Trio nominated to Jerry Rice Award Watch List

Nov 13, 2014 - 4:09 PM Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - It's hard not to do a double-take late in the college football season when you look at players whose work is coming on strong and then realize they are freshmen.

Three more freshmen joined the Jerry Rice Award Watch List on Thursday for their continued excellence: The Citadel cornerback Dee Delaney, Prairie View A&M safety Damond Jackson and Lehigh wide receiver Troy Pelletier.

The Rice Award, now in its fourth season, and named for the legendary wide receiver who starred collegiately at Mississippi Valley State, honors the top first-year player on the FCS level of college football, whether a true freshman or a redshirt freshman.

Delaney's season has been highlighted by his performance in The Citadel's Nov. 1 win over Mercer, when he earned the Southern Conference's defensive player of the week award. Jackson's emergence in the secondary has helped Prairie View to wins in four of its last five games. Pelletier has been named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week each of the past two weeks, including for his 10- reception, 214-yard game for Lehigh this past weekend.

The Jerry Rice Award winner will be announced at The Sports Network FCS Awards Presentation Dec. 15 in Philadelphia.

The Jerry Rice Award Watch List:

Mike Basile, Monmouth, Safety, 6-1, 185, Brick, New Jersey

9 games: 60 TT, 46 solo, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 3 INT, 4 PBU

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Al Cobb, VMI, Quarterback, 6-3, 190, Pulaski, Tennessee

10 games: 223-for-350 (63.7 percent), 2,254 yards, 16 TD, 8 INT; 128.3 passing efficiency, 225.4 ypg; 2 rush TD

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Chandler Curtis, Mercer, Wide Receiver/Return Specialist, 5-10, 186, Calhoun, Georgia

10 games: 3 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD; 23 receptions, 455 yards, 4 TD; 13 kick returns, 27.1-yard average, 1 TD; 9 punt returns, 28.8-yard average, 3 TD; 112.2 all-purpose ypg

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Dee Delaney, The Citadel, Cornerback, 6-1, 185, Seabrook, South Carolina

10 games: 41 TT, 31 solo, 3 TFL, 2 INT, 2 PBU

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Chase Edmonds, Fordham, Running Back/Kick Returner, 5-9, 185, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

10 games: 228 carries, 1,425 yards, 6.2 ypc, 20 TD, 142.5 ypg; 11 receptions, 92 yards, 1 TD; 20.6-yard KO return average; 186.7 all-purpose ypg

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Josh Gontarek, Albany, Wide Receiver/Return Specialist, 5-11, 170, Mt. Airy, Maryland

10 games: 51 receptions, 616 yards, 8 TD; 4 carries, 77 yards

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Christian Guzman, Houston Baptist, Punter, 5-9, 160, Brookshire, Texas

10 games: 57 punts, 43.6-yard average, 68 long, 3 TB, 4 FC, 11 I20, 19 50+

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P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State, Defensive End, 6-1, 270, Seguin, Texas

10 games: 56 TT, 24 solo, 17 TFL, 6 sacks, 1 INT, 5 PBU, 2 QBH, 1 FF, 1 BLK

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Austin Howard, Southern, Quarterback, 6-0, 190, Edgard, Louisiana

10 games: 134-for-261, 1,852 yards, 14 TD, 7 INT; 53 carries, 173 yards, 4 TD

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Damond Jackson, Prairie View A&M, Safety, 6-0, 195, New Orleans

9 games: 76 TT, 35 solo, 5.5 TFL, 0.5 sack, 1 INT, 5 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF

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Mario Jenkins, Idaho State, Linebacker, 6-1, 205, Nampa, Idaho

10 games: 98 TT, 37 solo, 10 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 INT, 4 PBU, 4 QBH, 1 FF, 1 FR

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Alex Lakes, Mercer, Running Back, 5-10, 205, Newnan, Georgia

10 games: 170 carries, 981 yards, 5.8 ypc, 13 TD, 98.1 ypg; 3 receptions, 44 yards

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Justin Lea, Jacksonville State, Right Tackle, 6-4, 275, Henagar, Alabama

Starter at right tackle for Gamecocks team that is ranked No. 4 nationally in rushing offense and No. 7 in total offense.

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Darius Leonard, South Carolina State, Linebacker, 6-3, 200, Lake View, South Carolina

9 games: 67 TT, 54 solo, 11 TFL, 5 sacks, 1 PBU, 2 QBH, 2 FR, 2 FF

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Yedidiah Louis, Sam Houston State, Wide Receiver, 5-8, 187, Richardson, Texas

10 games: 45 receptions, 547 yards, 1 TD; 3 carries, 29 yards

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Jimmy Moreland, James Madison, Cornerback, 5-10, 175, Royal Palm Beach, Florida

10 games: 36 TT, 25 solo, 3 INT, 6 PBU, 2 FR, 4 BLK

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Troy Pelletier, Lehigh, Wide Receiver, 6-3, 190, Deerfield, New Hampshire

8 games: 39 receptions, 701 yards, 6 TD; 5 carries, 34 yards, 1 TD

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Daniel Riddle, Western Carolina, Linebacker, 6-1, 225, Raleigh, North Carolina

10 games: 62 TT, 27 solo, 5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 2 FF

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Sam Schrader, Butler, Running Back, 5-10, 185, Mishawaka, Indiana

10 games: 74 carries, 604 yards, 8.2 ypg, 9 TD; 11 receptions, 157 yards, 2 TD

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James Simms, Towson, Linebacker, 6-3, 190, Laurel, Maryland

10 games: 94 TT, 38 solo, 6 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 3 QBH, 1 FF

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Nathan Stone, Duquesne, Linebacker, 5-11, 234, Scottsdale, Pennsylvania

10 games: 81 TT, 40 solo, 7 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 PBU, 2 QBH, 1 FF

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Lucas Webb, Chattanooga, Free Safety, 6-1, 190, Northport, Alabama

10 games: 47 TT, 30 solo, 1.5 TFL, 5 INT, 1 PBU, 1 FR

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Hunter Wells, Youngstown State, Quarterback, 6-5, 195, Navarre, Ohio

8 games: 95-for-153, 1,531 yards, 11 TD, 3 INT

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Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State, Wide Receiver, 6-4, 205, Maple Grove, Minnesota

10 games: 50 receptions, 982 yards, 11 TD, 19.6 ypc; 1 carry, 52 yards

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Blaine Woodson, Delaware, Defensive Tackle, 6-2, 270, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

10 games: 46 TT, 26 solo, 10 TFL, 8.5 sacks, 1 QBH