NC State wide receiver Kevin Concepcion named finalist for Shaun Alexander Award
For NC State freshman wide receiver Kevin Concepcion, a new award or watch list has become an almost daily occurrence. This time, he was named a finalist for the sixth annual Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
The honor is presented to the most outstanding freshman player in college football, and Concepcion is one of five finalists to make the final cut.
Concepcion was joined by Alabama safety Caleb Downs, Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita, Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain and Purdue defensive back Dillon Thieneman.
The Charlotte, N.C., native was already named the ACC’s Rookie of the Year and On3’s National True Freshman Offensive Player of the Year this week. He also garnered a second team All-ACC nod for his standout performance this fall.
Concepcion led the Wolfpack with 64 receptions for 767 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, while he added 38 carries for 297 yards. He was the only true freshman to score double digit touchdowns this season.
His 10 touchdowns were the second-most by any ACC player this season, while he was third in the league in receptions per game and had the second-most of any freshman in the country.
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Concepcion was the only player in the FBS to record 750-plus receiving yards and 250-plus rushing yards this fall. He became the first player to do that since 2021 and the first ACC player to accomplish that feat since 2015.
The freshman wide receiver had three 100-yard receiving games this season, including his 131-yard performance against North Carolina in the Wolfpack’s regular season finale. He also posted five two-touchdown games, and threw a 17-yard touchdown pass at Virginia Tech in Week 12. Concepcion also posted three games with 50 rushing yards or more, including his 86-yard performance on the ground at Wake Forest in Week 11.
Concepcion joins graduate linebacker Payton Wilson as NC State’s players that are finalists for national awards. Wilson is a finalist for the Butkus (best linebacker), as well as the Bednarik and Nagurski Awards (best defensive player in college football).
The Shaun Alexander Award has been presented every season since 2018. It has been previously awarded to Trevor Lawrence (Clemson quarterback, 2018), Kenneth Gainwell (Memphis running back, 2019), Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama linebacker, 2020), Brock Bowers (Georgia tight end, 2021) and Drake Maye (North Carolina quarterback, 2022).
The winner of the Shaun Alexander Award will be announced on Dec. 29.
