DAVIS, Calif. – UC Davis defensive back Rex Connors is one of 25 players named on Monday as a finalist for the 2022 Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice Award, which is presented to the national freshman of the year in college football's Division I subdivision.
 
The Rice Award, now in its 12th season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Past recipients include Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington), Miami Dolphins running back Chase Edmonds (Fordham) and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (North Dakota State).

Connors is one of three freshmen on the watch list to represent the Big Sky Conference. The Pleasant Grove, Utah native finished the season leading the Aggies with 92 tackles and five interceptions in 10 games. His 9.2 tackles per game rank third in the conference and his five picks and 0.50 interception per game paced the Big Sky.

He was named the Big Sky Co-Defensive Player of the Week and the FedEx Ground FCS Freshman Player of the Week after his 17-tackle, two interception performance in Week 2 at South Dakota State and added another conference nod after the win at Northern Colorado.

To be eligible for the Rice Award, a freshman must be in his first or second academic year and can't have surpassed four games played in the previous academic year – similar to the NCAA's regular redshirt rule. More players can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner following the regular season.
 
Also, this season, Stats Perform will present the Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive player of the year), Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) and FedEx Ground Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

The 2022 Jerry Rice Award finalists:

Quarterback
Cade Chambers, Indiana State, R-Fr., 6-4, 215 (MVFC)
Statistics: 65 of 146 (44.5%), 938 yards, 8 TDs, 3 INTs, 112.5 pass efficiency; 111 rush yards, 4 TDs (9 games)

Brady Meitz, R-Fr., 6-1, 182, Stetson (Pioneer)
Statistics: 203 of 345 (58.8%), 2,522 yards, 17 TDs, 10 INTs, 130.7 pass efficiency; 1 rush TD (9 games)

Gevani McCoy, Idaho, R-Fr., 6-0, 175 (Big Sky)
Statistics: 185 of 272 (68.0%), 2,376 TDs, 25 TDs, 5 INTs, 168.1 pass efficiency; 2 rush TDs (10 games)

Reese Poffenbarger, UAlbany, R-Fr., 6-0, 210 (CAA)
Statistics: 227 of 369 (61.5%), 2,999 yards, 24 TDs, 4 INTs, 149.1 pass efficiency; 2 rush TDs (11 games)

Noah Walters, North Alabama, Fr., 6-0, 190 (ASUN)
Statistics: 151 of 285 (60.0%), 2,149 yards, 19 TDs, 12 INTs, 129.9 pass efficiency; 212 rush yards, 2 TDs (11 games)

Running Back
Ryan Butler, Princeton, Fr., 5-11, 225 (Ivy)
Statistics: 128 carries, 501 yards (3.9 ypc), 11 TDs; 12 receptions, 1 TD (10 games)

Marquis Gillis, Delaware State, R-Fr., 6-0, 200 (MEAC)
Statistics: 112 carries, 545 yards (4.9 ypc), 5 TDs; 11 receptions (11 games)

Ismail Mahdi, Houston Baptist, Fr., 5-9, 180 (Southland)
Statistics: 112 carries, 568 yards (5.1 ypc), 2 TDs; 32 receptions, 333 yards, 3 TDs (8 games)

Joshua Pitsenberger, Yale, Fr., 6-0, 205 (Ivy)
Statistics: 120 carries, 667 yards (5.6 ypc), 7 TDs; 1 TD reception (10 games)

Sam Franklin, UT Martin, R-Fr., 5-10, 195 (Ohio Valley)
Statistics: 85 carries, 676 yards (8.0 ypc), 8 TDs; 12 receptions (11 games)

Desmond Reid, Western Carolina, Fr., 5-8, 170 (Southern)
Statistics: 119 carries, 826 yards (6.9 ypc), 4 TDs; 21 receptions, 212 yards, 1 TD (10 games)

Jerrell Wimbley, Stephen F. Austin, Fr., 5-11, 195 (WAC)
Statistics: 106 carries, 604 yards (5.7 ypc), 5 TDs; 12 receptions, 168 yards, 1 TD (10 games)

Wide Receiver
Seth Anderson, Charleston Southern, R-Fr., 6-0, 178 (Big South)
Statistics: 42 receptions, 612 yards (14.6 ypc), 7 TDs (10 games)

Makai Jackson, Saint Francis, Fr., 6-0, 190 (Northeast)
Statistics: 80 receptions, 920 yards (11.5 ypc), 8 TDs (11 games)

Defensive Line
Finn Claypool, Drake, R-Fr., 6-1, 240 (Pioneer)
Statistics: 48 tackles (28 solos), 14.5 TFLs (74 yards), 8 sacks, 11 QBH, 1 FR, 1 FF (11 games)

Eric O'Neill, LIU, R-Fr., 6-3, 240 (NEC)
Statistics: 51 tackles (32 solos), 21 TFLs (100 yards), 10 sacks, 1 PBU, 9 QBH, 2 FF (11 games)

Linebacker
Kohner Cullimore, Southern Utah, Fr., 5-11, 225 (WAC)
Statistics: 76 tackles (42 solos), 10 TFLs (60 yards), 2.5 sacks, 4 QBH, 1 FR, 1 FF (10 games)

Mason Woods, Towson R-Fr., 6-0, 200 (CAA)
Statistics: 77 tackles (27 solos), 5.5 TFL (12 yards), 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 3 PBU (11 games)

Defensive Back
Wedner Cadet, Georgetown, Fr., 6-1, 170 (Patriot)
Statistics: 35 tackles (24 solos), 5 INTs, 6 PBU, 1 FR (10 games)

Rex Connors, UC Davis, R-Fr., 6-1, 203 (Big Sky)
Statistics: 92 tackles (56 solos), 4 TFL (7 yards), 5 INTs, 5 PBU (10 games)

Eli Ennis, Nicholls, Fr., 6-2, 205 (Southland)
Statistics: 45 tackles (26 solos), 10 TFLs (30 yards), 2.5 sacks, 4 PBU, 7 QBH, 1 FF, 1 safety (9 games)

Travis Hunter, Jackson State, Fr., 6-1, 165 (SWAC)
Statistics: 12 tackles (8 solos), 2 INTs, 1 FR, 13 receptions, 140 yards (10.8 ypc), 2 TDs (6 games)

Jalen Jones, William & Mary, R-Fr., 6-0, 185 (CAA)
Statistics: 19 tackles (19 solos), 1 TFL (2 yards), 4 INTs, 7 PBU, 1 FR (10 games)

Adrian Maddox, Alabama State, Fr., 6-3, 200 (SWAC)
Statistics: 41 tackles (23 solos), 6 TFLs (24 yards), 1 sack, 2 INTs, 1 QBH, 1 FR, 1 BK (9 games)

Punter
Patrick Rohrbach, Montana, Fr., 5-11, 177 (Big Sky)
Statistics: 40 punts, 46.2 ypp, 42.2 net ypp, 68 long, 14 50+ yards (11 games)