Elon, N.C. – University University linebacker Marco Patierno was one of 22 FCS players named to the midseason Jerry Rice Award Watch List, which honors the national freshman of the year and is presented by FedEx Ground. Previous Jerry Rice Award winners include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance and Shedeur Sanders.
 

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OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

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Patierno is one of four players from CAA Football named the watch list and one of just seven defensive players honored, including three linebackers.
 
Through seven games of the 2023 season, Patierno is fourth on the team with 43 tackles, 20 of which are solo. He has 4.0 tackles for loss, 0.5 sack and a pass break-up. He had a season-high 11 tackles in Elon's 14-6 win over then-No. 5 William & Mary, adding 1.5 tackles for loss in that contest. He also had 1.5 tackles for loss in the win over North Carolina A&T. Patierno has recorded at least three tackles in every game this year.
 
Elon has had just one student-athlete named a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award over the 13 years that the award has been handed out. Quarterback Davis Cheek earned that honor in 2017.
 
To be eligible for the Jerry Rice Award, a player 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 redshirt rule.
 
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.
 
JERRY RICE AWARD WATCH LIST, PRESENTED BY FEDEX GROUND
Marqui Adams, Delaware State, QB, 6-1, 175 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Camden Coleman, Richmond, QB, 6-3, 220 (CAA Football)
Quincy Craig, Portland State, RB, 5-9, 185 (Big Sky Conference)
Champ Dozier, Houston Christian, RB, 5-8, 180 (Southland Conference)
MJ Flowers, Eastern Illinois, RB, 6-1, 195 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
Syeed Gibbs, Rhode Island, DB, 6-0, 180 (CAA Football)
Eli Gillman, Montana, RB, 6-0, 206 (Big Sky Conference)
Carter Glassmyer, Saint Francis, LB, 6-1, 210 (Northeast Conference)
Malachi Hosley, Penn, RB, 5-10, 185 (Ivy League)
Brendan Jenkins, Samford, WR, 6-1, 200 (Southern Conference)
Jaylon Joseph, Lafayette, DE, 6-2, 240 (Patriot League)
Alex McLaughlin, Northern Arizona, DB, 6-2, 190 (Big Sky Conference)
Mack Mikko, Presbyterian, PK, 5-8, 175 (Pioneer Football League)
Zach Mitchell, Southern Utah, WR, 5-11, 200 (United Athletic Conference)
Connor Moore, Montana State, LT, 6-5, 306 (Big Sky Conference)
Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, LB, 6-3, 230 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Marco Patierno, Elon, LB, 6-0, 225 (CAA Football)
Aaron Sears, Stephen F. Austin, CB, 5-10, 190 (United Athletic Conference)
Beau Sparks, Utah Tech, WR, 5-11, 180 (United Athletic Conference)
Tak Tateoka, St. Thomas, QB, 6-3, 196 (Pioneer Football League)
VJ Wilkins, Campbell, WR, 5-10, 160 (CAA Football)
Ty'Jarian Williams, Mississippi Valley State, QB, 6-3, 240 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)