SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento State quarterback Carson Conklin finished third in the voting for the Jerry Rice Award and kicker Zach Schreiner was named a finalist for the Fred Mitchell Award.
 
Conklin earned 118 points, including 10 first-place votes, for the Jerry Rice Award which recognizes the top freshman in the FCS. His finish is the best by a Sacramento State player since the award was created. North Dakota State running back CharMar Brown was the award winner after rushing for 965 yards and scoring 14 total touchdowns.
 
Conklin was the leading FCS freshman quarterback. The Yorba Linda, Calif., native set school records for a freshman with 261 completions, 2,876 yards and 28 passing touchdowns. His touchdown total ranks second in school history, regardless of class, trailing only Garrett Safron's 34 from 2014. Conklin threw at least one touchdown pass in 11 of the team's 12 games and had multiple TD passes in eight contests. His five touchdown passes in the Causeway Classic are tied for the third most in school single-game history.
 
Counting his four games played as a true freshman in 2023, Conklin has thrown for 3,620 yards and 34 touchdowns in only 16 games. He currently is tied for sixth in school career history for touchdown passes, is ninth in completions and ranks 11^th in passing yards.
 
Schreiner was one of 10 kickers named as a Fred Mitchell Award finalist. The award recognizes exceptional placekicking and community service. The selection committee is comprised of former NFL and college kickers, previous award winners, as well as prominent businessmen and community-minded individuals.
 
Schreiner had a fantastic senior season where he led the team with 97 points. The Rocklin, Calif., native made 19-of-23 field goal attempts and was a perfect 40-for-40 on extra points. His 19 field goals place him second in school history and included eight makes between 40-49 yards. Schreiner concluded his two-year career with the team ranked fifth in school history with 27 field goals, sixth with 89 extra points and 10^th with 188 career points. His 11 career field goals of at least 40 yards placed him third in the Hornet record book and he became the only Sacramento State kicker to not miss a PAT with at least 30 attempts (89-89).
 
JERRY RICE AWARD VOTING

• 1. CharMar Brown, RB, North Dakota State: 21-13-6-3-2-183
• 2. Adam Jones, RB, Montana State: 16-18-6-4-0-178
• 3. Carson Conklin, QB, Sacramento State: 10-5-11-7-1-118
• 4. Andrew Zock, DL, Mercer: 2-7-7-11-4-85
• 5. Sanders Ellis, LB, Tennessee State: 1-1-5-4-9-41
• 6. Mark Hamper, WR, Idaho: 1-2-3-4-3-33
• 7. David Avit, RB, Villanova: 0-1-4-1-7-25
• 8. Derek Ganter Jr., S, Eastern Washington: 0-0-4-4-2-22
• 9. Elijah Owens, QB, Indiana State: 1-2-0-2-2-19
• 10. Collin Hurst, QB, Presbyterian: 1-1-1-1-4-18
• 11. C.J. Coombes, S, Wofford: 1-1-1-1-2-16
• 12. Travis Terrell Jr., RB, Jackson State: 0-1-2-2-1-15
• 13. Jaden Green, RB, Lehigh: 0-0-3-1-3-14
• 14. Christopher Jean, CB, Central Connecticut State: 0-2-0-0-5-13
• 15. Taron Dickens, QB, Western Carolina: 0-0-1-3-2-11
• 16. Jason Collins Jr., RB, Morgan State: 1-0-0-1-2-9
• 17. Josh Anglin, LB, North Alabama: 0-1-1-0-1-8
• T18. Steve Hall, RB, Lindenwood: 1-0-0-0-1-6
• T18. Finn Lappin, P, McNeese: 0-0-1-1-1-6
• T20. Tariq Thomas, RB, Bucknell: 0-0-0-2-1-5
• T20. Matthew Traynor, LB, Richmond: 0-0-0-2-1-5
• 22. Charles Battaglia, LB, Stonehill: 0-1-0-0-0-4
• 23. Drew VanVleet, QB, Dayton: 0-0-0-1-1-4
• 24. Malachi Henry, WR, Central Arkansas: 0-0-0-1-0-2
• 25. Matt Childs, RB, Brown: 0-0-0-0-1-1

 
FRED MITCHELL AWARD FINALISTS

• Chris Campos - Stephen F. Austin
• Christian Casillas - College of DuPage
• Johan Edwards - Evangel University
• Dieter Kelley - College of San Mateo
• Gabe Panikowski - Idaho State
• DC Pippin - Southeast Missouri State
• Hunter Ridley - UC Davis
• Zach Schreiner - Sacramento State
• Seth Simpson - Baker University
• Mathias Uribe - Portland State