BALTIMORE, Md. (Nov. 25, 2024) — Redshirt freshman Jason Collins Jr. has emerged as a standout player in the world of college football, earning recognition as a finalist for the prestigious Stats Perform 2024 Jerry Rice Award. This award is dedicated to honoring the FCS freshman player of the year, showcasing the exceptional talent and potential that young athletes bring to the field in college football's Division I subdivision.
The Rice Award, now in its 14th season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders.
True and redshirt freshmen are eligible for the Jerry Rice Award. A player must be considered a freshman by his conference in his first academic year or second if he did not surpass four regular-season games played in the true freshman season (the NCAA redshirt rule).
With a remarkable performance across 12 games, he has solidified his reputation as a dependable rusher, currently ranking No. 5 in the conference. His impressive tally of 114 carries for 634 yards speaks to his ability to navigate through defenses and consistently contribute to his team's offensive strategy. Beyond his yardage, Collins's knack for finding the end zone has been a significant factor in the team's success; he completed the season with an impressive eight touchdowns.
Hailing from Washington, D.C., Collins has established himself as a formidable force on the football field, captivating fans with his remarkable playing style and impressive statistics. With an outstanding average of 5.6 yards per carry, he consistently demonstrated his ability to break through defenses, turning routine plays into highlight-reel moments. Each time he touched the ball, opponents knew they had to be on high alert. He will certainly be one to watch next fall.
Collins was the only player from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to be named to the list and is the first Bear honored since Lawrence Forbes in 2013 and Elandon Roberts in 2012.
The 2024 Jerry Rice Award recipient will be announced on Dec. 4 and honored at the Stats Perform National Awards Banquet on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas.
Other awards at the banquet are 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), Urban Edge Network HBCU+ Player of the Year and the FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Joining Collins on the Jerry Rice Award Finalist List, which includes both true and redshirt freshmen, are the following:
OFFENSE
David Avit | RB | Villanova
CharMar Brown | RB | North Dakota State
Matt Childs | RB | Brown
Jason Collins Jr. | RB | Morgan State
Carson Conklin | QB | Sacramento State
Taron Dickens | QB | Western Carolina
Jaden Green | RB | Lehigh
Steve Hall | RB | Lindenwood
Mark Hamper | WR | Idaho
Malachi Henry | WR | Central Arkansas
Collin Hurst | QB | Presbyterian
Adam Jones | RB | Montana State
Elijah Owens | QB | Indiana State
Travis Terrell Jr. | RB/Returns | Jackson State
Tariq Thomas | RB | Bucknell
Drew VanVleet | QB | Dayton
DEFENSE
Josh Anglin | LB | North Alabama
Charles Battaglia | LB | Stonehill
C.J. Coombes | S | Wofford
Sanders Ellis | LB | Tennessee State
Derek ganter Jr. | S | Eastern Washington
Christopher Jean | CB | Central Ceonnecticut State
Matthew Traynor | LB | Richmond
Andrew Zock | DE | Mercer
SPECIAL TEAMS
Finn Lappin | P | McNeese
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
