University of Richmond Athletics
Traynor Tabbed As Jerry Rice Award Finalist
11/25/2024 | Football
Richmond, Va. — University of Richmond football safety Matthew Traynor has been named a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, presented yearly to the top freshman in the FCS.
The Jerry Rice Award, now in its 14th season, is named after the legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver, who played on the FCS level at Mississippi Valley State. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. True and redshirt freshmen are eligible for the Jerry Rice Award. A player must be considered a freshman by his conference in his first academic year or second if he did not surpass four regular-season games played in the true freshman season (the NCAA redshirt rule).
Traynor, a redshirt freshman from Marietta, Ga. earns the honor after a standout 2024 season where he's totaled 64 tackles (third on team) including a team-leading 48 solo tackles. He's also tallied 4.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and three pass breakups.
The Jerry Rice Award, now in its 14th season, is named after the legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver, who played on the FCS level at Mississippi Valley State. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. True and redshirt freshmen are eligible for the Jerry Rice Award. A player must be considered a freshman by his conference in his first academic year or second if he did not surpass four regular-season games played in the true freshman season (the NCAA redshirt rule).
Traynor, a redshirt freshman from Marietta, Ga. earns the honor after a standout 2024 season where he's totaled 64 tackles (third on team) including a team-leading 48 solo tackles. He's also tallied 4.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and three pass breakups.
The Jerry Rice Award recipient, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced on Dec. 4 and honored at the Stats Perform National Awards Banquet on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas.
Other awards at the banquet are 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), Urban Edge Network HBCU+ Player of the Year and FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Spiders Head Coach Russ Huesman is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award.
Players Mentioned
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