UNH’s Silver among nation’s top freshmen

By rbrown
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Updated: October 27, 2021

RICHMOND, Va. – New Hampshire freshman defensive lineman Josiah Silver is among 22 players selected to the watch list for the 2021 Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice Award, which is presented to the national freshman of the year in FCS football.

Silver leads New Hampshire with 6.5 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss in seven games. He’s tied for second in the CAA and ranks 16^th in FCS in sacks, and is third in the CAA and 27^th in FCS in tackles for loss. Silver has also recorded 39 total tackles, which is the fourth-most on the team, and has one forced fumble.

The Rice Award, now in its 11th season, is named for the legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver. Past recipients include Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington), Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds (Fordham) and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (North Dakota State).

Joining the Jerry Rice Award Watch List:

Quarterback

Demeatric Crenshaw, Youngstown State (MVFC)

Zevi Eckhaus, Bryant (NEC)

RJ Martinez, Northern Arizona (Big Sky)

Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State (SWAC)

Running Back

Elijah Burris, Hampton (Big South)

Kobe Dillon, Southern (SWAC)

Darius Hale, Central Arkansas (ASUN)

Sy’Veon Wilkerson, Delaware State (MEAC)

Wide Receiver

Nate Bennett, Portland State (Big Sky)

Jacari Carter, Merrimack (NEC)

Drae McCray, Austin Peay (OVC)

Jalyn Witcher, Presbyterian (Pioneer)

Defensive Line

Thor Griffith, Harvard (Ivy)

Josiah Silver, New Hampshire (CAA)

Linebacker

James Conway, Fordham (Patriot)

Rodney Dansby, Houston Baptist (Southland)

Tyler King, Stony Brook (CAA)

Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri (OVC)

Defensive Back

Marsean Fisher, Tarleton (WAC)

Andreas Keaton, Western Carolina (Southern)

Dominick Poole, The Citadel (Southern)

Place-kicker

Blake Gessner, Montana State (Big Sky)

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