University of Richmond Athletics
Photo by: Halle Kennon/Richmond Athletics
Tristan Wheeler Named To The Jerry Rice Award Watch List
11/05/2019 | Football
RICHMOND, Va. – University of Richmond freshman linebacker Tristan Wheeler (Bethlehem, Pa.) is one of 24 players named the watch list for the 2019 Jerry Rice Award given to the top freshman at the NCAA FCS level at STAT. The Rice Award is named for the legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver and presented since 2011 to the Division I subdivision's freshman player of the year.
Wheeler is second on the team and second in the country among all freshmen with 76 total tackles, averaging 8.4 tackles per game. Wheeler, who did not start until the fourth game of the year, ranks seventh overall in the Colonial Athletic Association in total tackles and is the top freshman tackler in the league.
Wheeler has posted four games this season with at least 10 tackles, including a career-high 13 tackles against Fordham. He has also 3.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack on the season while forcing one fumble. He is one of just two freshmen in the CAA on the 24-man Watch List for the Jerry Rice Award, joining UAlbany redshirt freshman quarterback Jeff Undercuffler.
Still a young award, the Rice is distinguished, with three of the first four recipients to complete their college careers going on to the NFL: former Towson running back Terrance West, Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp and Fordham running back Chase Edmonds.
A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on the award following the regular season.
Jerrry Rice Award Watch List
John Bachus III, QB, UT Martin: 135 of 236 (57.2 percent), 1,890 yards, 12 TDs, 6 INTs; 74 carries, 143 yards, 3 TDs (9 games)
Omar Brown, CB, Northern Iowa: 52 tackles (31 solo), 3 TFL, 5 INTs, 3 PBU (9 games)
Tyrese Chambers, WR, Sacred Heart: 36 receptions, 639 yards, 3 TDs (7 games)
Ian Corwin, QB, Drake: 115 of 196 (58.7 percent), 1,321 yards, 14 TDs, 6 INTs (7 games)
Jacob Dobbs, LB, Holy Cross: 60 tackles (50 solo), 6 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 2 QBH, 3 FR, 1 FF (9 games)
Nick Eaton, DE, UC Davis: 46 tackles (28 solo), 9.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 QBH, 1 FR, 3 FF (9 games)
Metrius Fleming, WR/RS, Tennessee Tech: 38 receptions, 542 yards, 2 TDs; 14 carries, 90 yards, 2 TDs; 27.7 KO return average, 1 TD; 116.3 all-purpose yards per game (9 games)
Tra Fluellen, S, Houston Baptist: 77 tackles (40 solo), 2 INTs, 4 PBU, 2 FR (9 games)
Ailym Ford, RB, Chattanooga: 202 carries, 1,071 yards, 9 TDs; 122.7 all-purpose yards per game (9 games)
Xavier Gibson, WR/KR, Stephen F. Austin: 37 receptions, 619 yards, 4 TDs; 21.6 KO return average; 109.7 all-purpose yards per game (9 games)
Devron Harper, WR/RS, Gardner-Webb: 31 receptions, 499 yards, 2 TDs; 23.9 KO return average, 1 TD; 137.7 all-purpose yards per game (9 games)
Tyler Hudson, WR, Central Arkansas: 38 receptions, 687 yards, 8 TDs (9 games)
Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, WR, Alabama A&M: 32 receptions, 583 yards, 8 TDs (8 games)
Hendrix Johnson, WR, Northern Arizona: 44 receptions, 700 yards, 5 TDs (9 games)
K. Johnson, RB/KR, Norfolk State: 63 carries, 393 yards, 6 TDs; 11 receptions, 169 yards, 3 TDs; 105.4 all-purpose yard per game (8 games)
Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State: 109 of 159 (68.6 percent), 19 TDs, 0 INTs, 186.1 passing efficiency; 88 carries, 595 yards, 8 TDs (9 games)
Jalen Leary, RB, Stetson: 111 carries, 694 yards, 6 TDs; 102 all-purpose yards per game (7 games)
Will McElvain, QB, Northern Iowa: 134 of 243 (55.1 percent), 1,948 yards, 17 TDs, 3 INTs; 85 carries, 236 yards, 1 TD (9 games)
Keegan Shoemaker, QB, Lafayette: 172 of 277 (62.1 percent), 2,108 yards, 12 TDs, 12 INTs; 99 carries, 248 yards, 3 TDs (9 games)
Jake Stebbins, LB, Cornell: 41 tackles (20 solo), 6.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 2 PBU, 2 FF (7 games)
Jeff Undercuffler, QB, UAlbany: 179 of 311 (57.6 percent), 2,389 yards, 28 TDs, 7 INTs; 147.3 passing efficiency (9 games)
Tristan Wheeler, LB, Richmond: 76 tackles (36 solo), 3 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU, 1 FF (9 games)
Javon Williams Jr., RB, Southern Illinois: 110 carries, 659 yards, 13 TDs; 8 receptions, 194 yards, 2 TDs; 1 TD pass; 106.8 all-purpose yards per game (9 games)
Hajj-Malik Williams, QB, Campbell: 105 of 177 (59.3 percent), 1,496 yards, 15 TDs, 5 INTs; 101 carries, 418 yards, 5 TDs; 1 TD reception (8 games)
-- UR --
Wheeler is second on the team and second in the country among all freshmen with 76 total tackles, averaging 8.4 tackles per game. Wheeler, who did not start until the fourth game of the year, ranks seventh overall in the Colonial Athletic Association in total tackles and is the top freshman tackler in the league.
