Rohrbach named to Rice Award Watch List
10/20/2022 9:08:00 AM | Football
Just halfway through his first season of college football, Montana punter Patrick Rohrbach was named among the top freshman football players in the country on Thursday, with a place on the Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award Watch List.
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Rohrbach, a first-year specialist out of Kalispell Glacier High School, has been one of the best punters in the nation as a true freshman. He is the only special teams player, and one of just four Big Sky Conference players, to earn a place on the 25-man watch list for the award presented annually to the top freshman in FCS football.
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With a season average of 44.88 yards per punt, Rohrbach has been a key cog in Montana's league-leading punt coverage team, which holds the second-best net punt average in the nation this week at 42.27 yards.
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All that is to say, with Rohrbach's help, Montana has only allowed opponents an average of about two yards per punt return this season.
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His average of 44.88 per punt is also good enough to be tied for the fourth-best in the nation individually this week. With 26 attempts for 1167 yards, that average is also the tops in the Big Sky. He also leads the league in punts of 50-plus yards with eight and punts inside the 20 as well with 13.
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Rohrbach was named the Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time in his career following UM's win over Idaho State on Oct. 1.
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In that game, he punted for 211 yards on four attempts for an average of 52.8 yards per kick, with two that traveled over 50 yards. His average was bolstered by a booming punt that traveled 58 yards and pinned Idaho State at its own two-yard line and another that traveled 68 yards.
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Three other Grizzlies have earned a place on the watch list for the Jerry Rice Award, with Jerry Louie-McGee named in 2016, Gresch Jensen in 2017, and Robby Hauck in 2018 each being recognized in their first year at UM.
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To be eligible for the Rice Award, a freshman must be in his first or second academic year and can't have surpassed four games played in the previous academic year – similar to the NCAA's regular redshirt rule. More players can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner following the regular season.
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The Rice Award, now in its 12th season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Past recipients include Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington), Miami Dolphins running back Chase Edmonds (Fordham) and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (North Dakota State).
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Also this season, Stats Perform will present 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) and FedEx Ground Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
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Montana also has three players on this year's watch list for the Buchanan Award, with Justin Ford, Robby Hauck, and Patrick O'Connell all in the running to be named FCS Defensive Player of the Year.
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Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award Watch List
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Quarterback
Ashur Carraha, Stonehill (Northeast)
Cade Chambers, Indiana State (MVFC)
Gevani McCoy, Idaho (Big Sky)
Reese Poffenbarger, UAlbany (CAA)
Noah Walters, North Alabama (ASUN)
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Running Back
Ryan Butler, Princeton (Ivy)
Karl Ligon, Southern (SWAC)
Joshua Pitsenberger, Yale (Ivy)
Sam Franklin, UT Martin (Ohio Valley)
Desmond Reid, Western Carolina (Southern)
Jerrell Wimbley, Stephen F. Austin (WAC)
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Wide Receiver
Seth Anderson, Charleston Southern (Big South)
Vinson Davis, Charleston Southern (Big South)
Makai Jackson, Saint Francis (Northeast)
Kam Thomas, Austin Peay (ASUN)
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Tight End
Josh Cuevas, Cal Poly (Big Sky)
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Defensive Line
Kevin Spelman, Valparaiso (Pioneer)
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Linebacker
Kohner Cullimore, Southern Utah (WAC)
Kaiden Jones, Nicholls (Southland)
Max U'Ren, North Carolina Central (MEAC)
Mason Woods, Towson (CAA)
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Defensive Back
Wedner Cadet, Georgetown (Patriot)
Rex Connors, UC Davis (Big Sky)
Adrian Maddox, Alabama State (SWAC)
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Punter
Patrick Rohrbach, Montana (Big Sky)
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Rohrbach, a first-year specialist out of Kalispell Glacier High School, has been one of the best punters in the nation as a true freshman. He is the only special teams player, and one of just four Big Sky Conference players, to earn a place on the 25-man watch list for the award presented annually to the top freshman in FCS football.
Â
With a season average of 44.88 yards per punt, Rohrbach has been a key cog in Montana's league-leading punt coverage team, which holds the second-best net punt average in the nation this week at 42.27 yards.
Â
All that is to say, with Rohrbach's help, Montana has only allowed opponents an average of about two yards per punt return this season.
Â
His average of 44.88 per punt is also good enough to be tied for the fourth-best in the nation individually this week. With 26 attempts for 1167 yards, that average is also the tops in the Big Sky. He also leads the league in punts of 50-plus yards with eight and punts inside the 20 as well with 13.
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Rohrbach was named the Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time in his career following UM's win over Idaho State on Oct. 1.
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In that game, he punted for 211 yards on four attempts for an average of 52.8 yards per kick, with two that traveled over 50 yards. His average was bolstered by a booming punt that traveled 58 yards and pinned Idaho State at its own two-yard line and another that traveled 68 yards.
Â
Three other Grizzlies have earned a place on the watch list for the Jerry Rice Award, with Jerry Louie-McGee named in 2016, Gresch Jensen in 2017, and Robby Hauck in 2018 each being recognized in their first year at UM.
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To be eligible for the Rice Award, a freshman must be in his first or second academic year and can't have surpassed four games played in the previous academic year – similar to the NCAA's regular redshirt rule. More players can join the watch list before a national media panel selects the winner following the regular season.
Â
The Rice Award, now in its 12th season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Past recipients include Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington), Miami Dolphins running back Chase Edmonds (Fordham) and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (North Dakota State).
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Also this season, Stats Perform will present 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) and FedEx Ground Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Â
Montana also has three players on this year's watch list for the Buchanan Award, with Justin Ford, Robby Hauck, and Patrick O'Connell all in the running to be named FCS Defensive Player of the Year.
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Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award Watch List
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Quarterback
Ashur Carraha, Stonehill (Northeast)
Cade Chambers, Indiana State (MVFC)
Gevani McCoy, Idaho (Big Sky)
Reese Poffenbarger, UAlbany (CAA)
Noah Walters, North Alabama (ASUN)
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Running Back
Ryan Butler, Princeton (Ivy)
Karl Ligon, Southern (SWAC)
Joshua Pitsenberger, Yale (Ivy)
Sam Franklin, UT Martin (Ohio Valley)
Desmond Reid, Western Carolina (Southern)
Jerrell Wimbley, Stephen F. Austin (WAC)
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Wide Receiver
Seth Anderson, Charleston Southern (Big South)
Vinson Davis, Charleston Southern (Big South)
Makai Jackson, Saint Francis (Northeast)
Kam Thomas, Austin Peay (ASUN)
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Tight End
Josh Cuevas, Cal Poly (Big Sky)
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Defensive Line
Kevin Spelman, Valparaiso (Pioneer)
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Linebacker
Kohner Cullimore, Southern Utah (WAC)
Kaiden Jones, Nicholls (Southland)
Max U'Ren, North Carolina Central (MEAC)
Mason Woods, Towson (CAA)
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Defensive Back
Wedner Cadet, Georgetown (Patriot)
Rex Connors, UC Davis (Big Sky)
Adrian Maddox, Alabama State (SWAC)
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Punter
Patrick Rohrbach, Montana (Big Sky)
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