CHICAGO - North Dakota running back John Santiago was named one of 20 finalists for the STATS FCS Freshman Player of the Year award on Monday.

The Andover, Minn., native led all FCS freshman running backs and the Big Sky Conference with 1,459 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns, while also leading all FCS rookies with a UND regular-season record of 2,159 all-purpose yards (1,459 rush, 81 receiving, 38 punt return, 581 kick return).

He became the first true freshman to lead the Big Sky in rushing in the 53-year history of the league and burst onto the national scene with an FCS-leading nine 100-yard rushing games in 2015, including surpassing that total in all eight of his league games.

Santiago was the only back in the FCS to rush for more than 100 yards in each of his team's conference games and his 1,459 rushing yards were fourth best among all FCS rushers.

His season high of 230 rushing yards in UND's win over No. 19 Montana State was also the highest single-game total by a freshman in the FCS this season. He matched his season-high with three rushing scores against the Bobcats and had multiple rushing touchdowns in six different games.

The 5-foot-9, 170-pounder reeled off seven touchdown runs of 45 yards or longer and had 15 runs of 25-plus yards during his record-breaking season. His season long run of 81 yards came in a win over Northern Colorado on Nov. 14.

Also on Monday, Santiago was named the ROOT SPORTS Co-Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week after amassing 196 all-purpose yards and scoring three rushing touchdowns in UND's 45-21 victory over Cal Poly. He shared the honor with Southern Utah's Ammon Olson, who led the Thunderbirds to the outright Big Sky title in a win over Northern Arizona.

Santiago rushed for 117 yards and scored on touchdown runs of 15, 14 and five yards in the win over the Mustangs that gave UND a 7-4 overall record and 5-3 mark in Big Sky play. Olson threw for 430 yards and five touchdowns in the win over NAU. 

-- UND --