Post by trues on Sept 29, 2011 14:08:21 GMT -5
www.meacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=20800&ATCLID=205304178
GREENSBORO, September 29, 2011 - The Sports Network announced on Thursday its selections for the Jerry Rice Award Watch List. North Carolina A&T redshirt freshman linebacker D'Vonte Grant was one of 15 players from the Football Championship Subdivision to be placed on the list.
The Rice Award, presented by The Sports Network, honors the outstanding freshman in the FCS. A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will select the award winner after the regular season. The award is sponsored by Fathead.com.
Grant (5-10, 190, Charlotte, N.C.) has started all three games for the Aggies and leads the team in tackles with 25. He recorded 12 tackles and one quarterback hurry against Coastal Carolina last Saturday. Grant is the second Aggie to make an award watch list this year. Running back Mike Mayhew was selected to the Walter Payton Award Watch List during the preseason.
Rice, Pro Football Hall of Famer who played in the FCS (then Division I-AA) at Mississippi Valley State, will present the award at the national awards banquet on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas. Grant's current competition includes:
* Two quarterbacks: Jerry Lovelocke of Prairie View A&M and Greg McGhee of Howard;
* Five running backs: Andre Clarke of North Carolina Central, David Johnson of Northern Iowa, Ross Scheuerman of Lafayette, Jordan Talley of Eastern Washington and Shaun Warren of Western Carolina;
* Two wide receivers: R.J. Harris of New Hampshire and Brandon White of San Diego;
* Three linebackers: Michael Dallas II of the Morgan State, D'Vonte Grant of North Carolina A&T and Dillon Lucas of Villanova;
* Two cornerbacks: Eriq Lewis of Old Dominion and Zachary Senvisky of Morehead State;
* One punter: Garrett Mohr of Jacksonville.
The new award allows Rice to join three other football legends whose names adorn the top individual awards in the FCS: the Walter Payton (FCS outstanding player) and Eddie Robinson (FCS coach of the year) awards, which are celebrating their 25th anniversaries this season, and the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS outstanding defensive player) - each sponsored by Fathead.com.
