BALTIMORE, Md. – Morgan State linebacker Elandon Roberts was named a finalist for one of the Sports Network's top national awards. Roberts is one of 20 finalists for the Jerry Rice Award which goes to the top FCS freshman.
Roberts, who posted a season-high 19 tackles last Saturday against Hampton, was recently named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week for the third time this season.
Roberts had a special year for the Bears. He entered the season in a starting linebacker role and proved to be one of the best defensive players on the team. In 11 career starts, the Port Arthur, Texas product recorded 107 tackles (Ranked in No. 2 in the MEAC) to go along with 8.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Roberts' 107 tackles is the most by a Bear since the 2009 season when George Howard collected 130 tackles as a senior linebacker.
The Rice Award, in its second year, 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. The award will be voted on by a national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries this week, and presented at the FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation on Dec. 17 in Philadelphia.
The 20 finalists for the Jerry Rice Award:
Vernon Adams, Eastern Washington, Quarterback, 6-0, 180
10 games: 57 carries, 308 yards, 1 TD; 116-of-186, 1,581 yards, 14 TD, 6 INT, 152.15 passing efficiency; 188.9 ypg of total offense
Zak Browning, Southern Utah, Linebacker, 5-11, 215
10 games: 115 tackles (69 solo) - 11.5 tpg, 5.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 3 PBU, 1 FR, 4 FF
Terrick Colston, Delaware State, Safety, 6-1, 180
11 games: 95 tackles (46 solo) - 8.6 tpg, 2.5 TFL, 3 INT, 5 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF, 1 TD
James Cowser, Southern Utah, Defensive End, 6-4, 244
11 games: 61 tackles (32 solo), 13.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 5 QBH, 1 FR, 1 FF
Luke Hagy, Cornell, Running Back, 6-0, 186
10 games: 118 carries, 528 yards, 7 TD; 48 receptions, 513 yards, 2 TD
Reese Hannon, Furman, Quarterback, 6-2, 201
10 games: 160-of-260, 1,896 yards, 7 TD, 8 INT, 125.52 passing efficiency; 184.6 ypg of total offense
Jacob Huesman, Chattanooga, Quarterback, 6-1, 190
11 games: 195 carries, 904 yards, 7 TD; 167-for-256, 1,707 yards, 13 TD, 5 INT, 134.10 passing efficiency; 237.4 ypg of total offense
Jake Hutson, Valparaiso, Running Back, 5-6, 180
11 games: 152 carries, 753 yards, 8 TD; 35 receptions, 266 yards; 1,216 all-purpose yards (110.6 per game)
Jameer Jackson, North Dakota, Wide Receiver, 6-3, 233
11 games: 56 receptions, 709 yards, 6 TD, 12.7 ypc, 64.5 ypg
Sawyer Kollmorgen, Northern Iowa, Quarterback, 6-2, 215
11 games: 185-of-313, 2,450 yards, 21 TD, 8 INT, 141.88 passing efficiency; 228.4 ypg of total offense
T.J. Lally, South Dakota State, Linebacker, 6-0, 225
11 games: 89 tackles (63 solo) - 8.1 tpg, 8 TFL, 6 sacks, 2 INT, 2 QBH, 1 FR, 2 FF
Scott Lathrop, Southeast Missouri State, Quarterback, 5-10, 175
11 games: 211 carries, 824 yards, 7 TD; 91-for-158, 1,025 yards, 7 TD, 5 INT; 168.1 ypg of total offense
Kieran McDonagh, Portland State, Quarterback, 6-1, 240
11 games: 171-of-314, 2,192 yards, 14 TD, 13 INT, 119.53 passing efficiency; 89 carries, 406 yards, 9 TD; 236.2 ypg of total offense
Sean Price, Appalachian State, Wide Receiver, 6-5, 210
9 games: 68 receptions, 1,029 yards, 8 TD, 15.1 ypc, 114.3 ypg
J.J. Raffelson, Western Illinois, Linebacker, 6-3, 235
11 games: 105 tackles (41 solo) - 9.5 tpg, 4 TFL, 2 PBU
Luke Rhodes, William & Mary, Linebacker, 6-2, 230
11 games: 72 tackles (31 solo), 4 TFL, 3 PBU, 1 QBH, 1 FF
Elandon Roberts, Morgan State, Linebacker, 6-1, 225
11 games: 107 tackles (59 solo) - 9.7 tpg, 8.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 2 QBH
John Robertson, Villanova, Quarterback, 6-1, 200
11 games: 174 carries, 936 yards, 13 TD; 137-of-222, 14 TD, 5 INT, 147.26 passing efficiency; 251.5 ypg of total offense
Jeff Williams, Delaware, Linebacker, 6-2, 210
10 games: 61 tackles (36 solo), 14 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 3 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF
Josh Woodrum, Liberty, Quarterback, 6-3, 210
11 games: 183-of-267 (68.5 percent), 1,966 yards, 11 TD, 9 INT, 137.24 passing efficiency; 178.5 ypg of total offense
