FLORENCE, Ala. -- University of North Alabama true freshman quarterback Noah Walters of Lincoln, Neb., is one of 25 players nation-wide named to the watch list for the 2022 Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice Award, which is presented to the national freshman of the year in college football's Division I subdivision.

To be eligible for the Rice Award, a freshman must be in his first or second academic year and can't have surpassed four games played in the previous academic year – similar to the NCAA's regular redshirt rule. More players can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner following the regular season.
 
The Rice Award, now in its 12th season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Past recipients include Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington), Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds (Fordham) and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (North Dakota State).

The 2021 state of Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year, Walters rallied the Lions in the fourth quarter of his first collegiate game to tie the contest at Indiana State and force overtime in UNA's season opener.

Walters has since started the last five straight games for North Alabama and has thrown for 1,266 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.

In UNA's last two games against Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State, he had back-to-back 300-plus yard passing games with three touchdown passes in each contest.

Walters has already thrown one of the longest touchdown passes in school history with a 78-yarder to Demarcus Lacey against Tarleton State. It was the longest pass and touchdown pass of UNA's FCS era.

The last true freshman to start at quarterback for the Lions was Luke Wingo in 2012.

The Jerry Rice Award Watch List:
Quarterback
Asher Carraha, Stonehill (Northeast)
Cade Chambers, Indiana State (MVFC)
Gevani McCoy, Idaho (Big Sky)
Reese Poffenbarger, UAlbany (CAA)
Noah Walters, North Alabama (ASUN)

Running Back
Ryan Butler, Princeton (Ivy)
Karl Ligon, Southern (SWAC)
Joshua Pitsenberger, Yale (Ivy)
Sam Franklin, UT Martin (Ohio Valley)
Desmond Reid, Western Carolina (Southern)
Jerrell Wimbley, Stephen F. Austin (WAC)

Wide Receiver
Seth Anderson, Charleston Southern (Big South)
Vinson Davis, Charleston Southern (Big South)
Makai Jackson, Saint Francis (Northeast)
Kam Thomas, Austin Peay (ASUN)

Tight End
Josh Cuevas, Cal Poly (Big Sky)
Defensive Line
Kevin Spelman, Valparaiso (Pioneer)

Linebacker
Kohner Cullimore, Southern Utah (WAC)
Kaiden Jones, Nicholls (Southland)
Max U'Ren, North Carolina Central (MEAC)
Mason Woods, Towson (CAA)

Defensive Back
Wedner Cadet, Georgetown (Patriot)
Rex Connors, UC Davis (Big Sky)
Adrian Maddox, Alabama State (SWAC)

Punter
Patrick Rohrbach, Montana (Big Sky)