Freshman wide receiver Nate Bennett has been named to the 2021 Jerry Rice Award Watch List by Stats Perform, sponsor of NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision post-season awards.
 
Bennett is one of 22 true and redshirt freshmen from across the nation that are currently being considered for the Jerry Rice Award, which is presented to the national freshman of the year at the FCS level. Past recipients include Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington), Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds (Fordham) and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (North Dakota State).
 
Bennett, a 6-3, 195-pound wide receiver from Simi Valley, CA, has started all seven games for the Vikings going into this weekend's contest against Cal Poly. Bennett has 33 receptions for 471 yards and four touchdowns, ranking second on the team in each category. He is seventh in the Big Sky Conference in receiving yards, sixth in receptions and tied for fifth in receiving touchdowns.
 
Bennett has played well against top competition. He had five receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown in the season-opener against Hawai'i of the Mountain West Conference. Bennett followed that with six receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown against Washington State of the Pac-12. He has at least four receptions in every game this season.
 
Bennett is part of a talented class of freshmen making a big impact for the Vikings this season. Among them are: LB Parker McKenna (7 starts, team-high 57 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1 FR), OLs Richard Estrella (7 starts) and D'Angalo Titiali'i (3 starts), WR Darien Chase (4 starts, 26 receptions, 328 yards), LB Justice Pagan (4 starts, 30 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 1.5 SKs, 2 PBUs), DB Tyreese Shakir (4 starts, 17 tackles, 1 SK, 1 INT, 2 FRs, 2 PBUs, 1 TD) and K Gianni Smith (4-6 FGs, 14-14 PAT). In all, PSU has played 22 freshmen this season.
 
The Jerry Rice Award Watch List
 
Quarterback
Demeatric Crenshaw, Youngstown State (MVFC)
Zevi Eckhaus, Bryant (NEC)
RJ Martinez, Northern Arizona (Big Sky)
Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State (SWAC)
 
Running Back
Elijah Burris, Hampton (Big South)
Kobe Dillon, Southern (SWAC)
Darius Hale, Central Arkansas (ASUN)
Sy'Veon Wilkerson, Delaware State (MEAC)
 
Wide Receiver
Nate Bennett, Portland State (Big Sky)
Jacari Carter, Merrimack (NEC)
Drae McCray, Austin Peay (OVC)        
Jalyn Witcher, Presbyterian (Pioneer)
 
Defensive Line
Thor Griffith, Harvard (Ivy)
Josiah Silver, New Hampshire (CAA)
 
Linebacker
James Conway, Fordham (Patriot)
Rodney Dansby, Houston Baptist (Southland)
Tyler King, Stony Brook (CAA)
Bryce Norman, Southeast Missouri (OVC)
 
Defensive Back
Marsean Fisher, Tarleton (WAC)
Andreas Keaton, Western Carolina (Southern)
Dominick Poole, The Citadel (Southern)
 
Place-kicker
Blake Gessner, Montana State (Big Sky)
 
More players can join the watch list before a 50-member, national media panel selects the winner following the regular season. Also this season, Stats Perform will present 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) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.