BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell rookie
VJ Wilkins has been named to the 2023 Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award watch list, which honors the national freshman of the year in college football's Division I subdivision and is presented by FedEx Ground.
The wide receiver is one of 22 FCS players on the midseason watch list, including one of four among CAA Football programs.
The Rice Award, now in its 13th season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance and Shedeur Sanders.
To be eligible for the Jerry Rice Award, a freshman must be considered a freshman by his conference in his first or second academic year without surpassing four games played in the previous academic year.
Wilkins is the fifth Camel to earn a spot on the Rice Award watch list, joining quarterback Daniel Smith (2017), wide receiver
Caleb Snead (2018), quarterback
Hajj-Malik Williams (2019) and linebacker
CJ Tillman (2021).
The Pfafftown, N.C. native owns 30 catches for 317 receiving yards and four touchdowns this season, one of five CAA receivers with at least 30 grabs. Wilkins tacks on three rushes for 20 yards, adding 358 kick return yards with a 19.89 yards per return average.
Wilkins has been named the CAA Freshman of the Week twice already this season, most recently after hauling in a season-high 114 yards on 10 catches, adding a touchdown against Elon.
The Camels will host CAA foe Maine this weekend, October 21, for Campbell's 2023 Homecoming.
22 FCS FRESHMEN NOMINATED TO JERRY RICE AWARD WATCH LIST
Marqui Adams, Delaware State, QB, 6-1, 175 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
Camden Coleman, Richmond, QB, 6-3, 220 (CAA Football)
Quincy Craig, Portland State, RB, 5-9, 185 (Big Sky Conference)
Champ Dozier, Houston Christian, RB, 5-8, 180 (Southland Conference)
MJ Flowers, Eastern Illinois, RB, 6-1, 195 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
Syeed Gibbs, Rhode Island, DB, 6-0, 180 (CAA Football)
Eli Gillman, Montana, RB, 6-0, 206 (Big Sky Conference)
Carter Glassmyer, Saint Francis, LB, 6-1, 210 (Northeast Conference)
Malachi Hosley, Penn, RB, 5-10, 185 (Ivy League)
Brendan Jenkins, Samford, WR, 6-1, 200 (Southern Conference)
Jaylon Joseph, Lafayette, DE, 6-2, 240 (Patriot League)
Alex McLaughlin, Northern Arizona, DB, 6-2, 190 (Big Sky Conference)
Mack Mikko, Presbyterian, PK, 5-8, 175 (Pioneer Football League)
Zach Mitchell, Southern Utah, WR, 5-11, 200 (United Athletic Conference)
Connor Moore, Montana State, LT, 6-5, 306 (Big Sky Conference)
Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, LB, 6-3, 230 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Marco Patierno, Elon, LB, 6-0, 225 (CAA Football)
Aaron Sears, Stephen F. Austin, CB, 5-10, 190 (United Athletic Conference)
Beau Sparks, Utah Tech, WR, 5-11, 180 (United Athletic Conference)
Tak Tateoka, St. Thomas, QB, 6-3, 196 (Pioneer Football League)
VJ Wilkins, Campbell, WR, 5-10, 160 (CAA Football)
Ty'Jarian Williams, Mississippi Valley State, QB, 6-3, 240 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
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 FedEx Ground Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
