GREENVILLE, S.C. – Furman redshirt freshman bandit Adrian Hope has been named to the STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award Watch List, it was announced Wednesday.

The Rice Award, named after the legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver, has been presented in the postseason to the FCS freshman player of the year since 2011.

Hope, a 6-foot-2, 218-pound native of Ocala, Florida, has registered 28 tackles and leads all FCS freshman with 12.5 sacks through nine games, ranking third overall nationally in the category. The season sacks tally is a Furman freshman record and the fourth-highest in program history. In addition, his 14.5 tackles-for-loss and three forced fumbles also lead Furman.

Hope, who registered 56 sacks playing 6A football in Florida at Ocala’s Vanguard High School, earned his first career sack in the Paladins’ season-opening game versus FBS second-ranked Clemson. He garnered a season-high three takedowns in a 44-38 win over Western Carolina and over the last six games has tallied 9.5 sacks, helping Furman go 5-1 over that span.

His late fourth-quarter sack and forced fumble led to a scoop and score by teammate Donavan Perryman that sealed a road victory over The Citadel.

Hope’s stellar work as come in a season that has seen one game canceled (vs. Colgate) due to Hurricane Florence and includes two games against run-heavy opponents: Wofford (34-14 win) and The Citadel (28-17 win).

A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on the award following the regular season.

Also this season, STATS 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 Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Furman plays at Mercer on Saturday in a 3 p.m. ESPN+ live streamed contest.