SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A standout group of 22 players has been nominated to the watch list of the Stats Perform 2025 Jerry Rice Award, which honors the FCS freshman player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. Wofford defensive back Darius Malcolm Jr. is one of the 22 players to earn a spot on the watch list.
 
Malcolm, a second-year freshman from Atlanta, Georgia, leads the team in total tackles with 51. He has seven pass break-ups and 3.5 tackles for loss. Against Western Carolina, he had a career-high 17 tackles, which ranks 13^th in the nation for tackles in a single game. Among SoCon leaders, he is ninth in total tackles and second in pass break-ups.
 
Malcolm joins Furman wide receiver Evan James, Mercer quarterback Braden Atkinson and VMI wide receiver Owen Sweeny as the only four on the watch list from the Southern Conference.
 
The Rice Award, celebrating its 15th anniversary season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, who starred in the FCS at Mississippi Valley State University. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. True and redshirt freshmen are eligible for the Jerry Rice Award. A national voting panel will select the winner from a group of finalists following the regular season.
 
The 2025 Jerry Rice Award recipient will be announced on Dec. 3 and honored at the Stats Perform National Awards Show on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee. Also to be presented 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), HBCU National Player of the Year and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
 
Wofford will visit East Tennessee State on Saturday, Oct. 25, for a 3:30 p.m. contest.