CHARLESTON, S.C. - North Dakota State wide receiver Zach Vraa was named to the 2014 College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) watch list announced Monday, June 23.

The initial watch list includes 38 returning players, vying for the top wide receiver award in the Football Championship Subdivision. All players are eligible for awards at their respective positions; players are not preemptively eliminated from consideration.

Vraa, a senior from Inver Grove Heights, Minn., led the Missouri Valley Football Conference and ranked third nationally with a school-record 15 touchdown receptions last season.  He led the MVFC and was 10th nationally with a school-record 1,191 receiving yards and led the league with 79.4 receiving yards per game.

Vraa joins running back John Crockett, free safety Christian Dudzik, strong safety Colten Heagle, defensive end Kyle Emanuel and linebacker Carlton Littlejohn on the 2014 CFPA Watch List.
 
Two former NDSU stars have earned CFPA honors: John Prelvitz (CFPA Punter Award) and Marcus Williams (CFPA Defensive Back Award).
 
The goal of College Football Performance Awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. Twenty-eight CFPA winners have been first-round NFL Draft selections.
 
Last season, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston earned the CFPA National Performer of the Year Trophy for the FBS, while Eastern Washington quarterback Vernon Adams earned the CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy.
 
CFPA Trophy winner and former South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was the first overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft.
 
The full list of 2014 CFPA winners will be announced January 14, 2015.

CFPA Wide Receiver Watch List
Dezmin Lewis, Central Arkansas
Tyrell Holmes, Central Connecticut
Lucas Shapiro, Cornell
William Morris, Davidson
Michael Johnson, Delaware
Milton Williams III, Delaware State
Adam Drake, Eastern Illinois
Keiondre Gober, Eastern Illinois
COOPER KUPP, EASTERN WASHINGTON*
Sam Ajala, Fordham
Tebucky Jones, Jr., Fordham
Brian Wetzel, Fordham
Kenny Cook, Gardner-Webb
Andrew Robustelli, Jacksonville
Reggie Begelton, Lamar
Mark Roberts, Lamar
Darrin Peterson, Liberty
Julian Burton, Missouri State
Neal Sterling, Monmouth
Ellis Henderson, Montana
Jamaal Jones, Montana
Zach Vraa, North Dakota State
Dimitri Stimphil, Northern Colorado
Kasey Closs, Portland State
Tobi Antigha, Presbyterian
Stephen Barnette, Richmond
DeAndre Carter, Sacramento State
Karel Hamilton, Samford
Reggie Bell, San Diego
Jason Schneider, South Dakota State
Willie Quinn, Southern University
Tyler Boyd, Stephen F. Austin
DJ Ward, Stephen F. Austin
Spencer Wilkins, Towson
R.J. Harris, New Hampshire
Karnorris Benson, Western Carolina
Tre McBride, William & Mary
Deon Randall, Yale
 
*Returning CFPA winner