Monday, November 10, 2014
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Butler University freshman running back Sam Schrader has been named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List, it was announced today. The announcement was made by The Sports Network, which presents the award to the nation’s top freshman football player who plays in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision at its national awards banquet in December.

Schrader, of Mishawaka, Indiana, is the Pioneer Football League's top freshman running back, with 526 yards (75.1 ypg) and eight touchdowns in seven conference games. He ranks sixth among FCS freshmen in rushing (60.4 ypg) and seventh in scoring (6.6 ppg). Schrader rushed for 193 yards against Stetson, Oct. 4, and had a four touchdown performance against Morehead State, Nov. 1.

This is the fourth season the Jerry Rice Award has been presented by The Sports Network. It was named after NFL legend Jerry Rice, who was a collegiate star at Mississippi Valley State.

The current Jerry Rice Award Watch List:

• Mike Basile, Monmouth
• Al Cobb, VMI
• Chandler Curtis, Mercer
• Garrett Dolan, Houston Baptist
• Chase Edmonds, Fordham
• Josh Gontarek, Albany
• Christian Guzman, Houston Baptist
• P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State
• Austin Howard, Southern
• Mario Jenkins, Idaho State
• Alex Lakes, Mercer
• Justin Lea, Jacksonville State
• Darius Leonard, South Carolina State
• Yedidiah Louis, Sam Houston State
• Octayvius Miles, Alabama A&M
• Jimmy Moreland, James Madison
• Daniel Riddle, Western Carolina
• Sam Schrader, Butler
• James Simms, Towson
• Nathan Stone, Duquesne
• Emmett Tela, Weber State
• Lucas Webb, Chattanooga
• Hunter Wells, Youngstown State
• Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State
• Blaine Woodson, Delaware