The top 5 plays from Montana RB Eli Gillman’s Jerry Rice Award season

Montana running back Eli Gillman was named the 2023 Jerry Rice Award winner as the best freshman in FCS football. Gilman is the first Montana player to win the award in its 13-year history after rushing for 857 yards and 10 touchdowns on 152 carries during the 2023 regular season, finishing with three 100-yard rushing games.

RELATED: A complete history of the Jerry Rice Award

Gillman 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 Eli Gillman's freshman year

The longest touchdown run in Montana's program history

Montana has produced plenty of great FCS running backs like Jordan Canada, Lex Hillard, Chase Reynolds and Yohance Humphrey, but none have done what Eli Gillman did... rush for an 85-yard touchdown. One of the top highlights of Gillman's freshman season came when he ran for the longest touchdown in Montana history against UC Davis.

Here is multiple angles of Eli Gillman's () 85-yard touchdown run as well. Huge play from the freshman to give some breathing room in the third quarter. ⬇️

— Kyle Hansen (@khansen406)

WATCH: Montana RB Eli Gillman () hit 20.8 mph on this 85-yard touchdown.

🎥:

🔗

— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics)

First start. First touchdown. First 100-yard game

Gillman made his first start in Montana's season-opening game against Butler. The redshirt freshman lived up to the hype in his debut as a starter, averaging 6.3 yards per carry en route to 119 yards — the first 100-yard game of his young career.

While Gillman scored his first career touchdown during his two-game redshirt season, Gillman also scored his first touchdown of the season against Butler.

Ain't no stopping !

— Montana Griz Football (@MontanaGrizFB)

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End zone Eli

In a top-10 matchup against Sacramento State, Eli Gillman showed of his combination of vision, elusiveness and power on his eight-yard touchdown run.

They don't call him Endzone for nothing! 👏

— Montana Griz Football (@MontanaGrizFB)

First Brawl of the Wild score

One of the top rivalries in the FCS is the Brawl of the Wild between Montana and Montana State. Gilman made his presence known early in his first edition of the rivalry game, scoring the game's first touchdown.

That man CAN'T BE STOPPED 💪

Griz on the board first!

— Montana Griz Football (@MontanaGrizFB)

BRACKET: See the official 2023 FCS playoff bracket

More Eli Gillman highlights

See more highlights from Eli Gillman below.

Our guy is the Big Sky 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 and is in the running for the Rice Award!

⬇️ This is why 😤

— Montana Griz Football (@MontanaGrizFB)

That man is a candidate for the FCS Freshman of the Year!

⬇️ 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙒𝙝𝙮 💪

— Montana Griz Football (@MontanaGrizFB)