The Jerry Rice Award is presented annually to the top freshman in FCS football. Mercer linebacker Braden Atkinson received the 2025 award.
Here’s everything you need to know about the annual awards Stats perform FCS.
More: Walter Payton Award History | History of the Buck Buchanan Award
FCS Jerry Rice Award: What is it and who is it named after?
The Jerry Rice Award was first presented in 2011 to the best freshman player in the Football League.
A national panel of more than 40 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries selects the award winner based on the players’ performance during the season. Voting is conducted prior to the start of the FCS playoffs.
The Jerry Rice Award is one of five national awards announced by STATS FCS.
- Walter Payton Award (FCS Offensive Player of the Year)
- Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year)
- Jerry Rice Award (FCS Student of the Year)
- Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year)
- Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Rookie of the Year Jerry Rice was an NFL legend with the San Francisco 49ers and played for three other teams. Rice has won 13 NFL Pro Bowls, 10 first-team All-Players, three Super Bowls and a Super Bowl MVP award, among other awards. The 1985 first-round pick traveled to Mississippi Valley State’s FCS program from 1981-1984.
Rice, an All-American wide receiver, is 6’2” and weighs 200 pounds. He was a two-time All-American and set records for receptions, yards and touchdowns. Rice is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio and the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
FCS Jerry Rice Award: When will the winner be announced?
The Jerry Rice Award winner is announced annually following the conclusion of the FCS regular season. The 2025 recipient was announced on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
All five STATS FCS national honorees are celebrated at the STATS FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation, but the Jerry Rice, Eddie Robinson and Doris Robinson winners were all announced ahead of time. During the ceremony, the winners of the Payton and Buchanan Awards were announced for the first time.
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The first Jerry Rice Award list is published by STATS FCS during the season. The list is updated from time to time and the finalists are announced.
FCS Jerry Rice Award: Complete Stories of Past Recipients
Mercer linebacker Braden Atkinson is the 15th recipient of the Jerry Rice Award. Atkinson completed 68.1 percent of his passes for 3,448 yards in the 2025 regular season and added a rushing touchdown with 34 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. After taking over as the starting quarterback in Week 3, Atkinson received 51 of 54 votes as Mercer went 9-0 against FCS.
CharMar Brown of North Dakota is the 14th recipient of the Jerry Rice Award. Brown rushed for 965 yards on 189 carries and 14 touchdowns in the 2024 regular season, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Brown finished with 100 yards rushing four times and three multi-scoring games.
Montana running back Eli Gillman is the 13th recipient of the Jerry Rice Award. Gillman rushed for 857 yards and 10 touchdowns on 152 carries in the 2023 regular season, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Gillman also had 103 receiving yards and finished with three 100-yard rushing games.
Idaho quarterback Gevani McCoy is the 12th recipient of the Jerry Rice Award. McCoy went 203-297 passing and set Idaho’s single-season completion percentage at 68.4 percent. He passed for 2,791 yards, 27 touchdowns, only seven interceptions and even caught an offensive pass for the season. He also led Idaho to its first winning season since 2016 and its first FCS playoff appearance since 1995.
Since the award was first received in 2011, quarterbacks have accounted for the top seven winners, and running backs have had five winners. He also won one wide receiver and one quarterback award. No school has multiple winners.
Other notable honorees include NFL stars Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington, 2013), Chase Edmonds (Fordham, 2014) and Trey Lance (2019). See the full list below.
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FCS Jerry Rice Award Winners (2011-2025):
| YEAR | WINNER, SCHOOL | POSITION | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The year 2025 | Braden Atkinson, Mercer | Midfielder | The best matches |
| The year 2024 | CharMar Brown, North Dakota State | Running back | The best matches |
| The year 2023 | Eli Gillman, Montana | Running back | The best matches |
| The year 2022 | Gevani McCoy, Idaho | Midfielder | The best matches |
| 2021 | Scheder Sanders, Jackson County | Midfielder | The best matches |
| 2020 | Cameron Ward, UIW | Midfielder | |
| 2019 | Trey Lance, North Dakota State | Midfielder | Taking care of your career |
| 2018 | Josh Davis, Weber State | Running back | |
| 2017 | Bryson Armstrong, Kennesaw State | Protector | |
| 2016 | AJ Hines, Duquesne | Running back | |
| 2015 | Case Cookus, Northern Arizona | Midfielder | |
| 2014 | Chase Edmonds, Fordham | Running back | |
| 2013 | Cooper Cupp, Eastern Washington | Wide receiver | Taking care of your career |
| 2012 | John Robertson, Villanova | Midfielder | |
| 2011 | Terrance West, Towson | Running back |
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