The Sports Network NCAA FCS Awards Page Bronx, N.Y. (November 24, 2014) – Fordham University freshman running back
Chase Edmonds was named a finalist for the 2014 Rice Award and the 2014 Walter Payton Award it was announced today by The Sports Network. He is the only NCAA FCS player to be named a finalist for both awards.
The top first-year player in the FCS, whether a true freshman or a redshirt freshman, will win the Jerry Rice Award named for the legendary wide receiver who played in the FCS (then Division I-AA) at Mississippi Valley State. The award, in its fourth season, will be voted on by a national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries following the regular season. The winner will be announced
Dec. 15 at The Sports Network FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation.
The Rice Award has been a barometer for FCS greatness. The first three winners have been former Towson running back Terrance West (2011), now with the Cleveland Browns, and two 2014 Walter Payton Award finalists for FCS player of the year, Villanova quarterback John Robertson (2012) and Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp (2013).
Chase EdmondsThe Payton Award, in its 28th season, honors the outstanding player in the FCS. All 13 conferences were represented by at least one finalist.
Past winners of the Payton include Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Brian Finneran, John Friesz, Jamie Martin, Armanti Edwards and the 2013 recipient, Jimmy Garoppolo, now with the New England Patriots.
On the year, Edmonds has rushed 252 times for 1,539 yards (6.1 yards/carry) with 21 scores. His 21 rushing touchdowns is a school record and he is 57 yards shy of the school single season rushing record.
Edmonds, who has earned Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors six times in 2014 and Offensive Player of the Week twice, is eighth in the NCAA FCS in all-purpose yardage, averaging 165.5 yards/game while also ranking third in rushing touchdowns (21), sixth in total rushing yards (1,539) and eighth in rushing yards/game (128.2).
Edmonds set a school freshman record with 231-yard rushing performance earlier this year against Rhode Island, scoring four touchdowns in the contest and earning Sports Network Rookie of the Week honors. He broke the school freshman single game rushing record of Darren Wallace, who gained 198 yards against Brown in 1990. He also has already set the school single season rushing record and is looking to become the first Fordham rookie to amass 1,000 rushing yards in a season. His 1,322 rushing yards is the fifth best single season total in school history while his 18 rushing touchdowns is tied for second best.
The #9/12 Rams (10-2), who won the 2014 Patriot League title with a perfect 6-0 record, return to action on Saturday, November 29, as they host the Sacred Heart University Pioneers on Jack Coffey Field in the first round of the 2014 NCAA FCS Championship at 12:00 p.m.
