Hennessey Named To Jerry Rice Award Watch List

Central Connecticut State kicker Jack Hennessey has been named to the Stats Perform 2025 Jerry Rice Award watch list. The award honors the FCS freshman player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision.

STATS PERFORM ANNOUNCEMENT

Hennessey is leading the NEC in field goals per game, 1.13 per game and field goal percentage, 75 percent. His 1.13 makes per game is 31^st in the nation through October 18, while his percentage is 46^th in FCS this season. Hennesey is third in the NEC in scoring, averaging 6.5 points per game, and ranks sixth in the league with 52 points.

A native of Endwell, NY, Hennesey is 9-12 on field goal attempts this season, with a long kick of 35 yards. He has been perfect on PAT attempts, going 25-25 after the Blue Devils score a touchdown.

The Rice Award, celebrating its 15th anniversary season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, who starred in the FCS at Mississippi Valley State University. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders.

True and redshirt freshmen are eligible for the Jerry Rice Award. A national voting panel will select the winner from a group of finalists following the regular season.

 The 2025 Jerry Rice Award recipient will be announced on Dec. 3 and honored at the Stats Perform National Awards Show on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee. Also to be presented are 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), HBCU National Player of the Year and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

2025 Jerry Rice Award Watch List

Braden Atkinson, Mercer, QB, 6-1, 215 (Southern Conference)

Trevor Barry, New Hampshire, LB, 6-1, 222 (CAA Football)

Rico Bond, Lindenwood, 6-1, 177 (OVC-Big South Football Association)

Cason Carswell, Western Illinois, QB, 6-3, 190 (OVC-Big South Football Association)

Landen Clark, Elon, QB, 6-0, 186 (CAA Football)

EJ Colson, UIW, QB, 6-1, 190 (Southland Conference)

Brooks Davis, Montana, WR, 6-0, 174 (Big Sky Conference)

Xai'Shaun Edwards, Houston Christian, RB, 5-9, 195 (Southland Conference)

Eric Handley, Alabama A&M, QB, 6-2, 200 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)

Chase Hatton, Marist, S, 5-11, 208 (Pioneer Football League)

Jaiden Haygood, UTRGV, LB, 6-0, 215 (Southland Conference)

Jack Hennessey, Central Connecticut State, PK, 5-10, 190 (NEC Football)

Andrew Indorf, Towson, QB, 6-1, 195 (CAA Football)

Evan James, Furman, WR, 5-11, 170 (Southern Conference)

Lamont Lester Jr., Monmouth, DE, 6-2, 230 (CAA Football)

Darius Malcolm Jr., Wofford, DB, 5-11, 175 (Southern Conference)

Tre Page III, Tarleton State, RB, 5-9, 180 (United Athletic Conference)

Caden Pinnick, UC Davis, QB, 6-0, 200 (Big Sky Conference)

Josh Robinson, Princeton, WR, 5-7, 165 (Ivy League)

Montreze Smith Jr., Austin Peay, LB, 5-11, 204 (United Athletic Conference)

Mitchell Summers, Sacred Heart, RB, 5-7, 155 (FCS Independent)

Owen Sweeney, VMI, WR, 6-4, 200 (Southern Conference)