ECAC Announces DI FCS Football Major Awards & All-ECAC Teams
DANBURY, Conn. - The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2017 Division I FCS Football Major Awards and All-ECAC Selections.
Tommy Stuart from Duquesne University was tabbed Offensive Player of the Year while Bryant's Tom Costigan collected Defensive Player of the Year. Caylin Newton from Howard took home Offensive Rookie of the Year as University of Delaware's Colby Reeder was named Defensive Rookie of the Year. Al Bagnoli from Columbia was named the Division I FCS Coach of the Year.
Stuart becomes the first Duquesne player to be named NEC Offensive Player of the Year. He ranked eighth in FCS with 27 passing touchdowns on the season and completed 198-of-297 pass attempts for 2,405 yards, setting a new single-season program record for completion percentage (66.7 percent).
Stuart capped the season seventh in the country in completion percentage and eighth in the nation with a 159.3 pass efficiency rating. He added 328 rushing yards on 84 carries with five rushing scores on the year, giving him 32 total touchdowns.
Costigan, the 2017 NEC Defensive Player of the Year, enjoyed one of the best defensive seasons in program history. He became just the second player in school history to post 100 tackles, finishing second in a single season with 103. Costigan also tied the single-season sack record with 11.5 and finished with 17 tackles for a loss, tied for fifth in a single season. He posted 10 tackles on five occasions, had three sacks in a win over Robert Morris and forced four fumbles on the year. Costigan currently ranks third nationally in sacks per game (1.05), fourth nationally in forced fumbles (0.36) and 11th in tackles for a loss (1.5).
Newton helped lead Howard to its first-ever FCS win at UNLV in his collegiate debut. He has guided the MEAC's top-rated offensive unit (447.8 ypg) and rushing offense (217.4 ypg). Additionally, he became the first freshman in MEAC history to surpass 3,000 yards of total offense (3,185) while averaging 289.5 yards of offense per outing. The Jerry Rice Award nominee also led the MEAC in scoring as he combined for 25 touchdowns en route to leading Howard to its best finish and record since 2012.
Reeder started all 11 games at outside linebacker and recorded 49 tackles in 2017, the seventh highest total on the team. He led the team with eight tackles for loss and also had two sacks, two interceptions, two pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries. He was also one of the team's top special teams contributors.
In his third season leading the Columbia football program, Bagnoli led the Lions to their best overall record (8-2), best Ivy League record (5-2) and highest Ivy League finish (second place) in 21 years since 1996. He guided the Lions from a 3-7 record in 2016 to an 8-2 record this year. Columbia started season with six consecutive wins, the best start to a season in 21 years (since 1996) and put together a seven-game win streak which proved to be Columbia's longest win streak since 1935. Columbia also defeated Princeton, Penn and Dartmouth in a season for the first time since 1971.
ECAC DIVISION I FCS Football Awards & ALL-ECAC Selections
Offensive Player of the Year
Tommy Stuart - Duquesne University, Gr., QB
Defensive Player of the Year
Tom Costigan - Bryant Univeristy, Jr., LB
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Caylin Newton - Howard University, Fr., QB
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Colby Reeder - University of Delaware, R-Fr., LB
Coach of the Year
Al Bagnoli - Columbia
All-ECAC First Team
Brad Mayes -Lehigh University Jr., QB
Tommy Stuart - Duquesne University, Gr., QB
Josh Mack - University of Maine, So., RB
Dominick Bragalone - Lehigh University, Jr., RB
Neil O'Connor - University of New Hampshire, Jr., WR
Troy Pelletier - Lehigh University, Sr., WR
Justin Watson - University of Pennsylvania, Sr., WR
Jaeden Graham - Yale University, Sr., TE
Brandon Short - Lehigh University, Sr., OL
Tim O'Hara - Lehigh University, Sr., OL
Alex Thompson -Monmouth University, Sr., OL
Karl Marback - Yale University, Sr., OL
Aaron Stinnie - James Madison University, R-Sr., OL
Richard Jarvis - Brown University, Sr., DL
Nick Wheeler - Colgate University, So., DL
Seth Manzanares - Central Connecticut State University, Sr., DL
Andrew Ankrah - James Madison University, R-Sr., DL
Tom Costigan - Bryant University, Jr., LB
Nick Miller - University of Pennsylvania, Jr., LB
Nick McBeath - College of the Holy Cross, Sr., LB
Ed Shockley - Villanova University, Sr., LB
Abner Roberts - Duquesne University, Jr., DB
Nasir Adderley - University of Delaware, Jr., DB
Dylan Mabin - Fordham University, Jr., DB
Rashad Robinson - James Madison University, Jr., DB
Jack Soslow - University of Pennsylvania, Jr., K
Alex Pechin - Bucknell University, Jr., P
Justice Shelton-Mosley - Harvard University, Jr. RS
All-ECAC Second Team
Pete Guerriero - Monmouth University, R-Fr., RB
Zane Dudek - Yale University, Fr., RB
Juston Christian - Marist College, Jr., WR
Nehari Crawford - Duquesne University, Jr., WR
Reggie White Jr. - Monmouth University, Jr., WR
Jake Powell - Monmouth University, So., TE
Zach Duffy - Lehigh University, Sr., OL
Gerald Wright - Howard University, Sr., OL
Ryan Wetzel - Monmouth University, Jr., OL
Nathan Kirchmier - University of Pennsylvania, Sr., OL
Anthony Coyle - Fordham University, Sr., OL
Khristian Tate - Georgetown University, So., DL
Louis Vecchio - University of Pennsylvania, Sr., DL
Bilal Nichols - University of Delaware, Sr., DL
John Herubin - Yale University, Sr., DL
CJ Parvelus - Sacred Heart University, Sr., LB
Matthew Oplinger - Yale University, Sr., LB
Kyre Hawkins - James Madison University, R-Sr., LB
Chris Cooper - Stony Brook University, Sr., DB
Jarod Cann - Central Connecticut State University, Sr. DB
Teddie Martinez - Monmouth University, Sr., DB
Cameron Roane - Columbia University, Sr., DB
Mike Basile - Monmouth University, Sr., DB
Jimmy Moreland - James Madison University, R-Jr., RB
Parker Thome - Columbia University, Sr., P
Jean Constant - Bryant University, R-So., RS
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