Welcome to the 2021 FCS Jersey Countdown.
Leading up to Week 0 games on Aug. 28, HERO Sports is going to name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-0. Due to rosters being updated at different times for teams across the country and to keep things consistent, jersey numbers are based on the 2020 fall-2021 spring season.
The 99-0 countdown central page can be found here.
Note: Jersey numbers are based on 2020 fall-2021 spring rosters.
29: Jake Chisholm, RB (Sr.) — Dayton
Chisholm had a decorated high school career at Ryle. The Kentucky native had 4,763 rushing yards, 1,100 receiving yards, and 75 touchdowns in his career. He also broke the school record in the 100-meter dash.
Dayton likely felt it got a steal in the 2018 recruiting class. And Chisholm proved it with a breakout 2019 season.
He carried the ball 153 times for 1,129 yards and eight TDS, caught 21 passes for 230 yards and three scores, and returned 29 kicks for 684 yards and one TD. The 5-foot-9, 182-pounder led the FCS with 204.3 all-purpose yards per game, almost 30 yards more per game than No. 2 (Tennessee State’s Chris Rowland). Chisholm’s 7.4 yards a carry ranked No. 2 in the FCS.
He was named a HERO Sports Sophomore All-American and to the All-Pioneer Football League First Team.
Dayton decided not to play any games in 2020-21 due to COVID. But Chisholm, who was named a team co-captain for this upcoming season, wasn’t forgotten about nationally.
We ranked Chisholm a Top 25 returning running back, and Stats Perform named him a 2021 Preseason Third Team All-American as an all-purpose player.
