CLINTON, S.C. – Redshirt freshman quarterback Collin Hurst of the Presbyterian College football team has been recognized on the 2024 Jerry Rice Award Watch List, awaiting its 14^th recipient at the conclusion of the season. The annual honor, presented by Stats Perform and FedEx Ground, is presented to "the most outstanding freshman player in the Football Championship Subdivision."

Hurst is one of six QB's to make the cut for consideration of the esteemed award, and one of only two players in the Pioneer Football League to be mentioned (alongside Dayton signal-caller Drew VanVleet).

Created in 2011 and named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice – who attended Mississippi Valley State University – the award is voted on by a national panel of more than 40 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers, and other various dignitaries.

This is the second consecutive season that a PC player has been summoned to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List, following in the footsteps of then-rookie kicker Mack Mikko last year.

Presbyterian is one of four schools to have an individual in the Watch List for the Jerry Rice Award in both the 2023 and 2024 iterations (joining the company of Montana State, Elon, and Southern Utah).

Final voting for the award is conducted prior to the start of the FCS Playoffs, with the winner revealed at the season's end. Montana running back Eli Gillman claimed the award last December.

Other notable past honorees include future NFL stars Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington, 2013), Chase Edmonds (Fordham, 2014), Trey Lance (North Dakota State, 2019), current Heisman contender Cam Ward of the Miami Hurricanes (then at UIW in 2020), and starting QB for the Colorado Buffaloes, Shedeur Sanders (then at Jackson State in 2021).




 
HURST ON A HEATER
 
Hurst has made the transition into PC's starting quarterback with flying colors, finding his target 63 percent of the time this season (third in the PFL) with 114 completions. He's thrown for 1,436 total yards and 11 touchdowns.

Collin's pass efficiency rating of 145.3 ranks inside the nation's top 30, averaging 14 completions per game and 12 yards per completion (a number that tops all QB's in the conference).

He's posted four 200-yard passing efforts at this stage of the campaign, going for a career-high 358 yards at Davidson last month which is the most in a single game for the Blue Hose since head coach Steve Englehart took over in 2022.

Hurst has thrown at least one touchdown pass in seven consecutive outings, passing for at least two TD's against three opponents.

The Florida native has added 105 extra yards when carrying the ball, tallying two rushing touchdowns as well.

Hurst is responsible for 78 PC points and 13 total scores, completing a season-best 26 attempts last weekend in an overtime duel against Drake.


 
JERRY RICE AWARD BACKGROUND
 
The freshman player of the year's namesake, Jerry Rice was a National Football League phenomenon with the San Francisco 49ers and three other franchises, often regarded as the greatest wide receiver in the sport's history.

Rice earned 13 NFL Pro Bowl trips, 10 first-team All-Pros, three Super Bowl championships, and a Super Bowl MVP trophy amongst other accolades. The 1985 first-round pick began his journey at Mississippi Valley State from 1981-84.

At the collegiate stage, he earned All-America plaudits twice while setting record for receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Rice is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio and the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.

Stats Perform releases four other national awards at the end of each calendar:

• 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)
• Dori Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year

The five national award-winners are celebrated at the Stats Perform FCS Banquet and Presentation, held at the end of the 2024 season.


 
FCS Jerry Rice Award Watch List – As of October 23, 2024
(Listed Alphabetically):
 
Josh Anglin (LB, North Alabama)
David Avit (RB, Villanova)
Charles Battaglia (LB, Stonehill)
CharMar Brown (RB, North Dakota State)
Matt Childs (RB, Brown)
Jason Collins, Jr. (RB, Morgan State)
Carson Conklin (QB, Sacramento State)
C.J. Coombes (DB, Wofford)
Sanders Ellis (LB, Tennessee State)
Jalen Fletcher (RB, North Alabama)
Derek Ganter, Jr. (DB, Eastern Washington)
Steve Hall (RB, Lindenwood)
Trey Hedden (QB, Furman)
Jamarie Hostzclaw (RB, Alabama State)
Collin Hurst (QB, Presbyterian)
Adam Jones (RB, Montana State)
Ayden Jones (LB, Prairie View A&M)
Finn Lappin (P, McNeese State)
Cole Nilles (LB, Bryant)
Elijah Owens (QB, Indiana State)
A.J. Pigford (DE, Princeton)
Brennan Ridley (WR, Hampton)
Jayden Robertson (DB, Southern Utah)
Isaac Saffold (DE, Georgetown)
Travis Terrell, Jr. (RB, Jackson State)
Tariq Thomas (RB, Bucknell)
T.J. Thomas, Jr. (RB, Elon)
Drew VanVleet (QB, Dayton)
Jack Wagner (QB, Idaho)
Dallas Winner-Johnson (LB, Missouri State)


 
FCS Jerry Rice Award Winners (2011-2023)
2023 – Eli Gillman (RB, Montana)
2022 – Gevani McCoy (QB, Idaho)
2021 – Shedeur Sanders (QB, Jackson State)
2020 – Cam Ward (QB, Incarnate Word)
2019 – Trey Lance (QB, North Dakota State)
2018 – Josh Davis (RB, Weber State)
2017 – Bryson Armstrong (LB, Kennesaw State)
2016 – A.J. Hines (RB, Duquesne)
2015 – Case Cookus (QB, Northern Arizona)
2014 – Chase Edmonds (RB, Fordham)
2013 – Cooper Kupp (WR, Eastern Washington)
2012 – John Robertson (QB, Villanova)
2011 – Terrance West (RB, Towson)