LEXINGTON, Va. – Redshirt freshman receiver Owen Sweeney was named to the 2025 Jerry Rice Award Watch List on Wednesday, which honors the FCS Freshman Player of the Year.

Sweeney is one of just 22 players to be named to the watch list, which is comprised of true and redshirt freshman.

A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Sweeney was injured in his third game in 2024 and has come back strong in 2025, hauling in 31 receptions for 580 yards and seven touchdowns in just six games. Sweeney opened up 2025 with 126 yards and a touchdown at Navy, has eclipsed 100 yards three times, and scored a touchdown in all but one game this season.

After missing the prior game due to injury, Sweeney returned against Samford with a career-high 13 catches for 208 yards and a touchdown against Samford. Sweeney became just the sixth Keydet in program history to record a 200-yard receiving game.

Sweeney ranks in the top 30 at the FCS level in several major categories including touchdowns (4^th), receiving yards per game (6^th), receiving yards (17^th), total touchdowns (25^th) and yards per reception (25^th).

The Rice Award, celebrating its 15th anniversary season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, who starred in the FCS at Mississippi Valley State University. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. 

The 2025 Jerry Rice Award recipient will be announced on Dec. 3 and honored at the Stats Perform National Awards Show on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee.

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