We have reached the middle of the 2019 FCS football season. Talk is starting to heat up about who the front-runners are for the four major awards.
Those major awards, presented by STATS FCS, are the Walter Payton Award (best offensive player), Buck Buchanan Award (best defensive player), Jerry Rice Award (best freshman) and Eddie Robinson Award (best coach).
Our FCS staff put together a list of candidates who currently deserve to be in the discussion for those awards. Check out the candidates below for the Jerry Rice Award and let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll.
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FAN VOTES: Walter Payton | Buck Buchanan | Jerry Rice
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Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State, R-Fr.
The first-year starter is ripping up the FCS so far. He's thrown 15 touchdowns and 0 interceptions and is 74 of 105 passing for 1,032 yards halfway through the season (6 games), while also rushing for 408 yards and 6 touchdowns.
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Tyrese Chambers, WR, Sacred Heart, R-Fr.
Talented pass- catcher is in the national Top 20 for receiving and leads all freshmen with 31 receptions for 563 yards and 6 TDs.
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Demarko Craig, DL, Youngstown St., R-Fr.
Craig is a Top 25 guy nationally with tackles for loss with 9 TFLs, with 31 total tackles. He has 4 sacks.
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Bronson Yoder, DB/RET/WR, William & Mary, Fr.
A true Swiss Army Knife in the Tribe's new attack. He has 2 kick return TDs already and averages 30+ yards per KR, but also has scored on offense and has 7 tackles and 2 passes defensed.
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Tra Fluellen, DB, Houston Baptist, Fr.
A year ago he was in the middle of his senior season, but right now he's leading the FCS freshmen in tackles with 59 halfway through the year.
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Ailym Ford, RB, Chattanooga, Fr.
A Top 25 rusher in the FCS and the No. 1 freshman in the FCS Nation. Ford has rushed for 556 yards and 5 TDs through just six games.
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Will McElvain, QB, Northern Iowa, R-Fr.
UNI has impressed this year so far. The program has had its ups and towns against a brutal schedule, but McElvain has thrown for 1,308 yards and 9 TDs to 1 INT.
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Darren Grainger, QB, Furman, R-Fr.
Furman is playing good ball, and Grainger has thrown for 974 yards and 11 TDs with only 2 INTs, while also rushing for 4 more TDs and 201 yards.
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Jalen Hamler, QB, Cal-Poly, R-Fr.
Hamler has been a true spark for Cal-Poly, throwing for 860 yards and 8 TDs while also rushing for 365 and 6 TDs.
Voting ends at 3 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 18.
FCS FAN VOTE: Who’s The Midseason Favorite To Win The 2019 Jerry Rice Award?
