RIO GRANDE VALLEY – Freshman linebacker Jaiden Haygood of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) football team is one of just 22 players on the watch list of the Stats Perform 2025 Jerry Rice Award, which honors the FCS freshman player of the year.
 
Haygood is one of three players in the Southland Conference, along with Incarnate Word quarterback EJ Colson and Houston Christian University running back Xai'Shaun Edwards, on the list.
 
Haygood is one of three linebackers on the list, along with New Hampshire's Trevor Barry and No. 23 Austin Peay's Montreze Smith Jr.
 
In seven games, Haygood has a team-high 62 tackles (24 solo), including 2.5 for a loss of 11 yards, a 10-yard sack, a pass broken up, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble. He's had three games of double-figures tackles, including a career-high 17 (seven solo) at No. 18 Lamar on Saturday, and 11 (three solo) against both Houston Christian University and Prairie View A&M.
 
Haygood ranks 25^th in the FCS and second in the Southland in total tackles per game (8.9). He's second in the Southland in total tackles (62) and assisted tackles (38) and 14^th in solo tackles (24).
 
The Jerry Rice Award, celebrating its 15^th anniversary season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, who starred in the FCS at Mississippi Valley State. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance, Cam Ward, and Shedeur Sanders.
 
2025 Jerry Rice Award Watch List
Braden Atkinson, Mercer, QB, 6-1, 215 (Southern Conference)
Trevor Barry, New Hampshire, LB, 6-1, 222 (CAA Football)
Rico Bond, Lindenwood, WR, 6-1, 177 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
Cason Carswell, Western Illinois, QB, 6-3, 190 (OVC-Big South Football Association) 
Landen Clark, Elon, QB, 6-0, 186 (CAA Football)
EJ Colson, UIW, QB, 6-1, 190 (Southland Conference)
Brooks Davis, Montana, WR, 6-0, 174 (Big Sky Conference)
Xai'Shaun Edwards, Houston Christian University, RB, 5-9, 195 (Southland Conference)
Eric Handley, Alabama A&M, QB, 6-2, 200 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Chase Hatton, Marist, S, 5-11, 208 (Pioneer Football League)
Jaiden Haygood, UTRGV, LB, 6-0, 215 (Southland Conference)
Jack Hennessey, Central Connecticut State, PK, 5-10, 190 (NEC Football)
Andrew Indorf, Towson, QB, 6-1, 195 (CAA Football)
Evan James, Furman, WR, 5-11, 170 (Southern Conference)
Lamont Lester Jr., Monmouth, DE, 6-2, 230 (CAA Football)
Darius Malcolm Jr., Wofford, DB, 5-11, 175 (Southern Conference)
Tre Page III, Tarleton State, RB, 5-9, 180 (United Athletic Conference)
Caden Pinnick, UC Davis, QB, 6-0, 200 (Big Sky Conference)
Josh Robinson, Princeton, WR, 5-7, 165 (Ivy League)
Montreze Smith Jr., Austin Peay, LB, 5-11, 204 (United Athletic Conference)
Mitchell Summers, Sacred Heart, RB, 5-7, 155 (FCS Independent)
Owen Sweeney, VMI, WR, 6-4, 200 (Southern Conference)
 
True and redshirt freshmen are eligible for the Jerry Rice Award. A national voting panel will select the winner from a group of finalists following the regular season. 
 
The 2025 Jerry Rice Award recipient will be announced on Dec. 3 and honored at the Stats Perform National Awards Show on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee. Also to be presented are the Walter Payton Award (FCS Offensive Player of the Year), Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year), HBCU National Player of the Year, and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
 
Receiving Top 25 Votes
 
The Vaqueros are receiving seven points in the week 7 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl after previously receiving receiving five in the week 4 poll, four in the week 6 poll, and 10 in the week 7 poll. UTRGV is 5-2, with the lone losses coming at No. 15 Lamar and No. 19 Southeastern.
 
Of the 11 athletic departments that have started an NCAA Division I football team from scratch at the NCAA DI-AA (1978-2005)/FCS (2006-Present) level since Division I college football split into two levels in 1978, UTRGV is one of four to win at least five of their first seven games, along with Kennesaw State (2015, 5-2), Georgia State (2010, 5-2), and South Alabama (2009, 7-0), the latter of which did not play any Division I competition that season.
 
UTRGV is one of four Southland Conference institutions ranked or receiving votes, along with No. 15 Lamar, No. 19 Southeastern, and No. 24 Stephen F. Austin.
 
Up Next
 
UTRGV hosts defending Southland Conference Champion Incarnate Word on Saturday at 7 p.m. for homecoming at Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium.
 
A limited number of individual tickets go on sale Friday at 8 a.m. at UTRGVTickets.com.
 
The action starts with KRGV's Vaqueros Game Day at 10 a.m. in Schlotzsky's Vaquero Village at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. Tailgating at Vackar Stadium begins at 2 p.m. The Vaqueros Walk is at 4:45 p.m. in the H-E-B Tailgate Zone followed by a pep rally in the amphitheater. Fans do not need a game ticket to access Vaqueros Game Day or the tailgating areas.
 
Gates to Vackar Stadium open at 5:30 p.m.
 
Fans can learn more about game day, including parking information, maps, and the clear bag policy, by visiting RallyTheValley.com.
 
Fans can watch online domestically on ESPN+ and internationally on Southland International.
 
Fans can listen in English locally on Ultra 90.1 FM, in Laredo on Pure Country 95.7 FM, and online via the Radio Para Mi app, and in Spanish locally on KYWW 1530 AM Puro Tejano and KGBT-FM 98.5 La Preferida and online via the Uforia app.

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