May 20, 2013

Charlotte, N.C. - College Football Performance Awards, the largest awards organization in D-I college football, recently announced its watch list for the 2013 CFPA FCS Wide Receiver Award, and Fordham wide receiver Brian Wetzel (Dallas, Tex./Jesuit College Prep) earned a spot on the list. The preliminary watch list highlights thirty-four returning performers, vying for the top wide receiver award in the Football Championship Subdivision.

"Congratulations to>Brian Wetzel on earning a spot on the 2013 CFPA Watch List," stated CFPA Executive Director Brad Smith. "With two years of experience at Fordham, Wetzel will likely be an important target for the Rams in 2013."

Fordham players have earned CFPA honors in three consecutive seasons. Former tight end Stephen Skelton earned CFPA honors in 2010, while specialist Patrick Murray earned the 2011 CFPA Placekicker Award and 2012 CFPA Punter Award. Carlton Koonce was named to the 2013 CFPA Running Back Award Watch List last week.

Wetzel, who was named First Team All-Patriot League at wide receiver and Second Team as a return specialist last fall, led the 2012 Rams with 72 catches for 1,042 yards and seven touchdowns. He ranked fourth on the Fordham single season reception list and fifth on the receiving yards list and became just the third Ram to accumulate more than 1,000 receiving yards in a season (Javarus Dudley did it three times and Jason Caldwell once). Wetzel led the Patriot League and was 18th in the NCAA FCS in receiving yards/game (94.7) and ranked third in the league and 22nd in the NCAA FCS in receptions/game (6.5).

On the year, Wetzel had seven 100-yard receiving games, including a career-best 187 yards on 14 catches in the season finale with Colgate. The 14 receptions tied the Fordham single game record while the 187 receiving yards was the seventh most in a game in school history. Wetzel now has eight 100-yard receiving games in his career, tied for fourth best at Fordham.

On special teams, Wetzel returned 31 kickoffs for 713 yards (23.0 yards/return) and 15 punts for 82 yards (5.5 yards/return). He was second in the Patriot League, and 51st in the NCAA FCS, in kickoff return average and second in all-purpose yards, behind Koonce (167.3 yards/game).

All CFPA recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. All players are eligible for awards at their respective positions; players are not preemptively eliminated from consideration.

Currently, there are 111 CFPA recipients listed on official 2013 NFL rosters. More than 130 CFPA recipients have signed professional contracts, and twenty-one have been first-round NFL Draft selections. Current CFPA winners performing as NFL wide receivers include: Dez Bryant, Tavon Austin, Golden Tate, Justin Blackmon, Kendall Wright, Leonard Hankerson, Ryan Broyles, Damian Williams, Chris Summers, Joe Adams, Danario Alexander, Eric Page, Brian Quick, Aaron Mellette, Brandon Kaufman, Reggie Dunn, and Da'Rick Rogers.

Last season, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel earned the 2012 CFPA National Performer of the Year Trophy, while Harvard quarterback Colton Chapple earned the 2012 CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy. Multiple award presentations were broadcast live nationally on ESPN, CBS, Fox Sports, Big Ten Network, Pac 12 Network, as well as internationally on BYUtv.

The full list of 2013 recipients, including the 2013 CFPA FCS Awards, will be announced on January 8, 2014.

For more information, visit the Official CFPA Website (http://www.collegefootballperformance.com). Follow CFPA on Twitter @CFPerformance.