Pelletier added to watch list for Jerry Rice Award
11/13/2014 4:56:00 PM | Football
Jerry Rice Award Watch List
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Following back-to-back Patriot League Rookie of the Week awards, Lehigh freshman wide receiver Troy Pelletier is now gaining national notice. On Thursday, Pelletier was named to the watch list for the Jerry Rice Award, which honors the top first year player in the Football Championship Subdivision.
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Pelletier is coming off the best of his eight games as a Mountain Hawk as he caught ten passes for 214 yards and a touchdown in Lehigh's 27-20 loss at Holy Cross last Saturday. His 214 yards tied the seventh-highest single game total in school history and marked the seventh-best total by a FCS player this season. Pelletier's performance at Holy Cross followed an impressive seven-catch, 187-yard performance the previous week in Lehigh's victory at Georgetown on November 1.
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After appearing solely on special teams in Lehigh's season opener versus James Madison, Pelletier saw his first extended action at wide receiver in game two at New Hampshire. The Granite State native made the most of his homecoming, catching three passes, including a pair of second half touchdowns. The following week Pelletier posted his first career 100-yard receiving day at Yale with 113 yards on five receptions.
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For the season, Pelletier leads the Mountain Hawks with 701 receiving yards and six touchdowns and ranks second with 39 receptions.
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The initial watch list of 20 players was announced earlier this season. Pelletier was one of three players added to the watch list on Thursday, along with the Citadel cornerback Dee Delaney and Prairie View A&M safety Damond Jackson.
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The award, now in its fourth season, is named for the legendary wide receiver who starred at Mississippi Valley State. The three previous winners of the award were Towson running back Terrance West, Villanova quarterback John Robertson and Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp.
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Pelletier is the first Lehigh player to be named to the Jerry Rice Award watch list but in the previous three seasons, three Mountain Hawks were named to the watch list for the Walter Payton Award, given to the outstanding offensive player in the FCS. Last year wide receiver Lee Kurfis was added to the list mid-season while in 2012 wide receiver Ryan Spadola made the preseason list. Quarterback Chris Lum joined the list in 2011 and went on to finish second in the voting for the Walter Payton Award.
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The Jerry Rice Award is voted on by a panel of media members and sports information directors at the conclusion of the regular season. The award will be presented along with the Walter Payton Award, the Buck Buchanan Award (top defensive player), and the Eddie Robinson Award (top coach) at the FCS national awards banquet Monday December 15 in Philadelphia.Â
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Following back-to-back Patriot League Rookie of the Week awards, Lehigh freshman wide receiver Troy Pelletier is now gaining national notice. On Thursday, Pelletier was named to the watch list for the Jerry Rice Award, which honors the top first year player in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Â
Pelletier is coming off the best of his eight games as a Mountain Hawk as he caught ten passes for 214 yards and a touchdown in Lehigh's 27-20 loss at Holy Cross last Saturday. His 214 yards tied the seventh-highest single game total in school history and marked the seventh-best total by a FCS player this season. Pelletier's performance at Holy Cross followed an impressive seven-catch, 187-yard performance the previous week in Lehigh's victory at Georgetown on November 1.
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After appearing solely on special teams in Lehigh's season opener versus James Madison, Pelletier saw his first extended action at wide receiver in game two at New Hampshire. The Granite State native made the most of his homecoming, catching three passes, including a pair of second half touchdowns. The following week Pelletier posted his first career 100-yard receiving day at Yale with 113 yards on five receptions.
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For the season, Pelletier leads the Mountain Hawks with 701 receiving yards and six touchdowns and ranks second with 39 receptions.
Â
The initial watch list of 20 players was announced earlier this season. Pelletier was one of three players added to the watch list on Thursday, along with the Citadel cornerback Dee Delaney and Prairie View A&M safety Damond Jackson.
Â
The award, now in its fourth season, is named for the legendary wide receiver who starred at Mississippi Valley State. The three previous winners of the award were Towson running back Terrance West, Villanova quarterback John Robertson and Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp.
Â
Pelletier is the first Lehigh player to be named to the Jerry Rice Award watch list but in the previous three seasons, three Mountain Hawks were named to the watch list for the Walter Payton Award, given to the outstanding offensive player in the FCS. Last year wide receiver Lee Kurfis was added to the list mid-season while in 2012 wide receiver Ryan Spadola made the preseason list. Quarterback Chris Lum joined the list in 2011 and went on to finish second in the voting for the Walter Payton Award.
Â
The Jerry Rice Award is voted on by a panel of media members and sports information directors at the conclusion of the regular season. The award will be presented along with the Walter Payton Award, the Buck Buchanan Award (top defensive player), and the Eddie Robinson Award (top coach) at the FCS national awards banquet Monday December 15 in Philadelphia.Â
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Players Mentioned
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