Stats Perform

CHICAGO – HCU freshman running back Ismail Mahdi has been named a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, which is presented annually by Stats Perform to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national freshman of the year. Houston Christian University (HCU), formerly Houston Baptist University (HBU), underwent a name change in September 2022.
 
Mahdi ranked second in the Southland Conference with 112.6 all-purpose yards per game. The Murphy, Texas, native missed three games with an injury but finished the year with 568 rushing yards, 333 receiving yards and scored five touchdowns. Mahdi was named the FedEx Ground National Freshman of the Week and the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week in Week One after leading the Huskies to a 46-34 victory on the road against Northern Colorado. He rushed for 181 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown run, and added two catches for 83 yards, including a 74-yard touchdown reception.
 
Mahdi had 79 rushing yards and 66 receiving yards and a touchdown the following week against Lindenwood. He made eight catches for 121 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown, and rushed for 66 yards with a touchdown against 18^th-ranked UT Martin.
 
The Rice Award, now in its 12^th season, is named after legendary wide receiver Jerry Rice, who starred at Mississippi Valley State as part of his Hall of Fame career. A national media panel will select the winner, with voting based on the regular season. The recipient will be announced on Dec. 7 and honored at the FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas, on the eve of the FCS national championship game.