ECAC Announces DII Football Major Awards & All-ECAC Teams
DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced the 2017 Division II Football Major Awards and All-ECAC Selections.
Marc Jones from Gannon University was named Offensive Player of the Year. West Chester University’s Tyler Morrissey takes Defensive Player of the Year, Rasheem James receives Offensive Rookie of the Year and Bill Zwaan is named Coach of the Year.
Jones became the second Gannon football student-athlete in program history to be named a conference player of the year. The junior tailback finished the campaign with 2,176 rushing yards, 29 rushing touchdowns, 24 receptions, 288 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns, 186 total points and 2,464 all-purpose yards through 11 games. He leads all divisions of the NCAA in rushing yards per game (197.8) and rushing yards. He tops NCAA Division II in rushing touchdowns, rushing yards per carry (8.09), total touchdowns (31) and points per game (16.9). Jones also leads the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and ranks second nationally in all-purpose yards per game (224.0) despite not returning a kickoff or punt. Jones was named PSAC Western Division Offensive Player of the Week three times and selected ECAC Offensive Player of the Week four times.
Morrissey led the team in tackles with 112 on the season and he also tied for the team lead in tackles for loss with 12 on the season for a total of 34 yards. Six of these 12 tackles for loss where in the form of sacks which accounted for 28 of the 34 yards. He was the first Golden Ram to break 100 tackles since 2013. He also registered one pass breakup, five QB hurries, and recovered one fumble on the year. Morrissey was most recently named PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-PSAC First Team.
James earns the Rookie of the Year accolade after an impressive freshman campaign for the Golden Rams. Named to the All-PSAC Second Team, he had 38 receptions on the year for a total of 607 yards and five touchdowns including a game winning 85-yard touchdown against PSAC-East rival Kutztown earlier in the season. James is currently second on squad in receiving yards, receptions, and receiving touchdowns. He was also named PSAC East Offensive Athlete of the Week & ECAC DII Rookie of the Week this season.
Coach Bill Zwaan guided West Chester to a stellar 8-3 record and a PSAC East Championship. His offensive contingent averaged 35.7 points per game with 421 yards of total offense per contest while the defense held the opposition to 22.5 points and 343.2 yards a game. The Golden Rams received the No. 5 seed in the NCAA DII Playoff.
ECAC DII Football Awards & All-ECAC Selections
MAJOR AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year
Marc Jones - Gannon University, Jr.,
Defensive Player of the Year
Tyler Morrissey - West Chester University, R-Jr.,
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Rasheem James - West Chester University, R-Fr., WR
Coach of the Year
Bill Zwaan – West Chester University
ALL-ECAC First Team
Marc Jones – Gannon University, Jr., RB
Jarel Elder – West Chester University, Sr., RB
Markell Castle – Newberry College, Jr., WR
Andre Price – Lincoln University, Sr., WR
Tyler Karpinski – West Chester University, Sr., WR
Ryne Griesenauer - Southern Connecticut State University, Sr., TE
Dakota Mozingo – Newberry College, Sr. OL
Joe Buissereth – Southern Connecticut State University, So., OL
Kiley Smith Jr. – Gannon University, So., OL
Brady Bowling – Gannon University, Jr., OL
Frank Tranzilli – West Chester University, Jr., OL
Keito Jordon – Newberry College, So., DL
Jamarcus Henderson - Newberry College, Jr., DL
Noah Harris-Lyles - Gannon University, So., DL
George Shipp - West Chester University Sr., DL
Joe Blue – Newberry College, Jr., LB
Anthony Howard - Gannon University, Jr., LB
Tyler Morrissey – West Chester University, R-Jr., LB
Matthew Corrie – Pace University, R-Sr., LB
Jawanza Adams – Newberry College, Jr., DB
Deion Miller – Lincoln University, Jr., DB
Shaquille James – West Chester University, Sr., DB
Andrew Chegia – West Chester University, So., K
Brendan Paulison – West Chester University, Jr., P
Jarey Elder – West Chester University, So., RS
ALL-ECAC Honorable Mention
Jhalen Bien-Aime – Pace University, R-Jr., RB
Keon Hughes – Cheyney University, Sr., OL
Jorge Geronimo – Pace University, Sr., OL
Matt Weiss – Southern Connecticut State University, So., DL
Diquan Gilbert – West Chester University, Jr., DL
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