Who Wins the Jerry Rice Award? Full History and Past Recipients

The Jerry Rice Award is given annually to the best outstanding FCS freshman player. Braden Atkinson, Mercer quarterback, got the 2025 honor.

Stats Perform FCS presents the annual honor, so here’s everything you need to know.

What is the FCS Jerry Rice Award, and who is it named after?

The Jerry Rice Award was established in 2011 to recognize the most outstanding freshman player in the Football Championship Subdivision.

A national panel of more than 40 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers, and other dignitaries votes the award winner based on players’ regular-season performances. Voting is done prior to the start of the FCS playoffs.

STATS FCS has announced five national awards, including the Jerry Rice Award:

• Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive player of the year)
• Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year)
• Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman of the year)
• Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year)
• Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Jerry Rice, the namesake of the freshmen player of the year award, was an NFL great who played for the San Francisco 49ers and three other teams. Rice won 13 NFL Pro Bowl appearances, ten first-team All-Pros, three Super Bowls, and a Super Bowl MVP award, among other honors. The 1985 first-round pick began his career at FCS Mississippi Valley State from 1981 to 1984.

Rice, an All-American wide receiver, is 6’2” and weighs 200 pounds. He received All-American honors twice and set records for receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Rice is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, and the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.

FCS Jerry Rice Award: When will the winner be announced?

The Jerry Rice Award winner is announced yearly following the end of the FCS regular season. The 2025 recipient was announced on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.

The STATS FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation celebrates all five STATS FCS national honors, with Jerry Rice, Eddie Robinson, and Doris Robinson winners released ahead of time. The Payton and Buchanan award winners are disclosed for the first time during the ceremony.

STATS FCS produced the first Jerry Rice Award watch list during the season. The list is updated periodically, culminating with the announcement of finalists.

FCS Jerry Rice Award: A complete list of past honorees

Braden Atkinson, Mercer’s quarterback, was the 15th Jerry Rice Award recipient. During the 2025 regular season, Atkinson completed 68.1 percent of his throws for 3,448 yards and 34 touchdowns against only seven interceptions, with one rushing score. After taking over as starting quarterback in Week 3, Atkinson led Mercer to a 9-0 record versus the FCS, earning 51 of 54 first-place votes.

CharMar Brown, a North Dakota State running back, was the 14th recipient of the Jerry Rice Award. Brown carried for 965 yards and 14 touchdowns on 189 carries in the 2024 regular season, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Brown ended with four 100-yard rushing games and three multi-point performances.

Eli Gillman, a Montana running back, was the 13th Jerry Rice Award recipient. Gillman rushed for 857 yards and 10 touchdowns on 152 carries in the 2023 regular season, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Gillman has 103 yards receiving and three 100-yard rushing games.

The 12th Jerry Rice Award went to Idaho quarterback Gevani McCoy. McCoy completed 203-297 passes, setting Idaho’s single-season completion percentage record of 68.4 percent.He tossed for 2,791 yards, 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions this season, while also catching a touchdown pass. He also guided Idaho to its first winning season since 2016 and first FCS playoff appearance since 1995.

Since the award’s debut in 2011, quarterbacks have won the most, with seven, followed by running backs with five. A wide receiver and a linebacker have also been honored. No school has multiple champions.

Other notable past winners include future NFL stars Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington, 2013), Chase Edmonds (Fordham, 2014), and Trey Lance (2019). See the complete list below.

FCS Jerry Rice Award winners (2011-2024):

YEAR	WINNER, SCHOOL	POSITION
2025	Braden Atkinson, Mercer	Quarterback
2024	CharMar Brown, North Dakota State	Running back	Top plays
2023	Eli Gillman, Montana	Running back	Top plays
2022	Gevani McCoy, Idaho	Quarterback	Top plays
2021	Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State	Quarterback	Top plays
2020	Cameron Ward, UIW	Quarterback
2019	Trey Lance, North Dakota State	Quarterback	Career in review
2018	Josh Davis, Weber State	Running Back
2017	Bryson Armstrong, Kennesaw State	Linebacker
2016	A.J. Hines, Duquesne	Running Back
2015	Case Cookus, Northern Arizona	Quarterback
2014	Chase Edmonds, Fordham	Running Back
2013	Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington	Wide Receiver	Career in review
2012	John Robertson, Villanova	Quarterback
2011	Terrance West, Towson	Running Back