), 0.5 sacks (3), 1 QBH, 13 PBU (12 games)
Montreze Smith Jr., Austin Peay, LB, 5-11, 204 (United Athletic Conference)
74 tackles (40 solos), 8.5 TFL (22 yards), 4.0 sacks (10), 1 FF, 3 INTs (1 TD), 1 PBU, 5 QBH (12 games)
Nic Yatsko, Indiana State, DB, 6-1, 200 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
82 tackles (33 solos), 6.0 TFL (17 yards), 1.0 sacks (9), 1 FF, 2 FR, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 5 QBH (11 games)
Also this season, 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), HBCU National Player of the Year and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be presented at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show.
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