Mercer quarterback Braden Atkinson was the 15th recipient of the Jerry Rice Award. Atkinson completed 68.1 percent of his passes for 3,448 yards and 34 touchdowns to just seven interceptions during the 2025 regular season, adding in a rushing touchdown. Atkinson received 51 out of 54 first-place votes after leading Mercer to a 9-0 record against the FCS once he took over the starting quarterback role in Week 3.
RELATED: A complete history of the Jerry Rice Award
Atkinson has had a fantastic season filled with great performances. Here are the top plays from his freshman season.
The top plays from Jerry Rice Award winner Braden Atkinson’s freshman year
The first touchdown
Braden Atkinson’s first touchdown of the season came on a wheel route to the endzone after some misdirection. It would be a sign of things to come for the freshman, who would go on to throw 34 touchdowns during his rookie campaign.
Touchdown Bears!
Braden Atkinson with a perfectly thrown ball to @_cj2m for the 16-yard touchdown! 🎯🔥
Q4 | 14:03
Mercer 22, Wofford 21#WeOverMe pic.twitter.com/jm17M3O33u
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) September 14, 2025
A touchdown off the back foot
Mercer was in need of some big plays, trailing against ETSU on the road. That’s when Atkinson stepped up with this 17-yard touchdown pass off his back foot.
Touchdown Bears!
Go up and get it @BraydensmithMU 😮💨
Q4 | 11:29
ETSU 34, Mercer 31#WeOverMe pic.twitter.com/9TlhpgrTnH
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) September 28, 2025
🏆: CLICK OR TAP HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE 2025 FCS PLAYOFFS
The lone rushing touchdown
Atkinson is a quarterback who will beat you with his arms more than his legs, but against Furman, the freshman quarterback finally found the endzone on the ground.
3Q I 8:45
🐻 38
⚔️ 28
Quarterback @bradenatkinson takes it in himself from one yard away.#WeOverMe pic.twitter.com/ibkrQGxe9T
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) November 1, 2025
BRACKET: See the official 2025 FCS playoff bracket
A throw-on-the-run dime
In a battle for SoCon supremacy against Western Carolina, Atkinson set the tone early with this beautiful 50-yard pass that he made while rolling out to the left with pressure in his face.
.@Braden_Atkinson rolls right and drops it in the bucket to @BraydensmithMU for a gain of 50 yards! 🤩🎯#WeOverMe pic.twitter.com/uvZOUMi5od
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) November 8, 2025
A record-setting FCS regular season finale
Mercer played Chattanooga in its final FCS regular-season game of 2025. Atkinson ended the season with a bang, throwing a school-record-tying five touchdowns. It was his third time tying the single-game passing touchdown record, but Atkinson etched himself into the season’s school record books against Chattanooga.
Atkinson set single-season program records for passing yards (3,243), passing touchdowns (33) and pass completions (230) with his 326-yard, five-touchdown and 28-completion day.
Single-season passing yard record
🚨 SCHOOL RECORD ALERT 🚨@braden_atkinson moves atop Mercer’s single season passing yards list with this 17-yard pass to Kendall Harris!#WeOverMe pic.twitter.com/9FXzKwb9dS
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) November 15, 2025
Single-season pass completion record
TOUCHDOWN MERCER!@braden_atkinson is now Mercer’s single season record holder for pass completions after this 12-yard scoring strike to @AdjatayD!
2Q I 10:34
🐻 28
🦤 3#WeOverMe pic.twitter.com/KByHnl3tju
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) November 15, 2025
Single-season passing touchdown record
THE RECORDS KEEP FALLING!@braden_atkinson breaks Fred Payton’s 3-year-old school record with his 23rd TD pass of the season, this time to @BraydensmithMU!
3Q I 9:04
🐻 49
🦤 3#WeOverMe pic.twitter.com/yZ1zFzYBbh
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) November 15, 2025
More highlights
Watch more highlights from Atkinson’s freshman season below.
In case you missed it…Braden Atkinson 🤝 National Freshman of the Year 🙂↕️🙌#WeOverMe pic.twitter.com/JYT3gl2keh
— Mercer Football (@MercerFootball) December 5, 2025
Stan Becton joined NCAA.com in 2021 and has since served as a college football, FCS football, track and field, cross country and HBCU beat reporter. He has covered numerous NCAA championship events, including the FCS Championship, DI Track & Field Championships and Men’s Frozen Four. Additionally, he has covered the College Football Playoff and HBCU sporting events like the Celebration Bowl, MEAC/SWAC Challenge and Legacy Classic. Stan graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, earning a degree in Professional Writing and playing football as a five-year letterman. You can follow him on Twitter @stan_becton.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions.