FLORENCE, Ala. -- University of North Alabama freshman quarterback Noah Walters of Lincoln, Neb., is on the list of 25 national finalists for the 2022 Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award as the FCS Freshman of the Year.
To be eligible for the Jerry 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.
The Rice Award, now in its 12th season, is named after legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice, who starred at Mississippi Valley State as part of his Hall of Fame career. Past recipients include NFL players Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds and Trey Lance.
A national media panel will select the winner, with voting based on the regular season. The recipient will be announced on Dec. 7 and honored at the FCS National Awards banquet on Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas – on the eve of the national championship game.
Walters started in 10 of North Alabama's 11 games as a true freshman this fall and threw for 2,149 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for another 212 yards and two TDs. Walters led four fourth quarter drives to either tie a game or give the Lions the lead, including in his first collegiate appearance against Indiana State, when he led a fourth quarter drive to tie the game and force overtime against the Sycamores.
The 2022 Jerry Rice Award finalists:
Quarterback
Cade Chambers, Indiana State, R-Fr., 6-4, 215 (MVFC)
Statistics: 65 of 146 (44.5%), 938 yards, 8 TDs, 3 INTs, 112.5 pass efficiency; 111 rush yards, 4 TDs (9 games)
Brady Meitz, R-Fr., 6-1, 182, Stetson (Pioneer)
Statistics: 203 of 345 (58.8%), 2,522 yards, 17 TDs, 10 INTs, 130.7 pass efficiency; 1 rush TD (9 games)
Gevani McCoy, Idaho, R-Fr., 6-0, 175 (Big Sky)
Statistics: 185 of 272 (68.0%), 2,376 TDs, 25 TDs, 5 INTs, 168.1 pass efficiency; 2 rush TDs (10 games)
Reese Poffenbarger, UAlbany, R-Fr., 6-0, 210 (CAA)
Statistics: 227 of 369 (61.5%), 2,999 yards, 24 TDs, 4 INTs, 149.1 pass efficiency; 2 rush TDs (11 games)
Noah Walters, North Alabama, Fr., 6-0, 190 (ASUN)
Statistics: 151 of 285 (60.0%), 2,149 yards, 19 TDs, 12 INTs, 129.9 pass efficiency; 212 rush yards, 2 TDs (11 games)
Running Back
Ryan Butler, Princeton, Fr., 5-11, 225 (Ivy)
Statistics: 128 carries, 501 yards (3.9 ypc), 11 TDs; 12 receptions, 1 TD (10 games)
Marquis Gillis, Delaware State, R-Fr., 6-0, 200 (MEAC)
Statistics: 112 carries, 545 yards (4.9 ypc), 5 TDs; 11 receptions (11 games)
Ismail Mahdi, Houston Baptist, Fr., 5-9, 180 (Southland)
Statistics: 112 carries, 568 yards (5.1 ypc), 2 TDs; 32 receptions, 333 yards, 3 TDs (8 games)
Joshua Pitsenberger, Yale, Fr., 6-0, 205 (Ivy)
Statistics: 120 carries, 667 yards (5.6 ypc), 7 TDs; 1 TD reception (10 games)
Sam Franklin, UT Martin, R-Fr., 5-10, 195 (Ohio Valley)
Statistics: 85 carries, 676 yards (8.0 ypc), 8 TDs; 12 receptions (11 games)
Desmond Reid, Western Carolina, Fr., 5-8, 170 (Southern)
Statistics: 119 carries, 826 yards (6.9 ypc), 4 TDs; 21 receptions, 212 yards, 1 TD (10 games)
Jerrell Wimbley, Stephen F. Austin, Fr., 5-11, 195 (WAC)
Statistics: 106 carries, 604 yards (5.7 ypc), 5 TDs; 12 receptions, 168 yards, 1 TD (10 games)
Wide Receiver
Seth Anderson, Charleston Southern, R-Fr., 6-0, 178 (Big South)
Statistics: 42 receptions, 612 yards (14.6 ypc), 7 TDs (10 games)
Makai Jackson, Saint Francis, Fr., 6-0, 190 (Northeast)
Statistics: 80 receptions, 920 yards (11.5 ypc), 8 TDs (11 games)
Defensive Line
Finn Claypool, Drake, R-Fr., 6-1, 240 (Pioneer)
Statistics: 48 tackles (28 solos), 14.5 TFLs (74 yards), 8 sacks, 11 QBH, 1 FR, 1 FF (11 games)
Eric O'Neill, LIU, R-Fr., 6-3, 240 (NEC)
Statistics: 51 tackles (32 solos), 21 TFLs (100 yards), 10 sacks, 1 PBU, 9 QBH, 2 FF (11 games)
Linebacker
Kohner Cullimore, Southern Utah, Fr., 5-11, 225 (WAC)
Statistics: 76 tackles (42 solos), 10 TFLs (60 yards), 2.5 sacks, 4 QBH, 1 FR, 1 FF (10 games)
Mason Woods, Towson R-Fr., 6-0, 200 (CAA)
Statistics: 77 tackles (27 solos), 5.5 TFL (12 yards), 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 3 PBU (11 games)
Defensive Back
Wedner Cadet, Georgetown, Fr., 6-1, 170 (Patriot)
Statistics: 35 tackles (24 solos), 5 INTs, 6 PBU, 1 FR (10 games)
Rex Connors, UC Davis, R-Fr., 6-1, 203 (Big Sky)
Statistics: 92 tackles (56 solos), 4 TFL (7 yards), 5 INTs, 5 PBU (10 games)
Eli Ennis, Nicholls, Fr., 6-2, 205 (Southland)
Statistics: 45 tackles (26 solos), 10 TFLs (30 yards), 2.5 sacks, 4 PBU, 7 QBH, 1 FF, 1 safety (9 games)
Travis Hunter, Jackson State, Fr., 6-1, 165 (SWAC)
Statistics: 12 tackles (8 solos), 2 INTs, 1 FR, 13 receptions, 140 yards (10.8 ypc), 2 TDs (6 games)
Jalen Jones, William & Mary, R-Fr., 6-0, 185 (CAA)
Statistics: 19 tackles (19 solos), 1 TFL (2 yards), 4 INTs, 7 PBU, 1 FR (10 games)
Adrian Maddox, Alabama State, Fr., 6-3, 200 (SWAC)
Statistics: 41 tackles (23 solos), 6 TFLs (24 yards), 1 sack, 2 INTs, 1 QBH, 1 FR, 1 BK (9 games)
Punter
Patrick Rohrbach, Montana, Fr., 5-11, 177 (Big Sky)
Statistics: 40 punts, 46.2 ypp, 42.2 net ypp, 68 long, 14 50+ yards (11 games)
