BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford freshman wide receiver Brendan Jenkins was named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List, Stats Perform announced on Wednesday morning. 
 
The Jerry Rice Award debuted in 2011 to honor the most outstanding freshman player in the Football Championship Subdivision.
 
Jenkins has hauled in 28 passes for 229 yards and four touchdowns over the opening seven games of the season. The freshman's four scores are tied for most in the country by a freshman wideout and is the only freshman from the Southern Conference to make the watch list. 
 
To be eligible for the Jerry Rice Award, a freshman must be considered a freshman by his conference in his first or second academic year without surpassing 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.
 
The Rice Award will be presented at the national awards banquet on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas, along with 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.