Sports Network ReleaseBronx, N.Y. (November 4, 2014) – Fordham University freshman running back
Chase Edmonds was added to the 2014 Walter Payton Award Watch List it was announced today by The Sports Network. He was previously named to the 2014 Rice Award Watch List last month. Edmonds joins teammate
Mike Nebrich on the Payton Award Watch List.
The annual award, which is named in honor of NFL Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, goes to the NCAA FCS' most outstanding offensive player. The Sports Network will present the "Heisman of the FCS" on Dec. 15 at the national awards banquet.
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 will be voted on by a national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries following the regular season.
Edmonds, who has earned Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors six times in 2014 and Offensive Player of the Week twice, is second in the NCAA FCS in all-purpose yardage, averaging 193.0 yards/game while also ranking second in rushing yards/game (146.9), total yards (1,322) and rushing touchdowns (18). On the year, he has rushed 207 times for 1,322 yards (6.4 yards/carry) with the 18 scores.
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 Rams (8-1, 4-0 Patriot League) return to action on Friday night, November 7, as they travel to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, to face the Bucknell University Bison in a Patriot League game at 6:30 P.m. in a contest that will be televised live on the CBS Sports Network.
