CHARLESTON, S.C. – Illinois State junior return specialist and defensive back Josh Burch was named to the 2014 College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) Kickoff Returner Award Watch List, as announced by the CFPA on Tuesday. The initial watch list includes 40 returning performers, vying for the top kickoff returner award in the Football Championship Subdivision.
"Congratulations to Josh Burch on earning a spot on this year's watch list," CFPA Executive Director Brad Smith said. "Burch produced several strong returns in 2013, notably including a 100-yard touchdown against Indiana State."
Burch played in six games for the Redbirds in 2013, before suffering a season-ending knee injury. The St. Petersburg, Fla., native averaged 29.7 yards per kick return on 11 attempts, which set an ISU single-season record for average yards per kick return (with a minimum of 10 returns). He also tied a school record and became the fourth player in school history to return a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, when he went end zone to end zone in the win over the Sycamores. For his efforts, Burch earned CFPA National Kick Returner of the Week honors.
The goal of College Football Performance Awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferment in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. Twenty-eight CFPA winners have been first-round NFL Draft selections.
CFPA is now in its seventh season of recognition, utilizing objective rankings of player and team performance from its data index since 2008. Its player and team performance index is broken down by offense, defense and special teams.
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