Welcome to the 2022 FCS Jersey Countdown. Leading up to Week 0 games on Aug. 27, HERO Sports will name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-0. Due to rosters being updated at different times for teams across the country and to keep things consistent, jersey numbers are based on last season’s rosters.
The 99-0 countdown central page can be found here.
Note: Jersey numbers are based on 2021 rosters.
14: Jakob Herres, WR (Sr.) — Richmond
Keep an eye on Richmond this year. The Spiders have been solid on defense recently, ranking No. 21 last year in points allowed (20 PPG). They boosted their offense this offseason to complement that defensive strength with the additions of an elite QB-WR duo from VMI — Reece Udinski and Jakob Herres. Udinski spent the 2021 fall at Maryland, but before that was a multi-year starter and recorder-breaker at VMI.
Herres is a big problem for defensive backs at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds. He’s been making plays since his 2018 freshman season, something he now looks to do against CAA defenses.
After decent production for the Keydets in 2018 (five TDs off of 27 catches), Herres had a breakout sophomore year in 2019. He grabbed 72 catches for 1,091 yards and eight TDs. His accolades included All-SoCon First Team and HERO Sports Sophomore All-American.
The next season in the 2021 spring was a dominant one. Herres was named the SoCon’s Offensive Player of the Year and earned All-American First Team honors from HERO Sports, Stats Perform, the AFCA, and Athlon after racking up 80 receptions for 978 yards and eight touchdowns in just eight games. He finished fourth in voting for the Walter Payton Award.
Last fall, Herres was limited to eight games due to injury but still produced, totaling 47 catches for 500 yards and five scores.
Herres now reunites with Udinski in a new conference. Both are among the 35 players named on Stats Perform’s preseason watch list for the Walter Payton Award. After finishing 6-5 overall and 4-4 in the CAA last season, Richmond was picked to finish fourth in the conference’s preseason media poll and is ranked No. 24 in the Stats Perform Preseason Top 25 media poll.
Herres enters 2022 with the most career receptions among active FCS players with 226. He also ranks second among returning FCS wide receivers with 3,006 career receiving yards. He is HERO Sports’ No. 5 returning FCS wide receiver and is on our preseason All-American Second Team.
