CEDAR CITY, Utah - Freshman linebacker Kohner Cullimore has been a force for the T-Birds this season and people are beginning to notice. Cullimore, who has notched a team leading 59 tackles this season, was named to the Jerry Rice Award Watchlist Thursday morning.
The Jerry Rice Award goes to the FCS Freshman of the year each season. The Rice Award, now in its 12th season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Past recipients include Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington), Miami Dolphins running back Chase Edmonds (Fordham) and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (North Dakota State).
The award winner is selected by a national panel of more than 40 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers, and other dignitaries vote Voting is conducted before the start of the FCS playoffs
Cullimore is one of 25 players who were named to the initial watch list Thursday morning. The list includes:
Quarterback
Asher Carraha, Stonehill (Northeast)
Cade Chambers, Indiana State (MVFC)
Gevani McCoy, Idaho (Big Sky)
Reese Poffenbarger, UAlbany (CAA)
Noah Walters, North Alabama (ASUN)
Running Back
Ryan Butler, Princeton (Ivy)
Karl Ligon, Southern (SWAC)
Joshua Pitsenberger, Yale (Ivy)
Sam Franklin, UT Martin (Ohio Valley)
Desmond Reid, Western Carolina (Southern)
Jerrell Wimbley, Stephen F. Austin (WAC)
Wide Receiver
Seth Anderson, Charleston Southern (Big South)
Vinson Davis, Charleston Southern (Big South)
Makai Jackson, Saint Francis (Northeast)
Kam Thomas, Austin Peay (ASUN)
Tight End
Josh Cuevas, Cal Poly (Big Sky)
Defensive Line
Kevin Spelman, Valparaiso (Pioneer)
Linebacker
Kohner Cullimore, Southern Utah (WAC)
Kaiden Jones, Nicholls (Southland)
Max U'Ren, North Carolina Central (MEAC)
Mason Woods, Towson (CAA)
Defensive Back
Wedner Cadet, Georgetown (Patriot)
Rex Connors, UC Davis (Big Sky)
Adrian Maddox, Alabama State (SWAC)
Punter
Patrick Rohrbach, Montana (Big Sky)
In 2017 Bryson Armstrong, a linebacker from Kennesaw State became the first and only defensive player to win the award. Cullimore will look to join him this season as he continues to be a problem for opposing offenses. Cullimore has 6.5 tackles for a loss this season and 2.5 sacks. Cullimore and the Thunderbird defense will look to stop a powerful Stephen F. Austin team that leads the WAC-ASUN power rankings this Saturday afternoon in Cedar City. That game will kick off at 1:00 PM MT.
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