Portland State freshman quarterback Kieran McDonagh was named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List today as one of the top freshmen in the nation at the NCAA I FCS level.

McDonagh, a true freshman from Vancouver's Skyview High School, has been the catalyst for a Viking offense this season that ranks second in the Big Sky Conference in scoring (35.4 points per game) and total offense (440.9 yards per game). The Vikings are 13th in the nation in scoring and 16th in total offense.

For his part, McDonagh is averaging 259.1 yards of total offense per game. He has completed 146 of 261 passes for 1,999 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions. McDonagh has run 72 times for 333 yards and eight touchdowns. He also has a 22-yard touchdown reception.

While other true freshmen have started at quarterback in Portland State history, McDonagh is believed to be the first true freshman to start his first game. He has started all nine contests for the Vikings this year and is now the all-time freshman passing leader at PSU (Neil Lomax, 1,670 yards in 1977; Drew Hubel, 1,470 yards in 2007).

McDonagh earned National Freshman of the Week honors on Oct. 6 after leading the Vikings to a 77-10 win over Idaho State. He was 15-23 passing for 280 yards and a touchdown, rushed 10 times for 66 yards and four touchdowns, and caught a 22-yard touchdown pass.

This Saturday, the 6-1, 240-pound McDonagh will take on a significant challenge when the Vikings (3-6/2-4) travel to second-ranked Montana State (8-1/5-1) for a Big Sky Conference game. The contest will be televised on Root Sports beginning at 12:30 Pacific Time.


From the official Sports Network release:


Five join Jerry Rice Award Watch List
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Voting for the Jerry Rice Award won't be easy considering all the good candidates.

The possibilities grew on Thursday as quarterbacks Scott Lathrop of Southeast Missouri State and Kieran McDonagh of Portland State, running back Jake Hutson of Valparaiso, and linebackers Elandon Roberts of Morgan State and Jeff Williams of Delaware joined the Rice Award Watch List of 20 players.

The Rice Award, in its second year, honors the national freshman of the year in the Football Championship Subdivision.

The Rice Award is named for legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice, who was a two-time first-team All-American 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, and presented at the FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation on Dec. 17 in Philadelphia.

Nominees for the Jerry Rice Award Watch List:

Vernon Adams, Eastern Washington, Quarterback, 6-0, 180
8 games: 49 carries, 259 yards; 103-for-162, 1,357 yards, 14 TD, 6 INT, 155.05 passing efficiency; 202 ypg of total offense

Zak Browning, Southern Utah, Linebacker, 5-11, 215
9 games: 102 tackles (60 solo) - 11.3 tpg, 4.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 3 PBU, 1 FR, 4 FF

Reese Hannon, Furman, Quarterback, 6-2, 201
8 games: 135-for-214, 6 TD, 5 INT, 132.67 passing efficiency; 202.4 ypg of total offense

Ryan Heaston, Missouri State, Running Back, 5-10, 174
7 games: 84 carries, 424 yards; 15 receptions, 173 yards

Jacob Huesman, Chattanooga, Quarterback, 6-1, 190
9 games: 150 carries, 727 yards, 6 TD; 132-for-200, 1,244 yards, 11 TD, 5 INT, 131.40 passing efficiency; 219 ypg of total offense

Jake Hutson, Valparaiso, Running Back, 5-6, 180
9 games: 126 carries, 629 yards, 6 TD; 23 receptions, 174 yards; 949 all- purpose yards (105.4 per game)

Jameer Jackson, North Dakota, Wide Receiver, 6-3, 233
10 games: 49 receptions, 636 yards, 6 TD, 13.0 ypc, 63.6 ypg

Miles Killebrew, Southern Utah, Strong Safety, 6-3, 201
10 games: 60 tackles (39 solo), 5 PBU, 1 FR, 1 BK, 2 TD

Sawyer Kollmorgen, Northern Iowa, Quarterback, 6-2, 215
9 games: 152-for-264, 2,027 yards, 18 TD, 7 INT, 139.27 passing effiency; 231.9 ypg of total offense

T.J. Lally, South Dakota State, Linebacker, 6-0, 225
9 games: 75 tackles (53 solo) - 8.3 tpg, 7 TFL, 6 sacks, 2 INT, 2 QBH, 1 FR, 2 FF

Scott Lathrop, Southeast Missouri State, Quarterback, 5-10, 175
9 games: 157 carries, 603 yards, 6 TD; 80-for-138, 908 yards, 6 TD, 5 INT

Kieran McDonagh, Portland State, Quarterback, 6-1, 240
9 games: 146-for-261, 2,004 yards, 13 TD, 9 INT, 129.98 passing efficiency; 72 carries, 333 yards, 8 TD; 259.7 ypg of total offense

Sean Price, Appalachian State, Wide Receiver, 6-5, 210
8 games: 58 receptions, 914 yards, 8 TD, 15.8 ypc, 114.3 ypg

J.J. Raffelson, Western Illinois, Linebacker, 6-3, 235
9 games: 85 tackles (37 solo) - 9.4 tpg, 2.5 TFL, 2 PBU

Luke Rhodes, William & Mary, Linebacker, 6-2, 230
9 games: 66 tackles (28 solo), 4 TFL, 3 PBU, 1 QBH, 1 FF

Elandon Roberts, Morgan State, Linebacker, 6-1, 225
9 games: 83 tackles (48 solo) - 9.2 tpg, 7 TFL, 1 INT

John Robertson, Villanova, Quarterback, 6-1, 200
9 games: 136 carries, 741 yards, 10 TD; 114-for-187, 12 TD, 5 INT, 143.99 passing efficiency; 248.6 ypg of total offense

Andre Stubbs, Youngstown State, All-Purpose, 5-6, 160
8 games: 967 all-purpose yards (120.9 per game), 2 TD

Jeff Williams, Delaware, Linebacker, 6-2, 210
9 games: 58 tackles (35 solo), 13 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 2 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF

Josh Woodrum, Liberty, Quarterback, 6-3, 210
9 games: 151-for-216 (69.9 percent), 1,646 yards, 10 TD, 8 INT, 141.79 passing effiency