Numbers impressive among Jerry Rice Award finalists

Philadelphia, PA – The 20 finalists for the 2012 Jerry Rice Award must think they are playing a video game.

And they're starring in it.

The group's impressive statistics in the regular season almost don't seem real for first-year players. As a result, each is hoping to be honored with the national freshman of the year award in the Football Championship Subdivision.

The list was finalized Monday with the addition of Delaware State safety Terrick Colston, Southern Utah defensive end James Cowser and Cornell running back Luke Hagy.

The Rice Award, in its second year, is named for legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice, who was a two-time first-team All-American 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 this week, and presented at the FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation on Dec. 17 in Philadelphia.

The 20 finalists for the Jerry Rice Award:

Vernon Adams, Eastern Washington, Quarterback, 6-0, 180

10 games: 57 carries, 308 yards, 1 TD; 116-of-186, 1,581 yards, 14 TD, 6 INT, 152.15 passing efficiency; 188.9 ypg of total offense

Zak Browning, Southern Utah, Linebacker, 5-11, 215

10 games: 115 tackles (69 solo) - 11.5 tpg, 5.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 3 PBU, 1 FR, 4 FF

Terrick Colston, Delaware State, Safety, 6-1, 180

11 games: 95 tackles (46 solo) - 8.6 tpg, 2.5 TFL, 3 INT, 5 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF, 1 TD

James Cowser, Southern Utah, Defensive End, 6-4, 244

11 games: 61 tackles (32 solo), 13.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 5 QBH, 1 FR, 1 FF

Luke Hagy, Cornell, Running Back, 6-0, 186

10 games: 118 carries, 528 yards, 7 TD; 48 receptions, 513 yards, 2 TD

Reese Hannon, Furman, Quarterback, 6-2, 201

10 games: 160-of-260, 1,896 yards, 7 TD, 8 INT, 125.52 passing efficiency; 184.6 ypg of total offense

Jacob Huesman, Chattanooga, Quarterback, 6-1, 190

11 games: 195 carries, 904 yards, 7 TD; 167-for-256, 1,707 yards, 13 TD, 5 INT, 134.10 passing efficiency; 237.4 ypg of total offense

Jake Hutson, Valparaiso, Running Back, 5-6, 180

11 games: 152 carries, 753 yards, 8 TD; 35 receptions, 266 yards; 1,216 all- purpose yards (110.6 per game)

Jameer Jackson, North Dakota, Wide Receiver, 6-3, 233

11 games: 56 receptions, 709 yards, 6 TD, 12.7 ypc, 64.5 ypg

Sawyer Kollmorgen, Northern Iowa, Quarterback, 6-2, 215

11 games: 185-of-313, 2,450 yards, 21 TD, 8 INT, 141.88 passing effiency; 228.4 ypg of total offense

T.J. Lally, South Dakota State, Linebacker, 6-0, 225

11 games: 89 tackles (63 solo) - 8.1 tpg, 8 TFL, 6 sacks, 2 INT, 2 QBH, 1 FR, 2 FF

Scott Lathrop, Southeast Missouri State, Quarterback, 5-10, 175

11 games: 211 carries, 824 yards, 7 TD; 91-for-158, 1,025 yards, 7 TD, 5 INT; 168.1 ypg of total offense

Kieran McDonagh, Portland State, Quarterback, 6-1, 240

11 games: 171-of-314, 2,192 yards, 14 TD, 13 INT, 119.53 passing efficiency; 89 carries, 406 yards, 9 TD; 236.2 ypg of total offense

Sean Price, Appalachian State, Wide Receiver, 6-5, 210

9 games: 68 receptions, 1,029 yards, 8 TD, 15.1 ypc, 114.3 ypg

J.J. Raffelson, Western Illinois, Linebacker, 6-3, 235

11 games: 105 tackles (41 solo) - 9.5 tpg, 4 TFL, 2 PBU

Luke Rhodes, William & Mary, Linebacker, 6-2, 230

11 games: 72 tackles (31 solo), 4 TFL, 3 PBU, 1 QBH, 1 FF

Elandon Roberts, Morgan State, Linebacker, 6-1, 225

11 games: 107 tackles (59 solo) - 9.7 tpg, 8.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 2 QBH

John Robertson, Villanova, Quarterback, 6-1, 200

11 games: 174 carries, 936 yards, 13 TD; 137-of-222, 1,830 yards, 14 TD, 5 INT, 147.26 passing efficiency; 251.5 ypg of total offense

Jeff Williams, Delaware, Linebacker, 6-2, 210

10 games: 61 tackles (36 solo), 14 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 3 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF

Josh Woodrum, Liberty, Quarterback, 6-3, 210

11 games: 183-of-267 (68.5 percent), 1,966 yards, 11 TD, 9 INT, 137.24 passing effiency; 178.5 ypg of total offense