SUBJECT: University of Delaware Football’s Blaine Woodson Named to Jerry Rice Freshman of the Year Watch List DATE: October 8, 2014 PHILADELPHIA -- University of Delaware redshirt freshman defensive tackle Blaine Woodson, who leads the Blue Hens in sacks midway through the season, has been named one of 21 players on The Sports Network Jerry Rice Award Watch List. The Jerry Rice Award is presented each season to the top freshman in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level. He is one of four players from the Colonial Athletic Association named to the list. Towson running back Terrance West won the inaugural Jerry Rice Award in 2011 while Villanova quarterback John Robertson won the award in 2012. The top first-year player in the FCS, whether a true freshman or a redshirt freshman, will win the award named for the legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice, who played in the FCS (then Division I-AA) at Mississippi Valley State. The award will be voted on by a national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries following the regular season. Woodson, a redshirt freshman from East Stroudsburg, Pa. (Stroudsburg High School), is one of 11 defensive players to make the list but one of only two lineman and the only defensive tackle named to the Watch List. He is joined by fellow CAA student-athletes in Albany wide receiver Josh Gontarek, Towson linebacker James Simms, and James Madison cornerback Jimmy Moreland. Woodson has been a menace on defense for the Blue Hens recently, recording two sacks each in wins over Colgate and vs. James Madison. He now leads the team with five sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss and ranks fifth with 25 tackles. His five sacks are the most ever by a UD freshman lineman in a season and just 1.5 shy of the all-time UD freshman mark of 6.5. He currently ranks No. 11 in the NCAA in sacks per game (1.0) and leads all freshmen in the category Joining Woodson on the list are Monmouth safety Mike Basile; Alabama State kicker/punter Preston Clark; VMI quarterback Al Cobb; Mercer wide receiver Chandler Curtis; Houston Baptiste linebacker Garrett Dolan; Fordham running back Chase Edmonds; Albany wide receiver Josh Gontarek; Houston Baptist punter Christian Guzman; Sam Houston State defensive end P.J. Hall; Idaho State linebacker Mario Jenkins; Mercer running back Alex Lakes; Jacksonville State offensive tackle Justin Lea; South Carolina State linebacker Darius Leonard; Alabama A&M wide receiver Octayvius Miles; James Madison cornerback Jimmy Moreland; Towson linebacker James Simms; Duquesne linebacker Nathan Stone; Weber State linebacker Emmett Tela; Chattanooga free safety Lucas Webb; and South Dakota State wide receiver Jake Wieneke. Delaware (3-2, 1-0 CAA) will look to get back on the winning track this Saturday when the Blue Hens host CAA newcomer Elon (1-4, 0-1 CAA) at 3:30 p.m. at Delaware Stadium for Parents & Family Weekend. Plenty of great seats are available for the game and can be purchased at bluehens, via phone (302-831-2257), at the Bob Carpenter Center Tickets Office, or purchased at the gate the day of the game. A season-high crowd is expected.
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 03:58:48 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015