FCS Offensive Player of the Year Watch List per NUC Sports Magazine & Barry Every

Atlanta, GA, October 27, 2016 (Newswire.com) - 2016 NUC Sports FCS Offensive Player of the Year Version 1.0

In version 1.0 of the 2016 NUC Sports FCS Offensive Player of the Year Watch list, we start out with ten. There are four quarterbacks, three wide receivers, two running backs and one tight end. The conference breakdown goes like this MVFC (3), Patriot (2), SoCon (2), Big Sky (1), MEAC (1) and Southland (1).

"This year's NUC Sports FCS Offensive Player of the Year Watch list is once again nothing short of exceptional."

David Schuman, CEO, NUC Sports

Quarterbacks have won this award 11 of the last 12 years. Last Year Eastern Washington receiver Cooper Kupp broke the quarterback streak becoming only the second wide out to ever win this prestigious award; the first being Brian Finneran in 1997.

A running back has not won this award since 2003 when Jamaal branch of Colgate was named the Walter Payton Award Winner. Nine running backs have won this award since 1987.

No tight end has ever won the Walter Payton Award or Offensive Player of the Year. But make no mistake, Dallas Goedert of South Dakota State is having an incredible season.

In the top spot is sophomore signal caller Gage Gubrud of Eastern Washington. He currently leads the nation in passing yards and points responsible for. Two other Eagle quarterbacks have won this award Erik Meyer (2005) and Bo Levi Mitchell (2011).

Second is prolific all-purpose back Chase Edmonds of Fordham. Edmonds leads the nation in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. He is also second in the county in all-purpose yards. Jamaal Branch and Kenny Gamble of Colgate both won this award representing the Patriot League.

Coming in at #3 is Sam Houston State quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe. Briscoe leads the nation in passing efficiency and passing touchdowns. Jeremy Moses (2010) of Stephen F. Austin is the only Southland Conference recipient of the Offensive Player of the Year.

This list will be updated weekly with current stats and statistical rankings.

Watch List

Top Ten

1.     Gage Gubrud,  QB, Eastern Washington (Sophomore)

Current Stats: 212 of 299 (70.9%) for 2,871 yds 27 TD’s 6 INT’s;  77 car 372 yds 4 TD’s

Stat Rankings: Passing Yards #1, PRF #1,  Passing Efficiency #2, TD Passes #2

Team Record: (6-1/4-0 Big Sky)

2.     Chase Edmonds, RB, Fordham (Junior)

Current Stats: 160 car 1,244 yds 12 TD’s; 10 catches for 146 yds 1 TD

Stat Rankings: Rushing Yds #1, Rushing TD’s #1, YPC #4, APY #2

Team Record: (5-2/2-0 Patriot)

3.     Jeremiah Briscoe, QB, Sam Houston State (Junior)

Current Stats: 178 of 261 (68.2%) for 2,499 yds 29 TD’s 5 INT’s; 14 car 11 yds 1 TD

Stat Rankings: Passing Efficiency #1, TD Passes #1, Passing Yds #2, PRF #2

Team Record: (7-0/6-0 Southland)

4.     Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State (Junior)

Current Stats: 51 catches for 819 yds 9 TD’s; 2 car 17 yds 1 TD

Stat Rankings: TD Catches #3, Receiving Yards #7

Team Record: (5-2/4-0 MVFC)

5.     Taryn Christion, QB, South Dakota State (Sophomore)

Current Stats: 156 of 236 (66.1%)  for 1,939 yds 24 TD’s 3 INT’s; 69 car 230 yds 2 TD’s

Stat Rankings: Passing Efficiency #3, TD Passes #3, PRF #3, Passing Yards #9

Team Record: (5-2/4-0 MVFC)

6.     Tarik Cohen, RB, North Carolina A&T (Senior)

Current Stats: 130 car 1,023 yds 11 TD’s; 21 catches for 228 yds 1 TD

Stat Rankings: Rushing Yards #2, YPC #3, APY #3, Rushing TD’s #4

Team Record: (6-1/4-0 MEAC)

7.     Delvin Hodges, QB, Samford (Sophomore)

Current Stats: 212 of 298 (71.1%) for 2,445 yds 24 TD’s 5 INT’s; 59 car 26 yds 2 TD’s

Stat Rankings: Passing Yards #3, Passing TD’s #3, PRF #3, Passing Efficiency #10

Team Record: (6-1/4-1 SoCon)

8.     Gatlin Casey, WR, Lehigh (Junior)

Current Stats: 44 catches for 893 yds 11 TD’s; 17 KR for 469 yds 1 TD

Stat Rankings: Receiving Yards #2, TD Catches #2, APY #5, YPC #8

Team Record: (6-2/3-0 Patriot)

9.     Jake Wieneke, WR, South Dakota State (Junior)

Current Stats: 44 catches for 736 yds 12 TD’s

Stat Rankings: TD Catches #1, Receiving Yards 11

Team Record: (5-2/4-0 MVFC)

10.     Karel Hamilton, WR, Samford (Senior)

Current Stats: 53 catches for 752 yds 9 TD’s; 5 KR for 113 yds

Stat Rankings: TD Catches #3, Receiving Yards #9

Team Record: (6-1/4-1 SoCon)

Just Outside: Khalid Abdullah, RB (James Madison); Cooper Kupp, WR (Eastern Washington); Troy Pelletier, WR (Lehigh)

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Source: NUC Sports