BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – As the 2026 season for SWAC Football continues, two standouts from the conference were named to the 2026 FCS Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award Watch List. Alabama A&M’s Byron Perrilliat and Bethune-Cookman’s Rashon Brown were featured on the list announced Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
 
Byron Perrilliat, Alabama A&M
The Freshman from Jefferson, Louisiana is ranked No. 7 in the SWAC with 437 rushing yards while adding four touchdowns. Perrilliat has two 100+ yard performances, both in SWAC play (165 vs. Florida A&M, 103 vs. Bethune-Cookman). Following his two touchdowns, 165-yard performance he was named the SWAC Offensive Player of the Week, FCS National Freshman of the Week, and HBCU Co-Player of the Week.
 
Rashon Brown, Bethune-Cookman
The Freshman Pahokee, Florida is ranked No. 2 in the SWAC with 650 rushing yards and ranked No. 16 in the FCS. Brown adds nine touchdowns, ranked No. 7 in the FCS. On the year, Brown adds one 100+ rushing yard performance and one 200+ rushing yard performance. His 260 yards for 31 rushes performance was enough to earn SWAC Offensive Player of the Week.
 
About the Jerry Rice Award Watch List
Stats Perform’s 2026 Jerry Rice Award Watch List runs 30 deep – matching the largest in the FCS freshman player of the year award’s 16-year history in the Division I subdivision. 

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

True and redshirt freshmen are eligible for the Jerry Rice Award. A national media panel will select the winner from a group of finalists following the regular season. To see the full list click here. 
 
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.

Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball.

Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.