UT MARTIN’S SAM FRANKLIN NAMED TO 2022 JERRY RICE AWARD WATCH LIST
10/20/2022 10:00:00 AM | Football
CHICAGO, Ill. – University of Tennessee at Martin freshman running back Sam Franklin is one of 25 players 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.
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).
Franklin, a native of Little Rock, Ark., has exploded on the scene for the Skyhawks this season with 31 carries for 393 yards and six touchdowns. He averages 12.7 yards per carry and 65.5 yards per game with his ability to break off big plays, including an 86-yard rushing touchdown scamper against Tennessee Tech and a 65-yard touchdown run against Murray State.
The running back was named OVC Newcomer of the Week earlier this season after tallying three rushing touchdowns against Lindenwood while also recording a career-high 157 yards and two scores in a road win at Murray State. He currently ranks fourth in the OVC in all-purpose yards per game (95.3 ypg) and rushing yards per game (65.5) while his six rushing touchdowns rank second.
Joining the Jerry Rice Award Watch List:
Quarterback
Ashur 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)
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.
Also this season, Stats Perform will present 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) and FedEx Ground Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
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).
Franklin, a native of Little Rock, Ark., has exploded on the scene for the Skyhawks this season with 31 carries for 393 yards and six touchdowns. He averages 12.7 yards per carry and 65.5 yards per game with his ability to break off big plays, including an 86-yard rushing touchdown scamper against Tennessee Tech and a 65-yard touchdown run against Murray State.
The running back was named OVC Newcomer of the Week earlier this season after tallying three rushing touchdowns against Lindenwood while also recording a career-high 157 yards and two scores in a road win at Murray State. He currently ranks fourth in the OVC in all-purpose yards per game (95.3 ypg) and rushing yards per game (65.5) while his six rushing touchdowns rank second.
Joining the Jerry Rice Award Watch List:
Quarterback
Ashur 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)
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.
Also this season, Stats Perform will present 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) and FedEx Ground Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Players Mentioned
RB
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