THEANALYST.com – Indiana State wide receiver Jayden Reed was named to the 2026 Jerry Rice Award Watch List as announced by the organization on Tuesday afternoon. The Jerry Rice Award, honoring the FCS freshman player of the year, is one of six to comprise the Stats Perform FCS National Awards.
 
Reed becomes the fourth Indiana State football player since the 2022 season to be named to the prestigious award watch list, joining Nic Yatsko (2025), Elijah Owens (2023), and Cade Chambers (2022). The St. Louis, Mo. native is one of two players across the Missouri Valley Football Conference to be honored on the list, joining South Dakota quarterback Austyn Modrzewski.
 
Reed leads Indiana State's receiving efforts through the first seven games in the 2026 season with team-highs in receptions (30), receiving yards (460), and receiving touchdowns (4). He also paces the Sycamores with a team-high four receptions of 40-plus yards, including his second 50-plus yard reception this past weekend against Youngstown State. Reed also sits among the Valley Top 10 all major receiving statistical categories.
 
The Sycamore wide receiver became just the first Indiana State freshman to record at least 100 receiving yards in a single game since the 2018 season after recording a season-high eight catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns on September 26 against North Dakota. He added his second 100-yard game with seven catches for 122 yards against Youngstown State on October 10.
 
Indiana State is back on the road this weekend as the Sycamores head to Illinois State on Saturday, October 24. Kickoff against the Redbirds is set for 3 p.m. ET at Hancock Stadium and will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
 
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