STATS PERFORM – Indiana State quarterback Cade Chambers added another accolade to his name on Thursday afternoon as the Sycamore redshirt freshman was named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List.
 
Chambers is one of 25 freshmen named to the watch list for the award presented to the national freshman of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. The Maryville, Tenn. native is also the lone freshman in the Missouri Valley Football Conference to be named to the list and is one of just five quarterbacks recognized across the nation.
 
Chambers has taken the reins of the Indiana State offense over his last two starts with the Sycamores posting back-to-back season-highs in total offensive yards against both North Dakota State and Youngstown State. He is 28-of-57 through the air for 504 yards and five touchdowns in the 2022 season with most of the damage coming this past weekend against YSU.
 
Chambers went 15-for-29 through the air for a career-high 311 passing yards, while adding five total touchdowns in the 48-42 loss to the Penguins. Chambers completed passes to six different receivers and connected on touchdown passes to Dakota Caton (twice) and Justin Dinka in Saturday's contest. He added touchdown runs of two yards and 11 yards in ISU's second-half comeback attempt against the Penguins for his second and third scores on the ground this season on his way to earning MVFC Newcomer of the Week honors.
 
Among the highlights of note from the season, Chambers became the first ISU quarterback to top 300 passing yards in a single game since Ryan Boyle threw for 325 against South Dakota back in 2018. He also guided a Sycamore offense that featured a 300-yard passer, 100-yard rusher (Justin Dinka, 159) and 100-yard receiver (Dante Hendrix, 117) in the same game for the first time since 2016.
 
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), Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds (Fordham) and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (North Dakota State).
 
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. 
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.
 
Up Next
Indiana State is back home for Homecoming Week as the Sycamores welcome Illinois State to Memorial Stadium on Saturday, October 22. Kickoff between the Sycamores and the Redbirds is set for 1 p.m. The game will be carried live on ESPN3 and 105.5 The Legend.
 
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