Jerry Rice Award watch list names 30 FCS freshmen; namesake hosts camps, gives keynote
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The gist
Thirty FCS freshmen, including Harvard's Nathan Bailey, were named to the 2026 Jerry Rice Award watch list.
The award honors FCS freshman of the year and is named for Hall of Famer Jerry Rice.
Background
Jerry Rice is a Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver who played two decades in the NFL, including stints with the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks. The Jerry Rice Award, named after him, is presented annually to the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision, the tier below the top-level FBS) Freshman Player of the Year and is one of six honors making up the Stats Perform FCS National Awards. Both true freshmen and redshirt freshmen are eligible, with a national media panel picking the winner after the regular season from a group of finalists. This year's watch list matches the largest in the award's 16-year history.
How it unfolded
- Oct 20, 2026Harvard first-year wide receiver Nathan Bailey, Gardner-Webb defensive lineman Zalen Watkins, UC Davis's Treynor Cleeland and Columbia's Bryce Coleman were named to the 2026 Jerry Rice Award watch list; the list covers 30 standout freshmen.
- Oct 21, 2026North Carolina A&T's Donavan Frederick and Bethune-Cookman's Rashon Brown were also named to the watch list, with Brown one of two Southwestern Athletic Conference representatives.
- Oct 22, 2026Jerry Rice gave the keynote presentation 'Championship Culture in Manufacturing' at FABTECH.
- Oct 24, 2026Former 49ers stars Steve Young and Jerry Rice hosted a girls flag football camp at Jesuit High School in Carmichael, California, with Sutter Health.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Jerry Rice told FABTECH attendees that leaders must lead by example and work toward common goals, and that without putting in the work you can't perform at your best.
- Support
- Steve Young said teaming with Rice for the girls camp is about leveling the playing field and giving girls a chance to play.
- Expert
- Rice said the girls at the camp are 'much tougher than boys' and called the chance to team up with Young again 'so cool.'