Merritt, Eckhaus named finalists for FCS Awards

CHICAGO - Bryant University football head coach Chris Merritt and freshman quarterback Zevi Eckhaus were named finalists for two major Stats Perform FCS year-end awards, it was announced on Monday. 

Merritt was named one of 17 finalists for the Stats Perform FCS Eddie Robinson Award, while Eckhaus was named one of 23 finalist for the Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice Award. The Eddie Robinson Award is given annually to the top coach in the FCS and the Jerry Rice Award is presented to the top freshman in the FCS. It marks the second time a Bryant head coach has been a finalist and the first time a Bulldog has been a finalist for the Rice Award. 

Merritt guided the Black and Gold to their best season since 2014 this fall, his third on the sidelines. The Bulldogs finished with a 7-4 overall record and a 5-2 mark in the Northeast Conference. Bryant's seven wins are the second-most in a single season in DI program history, while its five league wins match the previous high. The 5-2 league finish is Bryant's best as a member of the NEC. Bryant proved to be one of the most well-balanced teams in the league this season, finishing the year averaging 30.0 points per game and just 22.6 points per game defensively. The Bulldogs closed the year with back-to-back 50+ point performances, a first in program history, and allowed just 125 yards per game on the ground. Merritt is now 13-14 in three seasons with the Bulldogs.

Eckhaus becomes the first Bulldog to be named a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award after putting together one of the best true freshman seasons in Bryant and NEC history. He finished the year 233-of-371 (62.8 percent) for 2,392 yards, 21 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Eckhaus added 242 rushing yards and two rushing TDs, finishing the year with 23 total TDs and 2,634 yards of total offense. He finished the season second nationally among freshmen QBs in passing yards and passing touchdowns, and ranked first or second in the NEC in every major passing category. Eckahus threw for 300+ yards on four occasions and finished the year with multiple TD passes in each of his final eight games. He went 7-3 as a starter. 

Historically, Merritt and Eckhaus join Marty Fine (coach), Jordan Brown (2012), Jeff Covitz (2014) and Tom Costigan (2018) as Bulldogs that have been named finalists for the major FCS awards.