NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State redshirt freshman linebacker Tye Niekamp is one of 22 FCS players who been named to the midseason watch list of the 2023 Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award, which honors the national freshman of the year in college football's Division I subdivision and is presented by FedEx Ground.
The Rice Award, now in its 13th season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice and this year's list includes both true and redshirt freshmen. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance and Shedeur Sanders.
Niekamp was thrust into his role as the starting middle linebacker for the Redbirds, when returning starter Cade Campos suffered a preseason injury that will keep him out for the season. Heading into week one, the backup at middle linebacker was also injured, so Niekamp took over the starter role and has certainly made the most of his opportunity.
Through six games the 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker from Normal, Illinois, native ranks second on the team with 41 total tackles (including 21 solo stops) and is tied for third on the squad with 4.5 tackles for loss. He has also added 1.5 sacks to the ledger to go along with four quarterback hurries and five pass breakups.
In his first collegiate start, Niekamp recorded nine tackles, a half sack and two tackles for loss in a season-opening shutout win over Dayton. Two games later, he tallied a career-high 11 tackles and was credited with two pass breakups in the Mid-America Classic at Eastern Illinois. Â
Niekamp and the No. 25 ranked Redbirds will travel to Youngstown, Ohio, on Saturday to take on Youngstown State at Stambaugh Stadium, with kickoff slated for 1 p.m. CT.
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