Brown University Press Release PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown freshman running back Matt Childs has been named one of 25 finalists for the 2024 Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award, which recognizes the freshman player of the year in FCS Football. Childs is the only Ivy Leaguer to be named a finalist. In October, Childs was one of two Ivy Leaguers, along with Princeton linebacker AJ Pigford, to be named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List. Appearing in nine games in his standout rookie campaign, Childs became just the fourth true freshman in program history to lead the Bears in rushing, and also led all Ivy League rookies in rushing yards per game, receiving yards per game, and total touchdowns. He finished with 361 rushing yards on 91 carries, averaging exactly 4.0 yards per attempt and 40.11 yards per game on the ground. He also finished as Brown’s second-leading receiver with 29 catches for 384 yards (42.67 yards per game) and tied for second on the team with four total touchdowns. Childs was twice named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week this season, coming in consecutive weeks after tallying four catches for 101 yards and a touchdown against Harvard, and then adding 58 yards rushing and 93 yards receiving with two touchdowns against Bryant. He totaled 100 yards of total offense at URI on October 9, rushed for a season-high 74 yards on 17 carries to help Brown rally past Cornell on October 26, and rushed for 64 yards at Yale on November 9. The Jerry Rice Award winner will be announced on December 4 and honored at the Stats Perform National Awards Banquet in Frisco, Texas on January 4. Categories: College Sports, Sports Tags: Brown Bears, Brown University