P. J. Hall named to Rice Award Watch List
10/8/2014 3:51:00 PM | Football
Sam Houston defensive end P. J. Hall has been named to the 20-player “watch list” for the Jerry Rice award.
The honor is awarded annually to the most outstanding FCS freshman player. The winner is selected by a nationwide panel of media and college sports information directors. The winner will be announced at The Sports Network FCS Awards Presentation Dec. 15 in Philadelphia.
The trophy is named in honor of Jerry Rice, the NFL hall of fame wide receiver, who starred at Mississippi Valley State University.
Hall has started the last four games for Sam Houston and ranks as the team's fourth-leading tackler. The 6-1 270-pound defender has 26 total stops this year including seven tackles for 26 yards in losses.
“It's really exciting to be nominated for this award,” Hall said. “It means I'm doing what I need to be doing to help my team. I was striving for this because I knew Mouf Adebo was nominated last year. One of my goals this season was to be nominated for this award too.”
The redshirt freshman from Sequin was named Southland Conference football “Defensive Player of the Week” after helping lead Sam Houston to a 42-10 victory over Lamar in the Bearkats' most recent game in Beaumont September 20.
“The amazing thing about P. J. is that he has been playing with one hand. We've been having to play him on the outside because of his cast. Now, that the cast is off, we can move him around. P. J. is one of the best defensive lineman in the country and that's not just including freshmen. He's a beast. He can play any of the defensive line spots, which is unusual.”
Hall led the Bearkat defense in the Lamar game with seven total tackles and blocked a field goal at Lamar as Sam Houston limited the Cardinals to only 345 yards of total offense and 10 points. The Cardinals came into the game with a 3-1 record and ranked as the league's leaders in scoring (42.3 points) and total offense (497.5 yards).
Most recent Jerry Rice Award winners have been Cooper Kupp of Eastern Washington in 2013 and John Robertson of Villanova in 2012.
Sam Houston State plays host to McNeese State for homecoming on Saturday October 11.
Kickoff for the Bearkats versus Cowboys game is 3 p.m. at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium.
The initial 20 players on the Jerry Rice Award Watch List:
Mike Basile, Monmouth, Safety, 6-1, 185, Brick, N.J.
5 games: 32 TT, 25 Solo, 1 TFL, 3 INT, 4 PBU
Preston Clark, Alabama State, Place-kicker/Punter, 6-1, 175, Jacksonville, Fla.
6 games: 10-for-11 FG, 44 long, 50 points; 44 punts, 33.8-yard average, 54 long, 3 TB, 15 FC, 14 I20, 2 50-plus
Al Cobb, VMI, Quarterback, 6-3, 190, Pulaski, Tenn.
6 games: 125-for-195 (64.1 percent), 1,351 yards, 7 TD, 5 INT, 129.0 passing efficiency, 225.2 ypg
Chandler Curtis, Mercer, Wide Receiver/Return Specialist, 5-10, 186, Calhoun, Ga.
6 games: 1 carry, 23 yards, 1 TD; 8 receptions, 213 yards, 3 TD; 9 kickoff returns, 30.6-yard average, 1 TD
Garrett Dolan, Houston Baptist, Linebacker, 6-2, 235, Mont Belveiu, Texas
5 games: 49 TT, 35 Solo, 4.5 TFL, 2.5 SK, 1 PBU
Chase Edmonds, Fordham, Running Back/Kick Returner, 5-9, 185, Harrisburg, Pa.
6 games: 128 carries, 910 yards, 7.1 ypc, 10 TD, 151.7 ypg; 7 receptions, 52 yards, 1 TD; 212.7 all-purpose yards per game
Josh Gontarek, Albany, Wide Receiver/Return Specialist, 5-11, 170, Mt. Airy, Md.
5 games: 22 receptions, 264 yards, 4 TD; 90.6 all-purpose yards per game
Christian Guzman, Houston Baptist, Punter, 5-9, 160, Brookshire, Texas
5 games: 24 punts, 45.8-yard average, 61 long, 2 TB, 1 FC, 5 I20, 10 50-plus
P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State, Defensive End, 6-1, 270, Seguin, Texas
5 games: 26 TT, 13 Solo, 7 TFL, 2 SK, 1 PBU, 1 BLK
Mario Jenkins, Idaho State, Linebacker, 6-1, 205, Nampa, Idaho
5 games: 50 TT, 35 Solo, 3.5 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 1 QBH
Alex Lakes, Mercer, Running Back, 5-10, 205, Newnan, Ga.
6 games: 94 carries, 600 yards, 6.4 ypc, 9 TD, 100 ypg, 3 receptions, 44 yards
Justin Lea, Jacksonville State, Right Tackle, 6-4, 275, Henagar, Ala.
Starter at right tackle for Gamecocks team that is ranked No. 9 nationally in rushing offense and No. 12 in total offense.
Darius Leonard, South Carolina State, Linebacker, 6-3, 200, Lake View, S.C.
6 games: 39 TT, 7 TFL, 3 SK, 1 PBU, 2 FR, 1 FF
Octayvius Miles, Alabama A&M, Wide Receiver/Kick Returner, 5-10, 165, Mesquite, Texas
6 games: 10 receptions, 291 yards, 4 TD; 13 kickoff returns, 27.2-yard average, 1 TD
Jimmy Moreland, James Madison, Cornerback, 5-10, 175, Royal Palm Beach, Fla.
6 games: 27 TKL, 22 Solo, 2 INT, 5 PBU, 2 FR, 2 BLK
James Simms, Towson, Linebacker, 6-3, 190, Laurel, Md.
6 games: 64 TKL, 17 Solo, 4 TFL, 2 PBU, 2 QBH, 1 FF
Nathan Stone, Duquesne, Linebacker, 5-11, 234, Scottsdale, Pa.
5 games: 37 TT, 21 Solo, 2 TFL, 2 SK, 3 PBU, 2 QBH, 1 FF
Emmett Tela, Weber State, Linebacker, 6-1, 220, Provo, Utah
5 games: 53 TKL, 35 Solo, 7 TFL, 2.5 SK, 2 QBH
Lucas Webb, Chattanooga, Free Safety, 6-1, 190, Northport, Ala.
5 games: 22 TKL, 14 Solo, 0.5 TFL, 3 INT, 1 PBU, 1 FR
Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State, Wide Receiver, 6-4, 205, Maple Grove, Minn.
5 games: 19 receptions, 338 yards, 17.8 ypc, 3 TD; 1 carry, 52 yards
Blaine Woodson, Delaware, Defensive Tackle, 6-2, 270, East Stroudsburg, Pa.
5 games: 25 TKL, 14 Solo, 6.5 TFL, 5 SACKS, 1 QBH
