University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Running Back Thomas Jefferson Finishes 14th in STATS Freshman of the Year Voting
12/9/2015 11:51:00 AM | Football
NEWARK, Del. -- Already selected as the top rookie in the Colonial Athletic Association this past fall, University of Delaware running back Thomas Jefferson earned some national acclaim Tuesday when STATS Inc., announced its voting for the national Freshman Player of the Year Award.
Jefferson, a 6-2, 215 lb. redshirt freshman from Prospect Park, N.J. (Passaic Tech High School), finished 14th in the voting for the top rookie in the nation at the NCAA FCS level. The selections were made from a vote of 150 sports information directors and media members who cover FCS football.
Northern Arizona quarterback Case Cookus was the landslide winner as Freshman Player of the Year as he earned 107 first place votes and 618 points overall to outdistance runner-up John Santiago, a running back from North Dakota who earned 15 first place votes and 457 points overall.
Jefferson, who last month was named the CAA Co-Offensive Rookie of the Week, earned two first place votes and 46 points overall to tie for 14th place with Albany linebacker Julian Cox. Maine wide receiver Micah Wright was right behind in 16th place with 44 votes.
Jefferson took over the starting running back spot after standouts Wes Hills and Jalen Randolph went down with season-ending injuries early in the campaign and flourished. He finished with team-highs of 178 carries for 890 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 5.0 yards per carry and catching 10 passes for 64 yards.
He surpassed the 100-yard mark three-times, including a season-high 174 yards vs. William & Mary and 163 yards and two touchdowns against North Carolina. William & Mary shared the CAA title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA FCS Tournament while North Carolina is currently ranked No. 10 in the nation at the FBS level, advanced to the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, and will take on No. 17 Baylor in the Russell Athletic Bowl on Dec. 29.
He currently ranks sixth in the CAA in rushing yards per game (80.9) and his 890 yards are the second highest total by a rookie in UD history, trailing only 2010 CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year Andrew Pierce (1,655 yards). Jefferson currently ranks No. 5 among all FCS freshmen in yards per game and No. 9 in yards per carry (5.0 avg.).
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Scott Selheimer | selheime@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-8007 | Cell: 302-562-5129
