Jensen named to Jerry Rice Award watch list

Montana freshman quarterback Gresch Jensen is one of 17 named to the early 2017 Jerry Rice Award watch list.

The award has been presented every year since 2011 to the top player in the FCS.

Jensen, who took over under center after previous starter Reese Phillips was injured in mid-September, is curently 109 of 178 with 1,630 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions.

He’s also logged 115 yards and four touchdowns on 33 carries in his seven games.

He is the only representative from the Big Sky Conference to appear on this first edition of the 2017 list. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on 20 finalists following the regular season.

Other candidates are listed here in alphabetical order:

Bryson Armstrong, Kennesaw State, LB, 5-11, 201, Marietta, Georgia

Statistics: 56 tackles, 6 TFL, 6 sacks, 3 INT, 4 PBU, 2 FR, 1 FF, 1 BLK (7 games)

Grant Breneman, Colgate, QB, 6-1, 195, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

Statistics: 98 of 175 (56.1 percent), 1,188 yards, 12 TD, 1 INT; 89 carries, 268 yards, 4 TD (7 games)

Davis Cheek, Elon, QB, 6-2, 200, Matthews, North Carolina

Statistics: 93 of 148 (62.8 percent), 1,193 yards, 10 TD, 5 INT; 2 rushing TD (7 games)

Jabril Cox, North Dakota State, LB, 6-3, 220, Kansas City, Missouri

Statistics: 32 tackles, 4 1/2 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 FR, 1 FF (7 games)

Zane Dudek, Yale, RB, 5-9, 190, Kittanning, Pennsylvania

Statistics: 61 carries, 551 yards, 9.0 average, 8 TD; 11 receptions, 94 yards, 1 TD (6 games)

Wesley Dugger, Davidson, RB, 6-0, 192, Henrico, Virginia

Statistics: 136 carries, 721 yards, 4 TD (7 games)

Reynard Ellis, Furman, LB, 6-1, 227, Birmingham, Alabama

Statistics: 47 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 1 QBH (7 games)

Jaron Grayer, Maine, LB, 6-0, 224, Steelton, Pennsylvania

Statistics: 47 tackles, 4 1/2 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 FF (6 games)

Pete Guerriero, Monmouth, RB, 5-10, 195, Lyndhurst, New Jersey

Statistics: 93 carries, 586 yards, 6 TD; 8 receptions, 40 yards; 4 KR, 46.0 average, 1 TD (6 games)

Torrance Marable, Presbyterian, RB, 5-10, 185, Decatur, Georgia

Statistics: 111 carries, 592 yards, 3 TD; 6 catches, 86 yards, 2 TD (7 games)

Franklin “Mac” McCain III, North Carolina A&T, CB, 5-11, 174, Greensboro, North Carolina

Statistics: 33 TKL, 1 TFL, 5 INT (274 return yards), 3 TD, 6 PBU (8 games)

Caylin Newton, Howard, QB, 5-11, 195, Atlanta

Statistics: 85 of 163 (52.2 percent), 1,549 yards, 9 TD, 8 INT; 103 carries, 542 yards, 9 TD (7 games)

Kaelan Riley, Mercer, QB, 6-3, 231, Calhoun, Georgia

Statistics: 138 of 216 (63.9 percent), 1,726 yards, 13 TD, 6 INT; 62 carries, 172 yards, 3 TD (8 games)

Daniel Smith, Campbell, QB, 6-0, 200. Leesburg, Virginia

Statistics: 104 of 184 (56.5 percent), 1,401 yards, 15 TD, 3 INT; 77 carries, 711 yards, 9.2 average, 4 TD (7 games)

Isaiah Totten, North Carolina Central, RB/KR, 5-9, 185, Apex, North Carolina

Statistics: 87 carries, 525 yards, 4 TD; 2 catches, 8 yards; 11 KR, 19.6 average (7 games)

Mark Williams, Eastern Illinois, CB, 6-0, 160, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Statistics: 40 tackles, 3 INT (73 return yards), 1 TD, 6 PBU, 1 FR (8 games)