SAN ANTONIO -- University of the Incarnate Word football freshman quarterback Jon Copeland has been named to the STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award Watch List, announced the organization Thursday. Copeland has started in all five games for the Cardinals, etching his name in the program record books multiple times in the process.
 
"Jon is a great leader and a great teammate," said UIW head football coach Eric Morris. "I'm glad he is being recognized for his hard work. It's hard for a freshman to start sometimes, but you wouldn't know that by watching Jon play. He is composed during practice and games, and that has helped elevate the program as a whole. I'm excited to see how he continues to develop through the season and his career."
 
Copeland, an Argyle, Texas, native has completed 86 passes for 1,329 yards and has scored 11 touchdowns (nine passing, one rushing and one receiving). He averages 265.8 yards per game -- which ranks fourth in the Southland Conference and 21st in the FCS. Copeland also averages 15.45 passing yards per completion, a mark that leads the Southland Conference and ranks No. 8 in the FCS.
 
When Copeland took the field against New Mexico on Sept. 1, it was the first time that a true freshman started at quarterback for the Cardinals in a season-opening game. The freshman made the most of his initial start, passing for 328 yards and one touchdown, and running for another.
 
Then, on Oct. 6, Copeland threw for 411 yards on 23 completions in UIW's 52-34 win over Southeastern Louisiana. This broke a program record for both individual and team passing yards in a single game.
 
The Jerry Rice Award is awarded annually in the USA to the most outstanding freshman player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) of college football as chosen by a nationwide panel of media and college sports information directors. 15 student-athletes were named to the initial watch list.
 
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