Football | 11/20/2023 6:55:00 PM

Utah Tech freshman wide receiver Beau Sparks was named as one of 22 national finalists for the 2023 Jerry Rice Award on Monday.

The Jerry Rice Award, presented by FedEx Ground, is awarded annually to the national freshman player of the year at the NCAA Division I FCS level.

All 13 FCS leagues, comprised from 15 conferences overall, are represented by a Jerry Rice Award finalist. The winner, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced on Dec. 6, and honored at the FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 6, 2024 in Frisco, Texas – the eve of the FCS national championship game.

Sparks (6-4, 255; El Paso, Texas/Franklin HS), who caught at least five passes in nine of 11 games played, closed the regular season as the United Athletic Conference leader in receptions (74) and receptions/game (6.73 rpg). He also finished the year t-fourth in the UAC in touchdown receptions (7) and fifth in receiving yards (723).

The freshman quickly made a name for himself in the season opener at then-No. 2 ranked Montana State (9/2), against which he set a Utah Tech freshman record with 144 receiving yards on seven catches, highlighted by hauling in a 66-yarder for his first collegiate reception. Sparks also became the first freshman to record a 100-yard receiving game in his collegiate debut, and is just the fourth freshman in Utah Tech's NCAA era to post a 100-yard receiving game overall.

Sparks earned UAC Freshman of the Week honors back on Sept. 18, after he hauled in seven passes for 87 yards in UT's road win at Northern Arizona (9/16). He then followed that up two weeks later with his first collegiate two-touchdown game at Colorado State (9/30), against which he made seven receptions for 67 yards.

The freshman wideout chased that effort in his next outing with a career-high nine catches for 68 yards and his fourth touchdown in the Trailblazers' home victory over Stephen F. Austin (10/7).

Sparks later collected his second UAC Freshman of the Week award after he caught eight passes for 92 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns at North Alabama (10/21).

Sparks led the team with a career-high 12 catches for 90 yards at Abilene Christian (11/4), in his return to his native Texas for the first time as a Trailblazer. Sparks' 12 grabs were also tied for the sixth-highest single game total in the program's NCAA era.

That effort came after he hauled in nine passes for 53 yards and his team-leading seventh touchdown of the year vs. Eastern Kentucky (10/28).

Sparks is one of two UAC representatives on the 22-player watch list, along with Stephen F. Austin freshman corner back Aaron Sears.

The Rice Award, now in its 13th season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance and Shedeur Sanders.