CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University redshirt freshman receiver and punt returner Denver Harper has been named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List.
Harper has been a revelation for the Govs in 2026. The Fort Mitchell, Alabama native has tallied 805 all-purpose yards through the season's first eight games, scoring 10 total touchdowns in a variety of ways – six receiving, two punt return, one rushing and one on a missed field goal return.
Twice, Harper has earned national weekly recognition for his work in 2026, becoming the first player in program history with multiple national honors in one season. He was named Stats Perform National Freshman of the Week for the week of Sept. 12 after the Govs 63-7 win against Morehead State, accruing 196 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns on just six touches against the Eagles. On the first play from scrimmage, Harper took a pop pass out of the backfield untouched for 72 yards and a score to tie the game, then hauled in a 31-yard reception just after the two-minute timeout in the second quarter for his second score of the day and fourth receiving touchdown of the young season.
Later, with seconds remaining in the half, Harper ranged back to field a Morehead State punt off the bounce, made a move, scampered left and raced 67 yards for his first career punt return touchdown and the first by an Austin Peay returner since 2024.
Less than a month later, Harper was named Stats Perform National Special Teams Player of the week following the Govs' 42-17 Homecoming win against New Haven. The speedster again needed just six touches for 227 all-purpose yards, including an 82-yard punt return for a score and 100-yard kick-six he took from the back of the end zone on a missed field goal, the first kick-six in program history and the first time any Gov has ever scored multiple special teams touchdowns in one game. He also earned United Athletic Conference Specialist and Freshman of the Week for his performance against New Haven, becoming the first player in league history with multiple weekly honors in the same week.
The 5-8 receiver has a trio of 100-yard receiving games to his credit already this season, against Gardner-Webb (108), Morehead State (124) and Tarleton State (106). Through eight games, he ranks fourth in program history in receiving yards and third in receiving touchdowns by a freshman.
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 after the regular season from a group of finalists. Harper seeks to become the fourth player in Austin Peay to be named a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award; he would join Draylen Ellis (t-6th in 2020), Drae McCray (15th in 2021) and Montreze Smith Jr. (8th in 2025) as Govs to be finalists for the nation's highest freshman honor.
