CHICAGO – Nicholls State University running back Collin Guggenheim finished ninth in the voting for the 2021 Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice Award, which recognizes the Football Championship Subdivision's top freshman.

A native of Kenner, Louisiana, Guggenheim recorded 25 points after receiving 10 total top-5 votes which included one first-place and two for second place. Jackson State quarterback Shedeur Sander took home the award with 169 points, 38 more than Central Arkansas running back Darius Hale. 

A 50-member, national media panel selected the Rice Award after the regular season from a group of 23 finalists. The Rice Award, now in its 11th season, is named for legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, and past recipients include Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington), Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds (Fordham) and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (North Dakota State).

Guggenheim exploded on the scene in late October, rushing for five consecutive 100-yard games to close out the season. He led the Southland Conference with a school-record 103.3 yards per game, rushing for 930 yards and 10 touchdowns. He averaged 6.4 yards per carry en route to being named All-Southland First Team.  

A three-time Stats Perform FCS National Freshman of the Week honorable mention, Guggenheim rushed for the third-most yards in a game in the FCS this with 266 and added 3 TDs in the win over Southeastern. The performance was just 15 yards shy of matching the program's individual single-game record. 

To be eligible for the Jerry Rice Award, a freshman could not have surpassed four games played in the previous academic year – similar to the NCAA's regular redshirt rule. A first-place vote was worth five points, a second-place vote four points, a third-place vote three points, a fourth-place vote two points and a fifth-place vote one point.

2021 Jerry Rice Award Voting Results
1. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Jackson State: 17-14-6-4-2-169
2. Darius Hale, RB, Central Arkansas: 10-10-10-5-1-131
3. Josiah Silver, DE, New Hampshire: 9-10-5-2-2-106
4. Zevi Eckhaus, QB, Bryant: 3-2-4-6-7-54
5. James Conway, LB, Fordham: 3-1-7-5-2-52
6. RJ Martinez, QB, Northern Arizona: 3-0-7-4-4-48
7. Jalyn Witcher, LB, Presbyterian: 1-2-0-5-7-30
8. Rodney Dansby, LB, Houston Baptist: 1-2-2-2-4-27
9. Collin Guggenheim, RB, Nicholls: 1-2-1-3-3-25
10. Tyler King, LB, Stony Brook: 0-2-2-5-0-24
11. Demeatric Crenshaw, QB, Youngstown State: 1-0-2-1-0-13
12. Jacari Carter, WR, Merrimack: 0-1-1-0-5-12
13.(tie) Andrew Body, QB, Texas Southern: 0-1-1-1-1-10
13.(tie) Elijah Burris, RB, Hampton: 1-1-0-0-1-10
15. Drae McCray, WR, Austin Peay: 0-1-1-0-1-8
16. Dominick Poole, CB, The Citadel: 0-1-0-1-1-7
17.(tie) Andreas Keaton, S, Western Carolina: 0-0-0-2-1-5
17.(tie) Tyson Thompson, WR, Houston Baptist: 0-0-0-1-3-5
19. Nate Bennett, WR, Portland State: 0-0-0-1-2-4
20.(tie) Bryce Norman, LB, Southeast Missouri: 0-0-0-0-3-3
20.(tie) Sy'Veon Wilkerson, RB, Delaware State: 0-0-1-0-0-3
22.(tie) Thor Griffith, DT, Harvard: 0-0-0-1-0-2
22.(tie) C.J. Tillman, LB, Campbell: 0-0-0-1-0-2