SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A standout list of 25 players have been named as finalists for the Stats Perform 2024 Jerry Rice Award, which honors the FCS freshman player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. Wofford defensive back C.J. Coombes is one of the 25 players to be named a finalist.
 
Coombes, a second-year freshman from Bellefonte, Delaware, is second on the team in total tackles with 88. Among the SoCon leaders he is eleventh in total tackles. Against William & Mary he led the Terriers in tackles with 13 and in the fourth quarter he recovered a fumble. He was named the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week following that contest. He either led or tied for the team-high in tackles in four games, including the season finale at South Carolina.
 
Coombes, Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens, and Mercer defensive end Andrew Zook were the only three from the Southern Conference to be named finalists.
 
The Rice Award, now in its 14th season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. To be eligible for the Jerry Rice Award, a player must be considered a freshman by his conference in his first academic year or second if he did not surpass four regular-season games played in the true freshman season (the NCAA redshirt rule).
 
The 2024 Jerry Rice Award recipient will be announced on Dec. 4 and honored at the Stats Perform National Awards Banquet on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas. Other awards at the banquet are 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), Urban Edge Network HBCU+ Player of the Year and FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.