Grizzlies' Gillman wins Jerry Rice Award

FARMINGTON, Utah — After an incredible season in the backfield for the Montana Grizzlies, Eli Gillman was named the 2023 Jerry Rice Award recipient by Stats Perform on Wednesday.

The award honors the top national freshman player of the year in the FCS and is presented by FedEx Ground. 

Gillman’s win on Wednesday marks the Big Sky’s fifth Jerry Rice Award winner since the award began in 2011. Gillman joins Idaho’s Gevani McCoy (2022), Weber State running back Josh Davis (2018), Northern Arizona quarterback Case Cookus (2015) and Eastern Washington’s Cooper Kupp (2013) as the league’s winners.

He is the first Grizzly so honored.

Gillman, a redshirt freshman from Dassel, Minnesota, rushed for 899 yards and 10 touchdowns to help Montana to its first Big Sky championship since 2009. 

A 56-member panel voted on the 13th annual award — named after legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice, who starred at FCS Mississippi Valley State — with Eastern Illinois running back MJ Flowers finishing second and South Carolina State running back Jawarn Howell third. 

“I’m really excited for him to win the Jerry Rice Award. I think it’s well deserved and a great honor for our program and for Eli,” Montana head coach Bobby Hauck said. “Eli’s a terrific young man who does everything right on and off the field. He’s a pleasure to coach, he’s a great teammate, and he’s an outstanding running back.”

Montana State left tackle Conner Moore finished sixth in the voting, while Northern Colorado kicker Hunter Green tied for 11th. 

Gillman will be honored at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas. 

Gillman was also named the Big Sky’s Freshman of the Year, becoming the first Griz to win that award, which began in 2013. 

His 11-1 Montana squad hosts to Furman in the FCS quarterfinals Friday. Kickoff is at 7 p.m., and airs on ESPN2.