University of Richmond Athletics
Coleman Named to Jerry Rice Award Watch List
10/18/2023 | Football
22 FCS Freshman Standouts Nominated to 2023 Jerry Rice Award Watch List | The Analyst
Richmond, Va. — Freshman Camden Coleman has been selected as one of 22 FCS players named to the midseason watch list of the 2023 Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award, which honors the national freshman of the year in college football's Division I subdivision and is presented by FedEx Ground.
The Rice Award, now in its 13th season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance and Shedeur Sanders.
To be eligible for the honor, a player must be considered a freshman by his conference in his first or second academic year without surpassing 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.
Coleman has appeared in three games where he's started two. The true freshman from Clemmons, N.C. tied a program record with six touchdown passes in Richmond's 42-31 victory over Maine in just his first career start. With his six touchdown passes, Coleman tied Kyle Lauletta for most in a single game, a mark Lauletta set Sept. 16, 2017 against Howard. He hit Nick DeGennaro on three touchdown passes, which also ties a program record for most touchdown receptions in a single game.
Coleman finished the game against Maine 25-of-36 for 365 yards while the offensive line kept him clean, allowing zero sacks. He also rushed for 10 yards on six attempts and recorded a 26-yard reception in his starting-role debut. Nine Spiders recorded catches against Maine for a team season-high 391 receiving yards. For his performance he was named the CAA's Offensive Player of the Week and the FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman Player of the Week.
The following week, Coleman helped Richmond upset #22 Rhode Island on the road, going 13-of-25 for 194 yards and two touchdowns including a career-long 69-yard strike.
Coleman is one of four players from the Coastal Athletic Association to be named to the list and is the first Spider honored since Tristan Wheeler in 2019.
The Rice Award will be presented at the national awards banquet on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas, along with 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.
Joining Coleman on the Jerry Rice Award Watch List are the following:
Marqui Adams, Delaware State, QB, 6-1, 175 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Camden Coleman, Richmond, QB, 6-3, 220 (CAA Football)
Quincy Craig, Portland State, RB, 5-9, 185 (Big Sky Conference)
Champ Dozier, Houston Christian, RB, 5-8, 180 (Southland Conference)
MJ Flowers, Eastern Illinois, RB, 6-1, 195 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
Syeed Gibbs, Rhode Island, DB, 6-0, 180 (CAA Football)
Eli Gillman, Montana, RB, 6-0, 206 (Big Sky Conference)
Carter Glassmyer, Saint Francis, LB, 6-1, 210 (Northeast Conference)
Malachi Hosley, Penn, RB, 5-10, 185 (Ivy League)
Brendan Jenkins, Samford, WR, 6-1, 200 (Southern Conference)
Jaylon Joseph, Lafayette, DE, 6-2, 240 (Patriot League)
Alex McLaughlin, Northern Arizona, DB, 6-2, 190 (Big Sky Conference)
Mack Mikko, Presbyterian, PK, 5-8, 175 (Pioneer Football League)
Zach Mitchell, Southern Utah, WR, 5-11, 200 (United Athletic Conference)
Connor Moore, Montana State, LT, 6-5, 306 (Big Sky Conference)
Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, LB, 6-3, 230 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Marco Patierno, Elon, LB, 6-0, 225 (CAA Football)
Aaron Sears, Stephen F. Austin, CB, 5-10, 190 (United Athletic Conference)
Beau Sparks, Utah Tech, WR, 5-11, 180 (United Athletic Conference)
Tak Tateoka, St. Thomas, QB, 6-3, 196 (Pioneer Football League)
VJ Wilkins, Campbell, WR, 5-10, 160 (CAA Football)
Ty'Jarian Williams, Mississippi Valley State, QB, 6-3, 240 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
