STATS PERFORM – Indiana State redshirt freshman defensive back Nic Yatsko was named to the prestigious Jerry Rice Award finalist list, as announced by the organization on Monday afternoon.
 
Yatsko, a Terre Haute, Ind. native, is the lone Missouri Valley Football Conference player on the list and is one of 25 finalists named to the award list which honors the national freshman player of the year in college football's Division I FCS subdivision.
 
Yatsko ended up seventh in the MVFC in tackles per game (7.45) despite not earning a starting role until midway through the season. He took over the starting nickel back role in the Sycamores' 4-2-5 defense and capitalized with a nine-tackle game against Montana, while adding a career-high 14 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1 FF, and 1 FR in the Sycamores' win over SDSU.
 
This past weekend, Yatsko wrapped up the season with a seven-tackle, 1.5 TFL, 1.0 sack game against Murray State and added a fumble recovery and two QB hurries. He finished the year tied for third on the team with 6.0 TFL and was second on the team with five QB hurries.
 
Yatsko is the third Sycamore in the last four seasons to be named a Jerry Rice Award finalist and the first defensive player to receive the honors. He joins Elijah Owens (9th – 2024) and Cade Chambers (25th – 2022) as the Indiana State players recognized on the postseason list.
 
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.
 
The Jerry Rice Award includes true and redshirt freshmen, and all 13 FCS conferences are represented by a finalist. The recipient, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced on Dec. 3 and honored at the Stats Perform National Awards Show on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee.
 
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