Bronx, N.Y. (June 9, 2014) – Fordham University quarterback
Michael Nebrich was named to the 2014 College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS Quarterback Award Watch List it was announced on Monday. He becomes the fourth Ram to be named to a CFPA Watch List, joining
Brett Biestek (DL),
Stephen Hodge (LB), and
Ian Williams (DB).
"Congratulations to Michael Nebrich on earning a spot on this year's watch list," said CFPA Executive Director Brad Smith. "Nebrich will be one of the top FCS players to watch in 2014. Last season, Nebrich played a statistically significant role, helping Fordham's offense average 6.5 yards per play."
Nebrich, a 2013 Beyond Sports Network and College Sports Madness All-American and the 2013 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, enjoyed one of the best regular seasons for a quarterback in school history. He completed 353-of-480 passes (73.5%) for 4,380 yards with 35 touchdowns, and also rushed for 513 yards and nine scores. His completion percentage led the nation as did his total offense (376.4 yards/game) while he also ranked in the top five nationally in passing yards per game (336.9 - third), passing efficiency (171.3 - second), completions per game (27.15 - third), and points responsible for per contest (20.5 – third). He went 11-0 as the starting quarterback during the regular season in 2013, one of only two FCS signal-callers to put up an undefeated mark for the season. He set every school single season passing record this fall, eclipsing John Skelton's 2009 record of 284 completions for 3,708 yards and Mark Carney's 2001 mark of 27 passing touchdowns. Nebrich also set a Fordham record with 524 passing yards in a win against Holy Cross on Nov. 2.
Two Fordham players have earned CFPA honors. Former Fordham tight end Stephen Skelton earned CFPA honors in 2010, while current Tampa Bay Bucs specialist Patrick Murray earned the 2011 CFPA Punter Award and 2012 CFPA Placekicker Award.
The initial watch list includes 36 returning performers, vying for the top quarterback award in the Football Championship Subdivision. All players are eligible for awards at their respective positions; players are not preemptively eliminated from consideration.
The goal of College Football Performance Awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. Twenty-eight CFPA winners have been first-round NFL Draft selections.
CFPA is now in its seventh season of recognition, utilizing objective rankings of player and team performance from its data index since 2008.
Last season, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston earned the CFPA National Performer of the Year Trophy for the FBS, while Eastern Washington quarterback Vernon Adams earned the CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy.
CFPA Trophy winner and former South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was the first overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft.
The full list of 2014 CFPA winners will be announced January 14, 2015.