Wheeler has posted four games this season with at least 10 tackles, including a career-high 13 tackles against Fordham. He has also 3.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack on the season while forcing one fumble. He is one of just two freshmen in the CAA on the 24-man Watch List for the Jerry Rice Award, joining UAlbany redshirt freshman quarterback Jeff Undercuffler.
Still a young award, the Rice is distinguished, with three of the first four recipients to complete their college careers going on to the NFL: former Towson running back Terrance West, Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp and Fordham running back Chase Edmonds.
A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on the award following the regular season.
Jerrry Rice Award Watch List
John Bachus III, QB, UT Martin: 135 of 236 (57.2 percent), 1,890 yards, 12 TDs, 6 INTs; 74 carries, 143 yards, 3 TDs (9 games)
Omar Brown, CB, Northern Iowa: 52 tackles (31 solo), 3 TFL, 5 INTs, 3 PBU (9 games)
Tyrese Chambers, WR, Sacred Heart: 36 receptions, 639 yards, 3 TDs (7 games)
Ian Corwin, QB, Drake: 115 of 196 (58.7 percent), 1,321 yards, 14 TDs, 6 INTs (7 games)
Jacob Dobbs, LB, Holy Cross: 60 tackles (50 solo), 6 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 2 QBH, 3 FR, 1 FF (9 games)
Nick Eaton, DE, UC Davis: 46 tackles (28 solo), 9.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 QBH, 1 FR, 3 FF (9 games)
Metrius Fleming, WR/RS, Tennessee Tech: 38 receptions, 542 yards, 2 TDs; 14 carries, 90 yards, 2 TDs; 27.7 KO return average, 1 TD; 116.3 all-purpose yards per game (9 games)
Tra Fluellen, S, Houston Baptist: 77 tackles (40 solo), 2 INTs, 4 PBU, 2 FR (9 games)
Ailym Ford, RB, Chattanooga: 202 carries, 1,071 yards, 9 TDs; 122.7 all-purpose yards per game (9 games)
Xavier Gibson, WR/KR, Stephen F. Austin: 37 receptions, 619 yards, 4 TDs; 21.6 KO return average; 109.7 all-purpose yards per game (9 games)
Devron Harper, WR/RS, Gardner-Webb: 31 receptions, 499 yards, 2 TDs; 23.9 KO return average, 1 TD; 137.7 all-purpose yards per game (9 games)
Tyler Hudson, WR, Central Arkansas: 38 receptions, 687 yards, 8 TDs (9 games)
Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, WR, Alabama A&M: 32 receptions, 583 yards, 8 TDs (8 games)
Hendrix Johnson, WR, Northern Arizona: 44 receptions, 700 yards, 5 TDs (9 games)
K. Johnson, RB/KR, Norfolk State: 63 carries, 393 yards, 6 TDs; 11 receptions, 169 yards, 3 TDs; 105.4 all-purpose yard per game (8 games)
Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State: 109 of 159 (68.6 percent), 19 TDs, 0 INTs, 186.1 passing efficiency; 88 carries, 595 yards, 8 TDs (9 games)
Jalen Leary, RB, Stetson: 111 carries, 694 yards, 6 TDs; 102 all-purpose yards per game (7 games)
Will McElvain, QB, Northern Iowa: 134 of 243 (55.1 percent), 1,948 yards, 17 TDs, 3 INTs; 85 carries, 236 yards, 1 TD (9 games)
Keegan Shoemaker, QB, Lafayette: 172 of 277 (62.1 percent), 2,108 yards, 12 TDs, 12 INTs; 99 carries, 248 yards, 3 TDs (9 games)
Jake Stebbins, LB, Cornell: 41 tackles (20 solo), 6.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 2 PBU, 2 FF (7 games)
Jeff Undercuffler, QB, UAlbany: 179 of 311 (57.6 percent), 2,389 yards, 28 TDs, 7 INTs; 147.3 passing efficiency (9 games)
Tristan Wheeler, LB, Richmond: 76 tackles (36 solo), 3 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU, 1 FF (9 games)
Javon Williams Jr., RB, Southern Illinois: 110 carries, 659 yards, 13 TDs; 8 receptions, 194 yards, 2 TDs; 1 TD pass; 106.8 all-purpose yards per game (9 games)
Hajj-Malik Williams, QB, Campbell: 105 of 177 (59.3 percent), 1,496 yards, 15 TDs, 5 INTs; 101 carries, 418 yards, 5 TDs; 1 TD reception (8 games)
-- UR --
Players Mentioned
LB
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