The 2025 Jerry Rice Award has taken a pivotal step forward with the announcement of the 25 finalists vying for the national FCS freshman honour. From breakout quarterbacks to dynamic linebackers, these young athletes now eye the coveted title named for Hall of Famer Jerry Rice.
Table of Contents
What You Should Know
- The Jerry Rice Award is presented annually by Stats Perform to the most outstanding freshman in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) football.
- This year marks the award’s 15th anniversary season.
- The recipient will be selected by a national voting panel and announced on December 3, 2025, with an awards show held on January 3, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Notable Finalists
Here are some standout finalists for the Jerry Rice Award this season:
- Braden Atkinson (Mercer, QB) – Set school single-season records with 3,448 passing yards and 34 touchdowns.
- Landen Clark (Elon, QB) – Rushed for 614 yards and 11 touchdowns, along with 2,321 passing yards and 18 TDs.
- Tony Diaz (UTRGV, WR) – Logged 68 receptions for 875 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns.
- Nic Yatsko (Indiana State, DB) – The first defensive player from his program to reach finalist status, with 89 tackles and 2.0 losses for a freshman.
- Caden Pinnick (UC Davis, QB) – Achieved 2,527 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and averaged 252.7 passing yards per game in 10 starts.
Broader Context
This year the list of finalists covers all 13 FCS conferences, ensuring broad representation across the subdivision. The Jerry Rice Award honours both true freshmen and redshirt freshmen. Past winners of the award include NFL‐talented names such as Cooper Kupp, Trey Lance and Shedeur Sanders.
For many FCS programs, being represented in the finalist list provides visibility and momentum heading into the postseason.
Why This Matters
Freshman performances in FCS football often forecast future success. The Jerry Rice Award not only highlights breakout seasons but also elevates young athletes into the national spotlight.
For programs across smaller conferences, a finalist nod represents meaningful acknowledgment on the national stage.
With the finalist list announced now, analysts, fans and scouts will follow December’s winner announcement closely.
Timeline At-A-Glance
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Nov 24 2025 | Finalist list announced for the Jerry Rice Award. |
| Dec 3 2025 | Winner of the award to be publicly announced. |
| Jan 3 2026 | Awards show in Nashville honours recipient. |
For U.S. college football fans, the Jerry Rice Award serves as a spotlight moment—recognising the future of the FCS and often the next wave of NFL talent. Stay tuned as the race to December’s announcement concludes.
Let us know which finalist you’re rooting for and what this recognition means for their program.