After passing for 2,378 yards, 25 touchdowns and completing almost 70% of his passes, redshirt freshman quarterback Gevani McCoy was announced as a Jerry Rice Award finalist.
The Jerry Rice Award is given to the best freshman in the FCS. There were 24 total finalists, five of which were QBs. McCoy was one of just two Big Sky players selected, the other being freshman kicker/punter Patrick Rohrbach.
McCoy was the only QB selected to lead his team into the FCS playoffs. His 168.4 passer rating, 25 passing touchdowns and 18.4 points responsible for per game led the FCS. These stats also led to him being named Big Sky Freshman of the Year and All-Big Sky third team.
Although being named Big Sky FOTY and All-Big Sky third team are great honors, McCoy’s biggest achievement came after the Vandals 45-42 playoff loss to Southeastern Louisiana.
Coming off the heels of a heartbreaking loss, McCoy found out that he was named the 2022 Jerry Rice Award winner. He became just the fourth Big Sky player in history to win the award and the first since Josh Davis of Weber State won it in 2018. He is also the fourth straight QB to win the award.
Jerry Rice had high praise for the young QB during the award show.
“I think he has it all,” Rice said. “You just need to keep working.”
On the morning after winning the award, McCoy reflected on the night in a Twitter post.
“Last night was an amazing experience being honored as the Jerry Rice Award recipient,” McCoy said. “As amazing as it was, I would like to dedicate this honor to my classmates Xana, Ethan, Maddie and Kaylee.”
With a 7-5 career defining season in the rearview, the 2022 Jerry Rice Award winner will look to be even better in 2023. McCoy and the Vandals will open the 2023 season against the Lamar Cardinals in Beaumont, Texas on Aug. 31.
James Taurman-Aldrich can be reached at [email protected]