Flash Points:

• Senior safety Lorenzo Jerome (Sunrise, Fla./J.P. Taravella) was added to the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List on Tuesday.
• Jerome is one of 26 players on the watch list.
• Jerome is tied for the FCS lead with four interceptions this year and has 16 career interceptions, most among current FCS players.

LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis senior safety Lorenzo Jerome (Sunrise, Fla./J.P. Taravella) was added to the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List.  The senior was one of four players added to the list, which now consists of 26 players, on Tuesday.
 
Jerome has garnered national attention for his strong start to the 2016 season.  A Preseason All-America selection as a kick returner, Jerome has made a tremendous impact on defense and special teams this season.
 
The Florida native is tied for the FCS lead with four interceptions this season after recording his fourth pick of the year this past Saturday against Malone. 
 
With 16 career interceptions, Jerome has the most of any active FCS player.  He is just three interceptions away from tying a school-record (Jason Wilson, 1991-94) and an NEC record (Chris Blackshear, Central Connecticut State, 2001-03). 
 
Jerome is second on the team this season with 36 tackles, including 17 solo, two tackles for loss and a sack.  He also has three pass breakups and returned a fumble 89 yards for a touchdown at Towson.
 
The three-time First Team All-NEC selection ranks third among active FCS players with 43 career passes defended, which includes 16 interceptions and 27 pass breakups, which is good for fifth all-time at SFU.
 
Jerome has been just as strong in the kick return game, where he is averaging 26.36 yards per return and has a 73-yard touchdown return at Montana.  He has a career kick return average of 26.4, sixth among current FCS players, and is tied for the FCS lead among current players with three career kick return touchdowns.
 
A 2015 STATS FCS Postseason All-America selection, Jerome has seven non-offensive touchdowns in his career, the most among FCS players.  Jerome has 376 all-purpose yards this season, with 58 punt return yards and 28 interception return yards.
 
Jerome has had a major impact from the very start of the season.  At No. 13 Montana, Jerome was all over the field, making a team-high 10 tackles, five solo, with a tackle for loss, a pass breakup and two interceptions.  He earned STATS FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week honors after totaling 196 yards on four returns, including the 73-yard touchdown return and an 86-yard return, which setup another SFU touchdown. 
 
He again led the team in tackles at Towson, when he made nine stops, five solo, and gave Saint Francis a 7-0 lead just 24 seconds into the game with his 89-yard fumble return for a score.
 
Jerome had six stops, three solo, at Columbia and two tackles and an interception at No. 20 Albany.
 
The senior earned NEC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance this past weekend vs. Malone, when he made nine tackles, four solo, with a sack, two pass breakups, a QB hurry and an interception.
 
The Red Flash will look for Jerome to make a few more big plays this week as it begins conference play at Robert Morris.  Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Joe Walton Stadium, with the game being broadcasted on ESPN3.