STATS PERFORM – Indiana State redshirt freshman quarterback Elijah Owens was named a Jerry Rice Award Finalist as announced by Stats Perform on Monday afternoon.
 
Owens becomes the second Sycamore over the last three seasons to be named a finalist for the annual award which honors the national freshman player of the year in college football's Division I FCS subdivision. Former Sycamore Cade Chambers was also named a finalist back in the 2022 season.
 
Owens was Indiana State's leading passer and rusher over the course of the 2024 season after taking the starting role heading into the year. He was also named one of the Sycamores' captains prior to the season as voted on by his peers.
 
The Jacksonville, Ill. native finished among the national leaders in completion percentage (68.8%) going 181-for-263 for 1,717 yards and 12 passing touchdowns. He finished fifth overall in the MVFC in total offense per game (222.88) and second overall in the league in total offensive plays (318).
 
Owens' prowess through the air was nearly matched on the ground as the signal caller set new Indiana State quarterback rushing records in 2024. Owens' 645 rushing yards set a new Sycamore record breaking the mark set by Ryan Boyle (610) back in the 2018 season. His eight rushing touchdowns also broke the Indiana State mark set by Jeff Miller (7) back in both the 1983 and 1984 seasons.
 
He posted three 200-yard passing games and three 100-yard rushing games in the 2024 season. Among the seasonal highlights included a 30-of-37 game with 260 passing yards and three touchdowns against Eastern Illinois. He added 168 passing yards, 107 rushing yards, and three combined touchdowns in the season finale against Northern Iowa.
 
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). More players can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner following the regular season. 

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.
 
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