COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Brock McCoin has gained the attention of Tennessee Tech coaches and fans, and he has caught the eye of opposing teams, especially since they have found it difficult to catch him on the football field.

Now, the rookie from Livingston Academy has nabbed the focus of College Football Performance Awards (CFPA), which includes McCoin as one of 30 first-year players on the Freshman Performer of the Year Watch List.

McCoin is one of two freshmen in the Ohio Valley Conference included on the initial Watch List, which aims to recognize the most outstanding freshmen in the NCAA  Football Championship Subdivision. He is joined by runningback Otis Gerron of Austin Peay.

After sitting out the 2013 season as a redshirt, McCoin has emerged as one of Tech’s top weapons on offense in his first season on the field. He leads the Golden Eagles and ranks eighth in the Ohio Valley Conference in receiving with 41 catches for 505 yards and two touchdowns.

After a slow start to the year when he was coming off the bench, McCoin took advantage of a change in the Golden Eagle offensive scheme and has taken over a starting assignment. In the past four games, McCoin has twice topped the 100-yard mark in receiving, helping Tech post victories in each contest.

McCoin piled up a career-best 128 yards and a fourth quarter touchdown in Tech’s 39-31 come-from-behind victory over No. 12 Eastern Kentucky in Tucker Stadium on Oct. 18. Three weeks later, he posted 120 yards on seven catches, helping the Golden Eagles to a 27-26, come-from-behind victory over Southeast Missouri, also at home in Tucker Stadium.

The list includes 16 running backs, 10 wide receivers, and four quarterbacks. Previous winners of the award include: Drew Reed (Lafayette), Sawyer Kollmorgen (Northern Iowa), John Robertson(Villanova), Taylor Heinicke (Old Dominion), and DeNarius McGhee (Montana State).

2014 CFPA FCS National Freshman Performer of the Year Watch List:

Octayvius Miles (WR), Alabama A&M
Josh Gontarek (WR), Albany
Otis Gerron (RB), Austin Peay
Larry Brihm (QB), Bethune-Cookman
Sam Schrader (RB), Butler
Cam Jackson (RB), The Citadel
Osharmar Abercrombie (RB), Coastal Carolina
Jeffrey Keil (RB), Davidson |
Nic Sblendorio (WR), Eastern Washington
Brandon Norwood (WR), Florida A&M
Chase Edmonds (RB), Fordham
Semar Smith (RB), Harvard
Troy Pelletier (WR), Lehigh
Ryan Ross (RB), McNeese State
Chandler Curtis (WR), Mercer
Alex Lakes (RB), Mercer
Calan Crowder (RB), Missouri State
Donald Goodrich (RB), New Hampshire
Marquell Cartwright (RB), North Carolina A&T
RJ Urzendowski (WR), North Dakota State
Rameses Owens (RB), Robert Morris
Marcus Bagley (RB), Saint Francis U
Yedidiah Louis (WR), Sam Houston State
Jake Wieneke (WR), South Dakota State
Cameron Walter (RB), Southern Illinois
Austin Howard (QB), Southern University
Brock McCoin (WR), Tennessee Tech
Al Cobb (QB), VMI
Detrez Newsome (RB), Western Carolina
Hunter Wells (QB), Youngstown State

McCoin and the Golden Eagles will be in action Saturday for their final home game of the 2014 season, hosting Chatttanooga in a 1:30 p.m. game for Senior Day. Tickets are available in advance by calling (931) 372-3940 or at the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center.