Four SoCon Players Named to the Jerry Rice Watch List

Read the full Stats Perform release  here .

Furman's James Named To Jerry Rice Watch List

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman freshman wide receiver  Evan James  has been named to the Stats Perform 2025 Jerry Rice Award Watch List, it was announced today.

James, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound product of Apopka, Fla., is among a standout group of 22 players to be named to the watch list for the award, which honors the FCS freshman of the year in college football's Division I sub-division.

James racked up 32 receptions for 379 yards and two touchdowns, and also rushed four times for 52 yards and a score in Furman's first four games before sustaining a shoulder injury in a 31-13 road victory over Samford on Sept. 27.

He pulled down 10 receptions for 134 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown catch, in a 28-24 road win over Campbell — a performance that netted him Stats Perform National Freshman Player of the Week laurels.

Mercer's Atkinson Adorns Jerry Rice Award Watch List

MACON – National recognition continued to roll in for newcomer  Braden Atkinson  on Wednesday morning when the freshman signal called was among 22 standouts nationwide that have been nominated to the watch list for the 2025 Jerry Rice Award which honors the FCS freshman of the year.
 
Atkinson has been key amid Mercer's current 5-game win streak, throwing for 1,515 yards and 16 touchdowns on 122-for-174 passing with just four interceptions in his first five games as the starter. He has tossed three or more touchdown passes in four of his five games as a starter under center, including a school record-matching 5-touchdown performance in the home win over Samford on October 4.
 
Atkinson currently ranks second among FCS quarterbacks with 303.0 yards per game, while also ranking among the top 10 in four other offensive statistical categories.

VMI's Sweeney named to 2025 Jerry Rice Award Watch List

LEXINGTON, Va. – Redshirt freshman receiver  Owen Sweeney  was named to the 2025 Jerry Rice Award Watch List on Wednesday, which honors the FCS Freshman Player of the Year.

A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Sweeney was injured in his third game in 2024 and has come back strong in 2025, hauling in 31 receptions for 580 yards and seven touchdowns in just six games. Sweeney opened up 2025 with 126 yards and a touchdown at Navy, has eclipsed 100 yards three times, and scored a touchdown in all but one game this season.

After leaving the prior game due to injury, Sweeney returned against Samford with a career-high 13 catches for 208 yards and a touchdown against Samford. Sweeney became just the sixth Keydet in program history to record a 200-yard receiving game.

Wofford's Darius Malcom Jr. Named to Jerry Rice Award Watch List

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A standout group of 22 players has been nominated to the watch list of the Stats Perform 2025 Jerry Rice Award, which honors the FCS freshman player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. Wofford defensive back  Darius Malcolm Jr.  is one of the 22 players to earn a spot on the watch list.
 
Malcolm, a second-year freshman from Atlanta, Georgia, leads the team in total tackles with 51. He has seven pass break-ups and 3.5 tackles for loss. Against Western Carolina, he had a career-high 17 tackles, which ranks 13^th in the nation for tackles in a single game. Among SoCon leaders, he is ninth in total tackles and second in pass break-ups.