HAMILTON – Colgate quarterback Grant Breneman is one of 20 finalists for the 2017 STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award, presented to the national rookie of the year.
 
Breneman just wrapped up one of the best first-year campaigns for any quarterback in Colgate Football history. He completed 56.7 percent of his passes for 1,594 yards and 18 touchdowns against just five interceptions while helping the Raiders to a share of the Patriot League championship. Breneman also finished as Colgate's third-leading rusher with 401 yards and tied for the team lead in rushing touchdowns with six.
 
The Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, native threw three touchdown passes Saturday for the third time this season as Colgate rallied past Georgetown 35-10 to claim its share of the title.
 
Breneman this season was named Corvias Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week twice and Rookie of the Week four times, including five weeks in a row with at least one award. He swept both certificates after Colgate's 45-7 triumph at Holy Cross on Oct. 21. After his performances against Lehigh, Holy Cross and Bucknell, Breneman was named STATS FCS National Freshman Player of the Week honorable mention.
 
2017 STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award Finalists
Troy Anderson, RB/LB – Montana State
Bryson Armstrong, LB – Kennesaw State
Grant Breneman, QB – COLGATE
Davis Cheek, QB – Elon
Jabril Cox, LB – North Dakota State
Kierre Crossley, RB – Central Arkansas
Glenn Cunningham, LB – Fordham
Zane Dudek, RB – Yale
Wesley Dugger, RB – Davidson
Reynard Ellis, LB – Furman
Jaron Grayer, LB – Maine
Pete Guerriero, RB – Monmouth
Gresch Jensen, QB – Montana
Anthony Knighton, DE – Southern Illinois
Torrance Marable, RB – Presbyterian
Franklin "Mac" McCain III, CB – North Carolina A&T
Caylin Newton, QB – Howard
Kaelan Riley, QB – Mercer
Vincent Sellers, S – Tennessee State
Daniel Smith, QB – Campbell