MARSHFIELD, Mass. – The Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) announced their all-conference teams and major award winners for the 2021 season as voted on by the league's seven head coaches. Student-athletes from all seven member institutions earned recognition.
Offensive Player of the Year
Quarterback Aaron Jenkins (Canfield, Ohio) of Alfred State College earned Offensive Player of the Year accolades after an incredible junior campaign with the Pioneers. Jenkins started all 10 games this season and led the conference in total touchdowns with 29. He also led the conference in nearly every rushing category, amassing 943 rushing yards (1st), averaging 94.3 rushing yds/gm (1st) and scoring 15 touchdowns on the ground (1st). He was just as dominant through the air, posting 2,211 passing yards (3rd), averaging 221.1 yds/gm (3rd) and throwing 14 touchdown passes (3rd).
Defensive Player of the Year
Chris Rice (Bethel Conn.) of Castleton University was named Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Rice led the conference with 23 tackles for loss, his 2.3 TFL per game ranked second nationally in all of Division III. He also tormented opponents' quarterbacks, racking up a league-high 11.5 sacks which also ranked 13th nationally. The senior defensive lineman also added 65 total tackles (30 solo), two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, three pass breakups and one block to his incredible stat line for his senior campaign.
Offensive Lineman of the Year
Castleton's Tucker Gaudette (Georgia, Vt.) was honored as ECFC Offensive Lineman of the Year after his impressive junior season. Gaudette anchored a line that rushed for 1,482 yards on the season, good for 3rd-best in the ECFC. The Spartans also protected their quarterbacks, surrendering only 18 sacks on the season over nine games.
Special Teams Player of the Year
Joseph Gagliardi (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) of Maritime College repeated as ECFC Special Teams Player of the Year after another strong season. The senior scored 28 points by way of 13 extra points and five field goals. He also contributed to the punting game as he placed 18 punts within the 20-yard line this season with a long of 73 yards. His 40.3 yards per punt also led the conference along with his total punts of 49.
Rookie of the Year
Wide Receiver Deandre Wallace (Waterbury, Conn.) of Anna Maria College was recognized as ECFC Rookie of the Year for the 2021 season. The first-year player contributed to several facets of the AMCATS attack this year. He posted 42 catches on 820 total yards and recorded nine touchdowns. He was also a threat in the return game for Anna Maria, posting 102 yards on 4 returns with a long of 33 yards. He averaged 103.7 all-purpose yards per game.
Coach of the Year
Anna Maria College Head Coach, Dan Mulrooney, was recognized by his peers as ECFC Coach of the Year. He led the AMCATs to the ECFC title this season with a 5-1 record in conference play and 7-2 overall record. The 2021 conference crown marked the first championship in the history of the program. The 2021 AMCATS also set the new program record for wins in a season, broke numerous individual records and will represent the conference in the NCAA postseason.
Assistant Coach of the Year
Steven Croce, Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach at Anna Maria College earned ECFC Assistant Coach of the Year accolades after helping lead the AMCATS to a regular season title and NCAA postseason bid. The Anna Maria offense exploded this season, setting and breaking numerous program and individual records. Notably, he coached an Anna Maria passing offense that finished ranked eighth nationally in all of Division III, averaging 334.4 yards per game through the air.
ECFC all-conference selections are determined by a vote of the conference coaches.
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First Team Offense |
Second Team Offense |
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|
QB |
Aaron Jenkins, Alfred State |
Jr. |
QB |
Alex Cohen, Anna Maria* |
Sr. |
|
|
RB |
Mujaheed Muhammad, Keystone |
Fr. |
RB |
Christian Schiavone, Maritime (N.Y.) |
Sr. |
|
|
RB |
Mikka Harvey, Gallaudet |
Fr. |
RB |
Jake Palmer, Alfred State |
So. |
|
|
FB |
Joseph Mendis, Gallaudet |
Jr. |
|
FB |
Noah Silfer, Alfred State |
Fr. |
|
WR |
Errol Breaux, Dean*^ |
Sr. |
WR |
Anthony Martinez, Castleton& |
Sr. |
|
|
WR |
Deandre Wallace, Anna Maria |
So. |
WR |
Justin McMillian, Anna Maria |
Sr. |
|
|
WR |
Shy'rel Broadwater, Alfred State* |
So. |
|
WR |
Quintus Reid, Dean&^ |
Jr. |
|
TE |
Jordan Mason, Dean |
So. |
|
TE |
Cade Marks, Alfred State* |
Sr. |
|
OL |
Tucker Gaudette, Castleton*$ |
Jr. |
|
OL |
Liam McManus, Maritime (N.Y.) |
Sr. |
|
OL |
Cress Fisher, Gallaudet |
Sr. |
|
OL |
Harrison Scott, Alfred State |
Fr. |
|
OL |
Jon Naniewicz, Keystone |
Jr. |
OL |
Devin White, Anna Maria |
Gr. |
|
|
OL |
Anthony Mauro, Dean |
Sr. |
|
OL |
Charles Hughes, Alfred State |
Fr. |
|
OL |
Daniel Tanielu, Gallaudet*^ |
Sr. |
|
OL |
Josh Moore, Keystone |
Fr. |
|
K |
Joseph Gagliardi, Maritime (N.Y.)* |
Sr. |
K |
Noah Crossman, Castleton |
Jr. |
|
|
RS |
Ki'sean Bullard, Dean |
Jr. |
RS |
Brandon Washington, Gallaudet |
Fr. |
|
|
First Team Defense |
Second Team Defense |
|||||
|
DL |
Chris Rice, Castleton*$ |
Sr. |
DL |
Andrew Genier, Castleton |
Sr. |
|
|
DL |
Jude Sampson, Anna Maria |
Gr. |
DL |
Te'Hari Campbell, Alfred State |
Sr. |
|
|
DL |
Brock Weist, Alfred State* |
Sr. |
DL |
Justin Jimenez, Maritime (N.Y.) |
Sr. |
|
|
DL |
Dustin Rock, Castleton |
Sr. |
|
DL |
Elijah Allston, Anna Maria |
Jr. |
|
LB |
Jacob Hartman, Gallaudet |
Fr. |
LB |
Joel Smith, Alfred State |
Fr. |
|
|
LB |
Desmond Dias, Dean* |
Jr. |
LB |
Nuhsar Mike, Alfred State |
Fr. |
|
|
LB |
Stefan Anderson, Gallaudet |
So. |
|
LB |
Sean Tocci, Keystone |
Jr. |
|
LB |
Jayson Gilsinger, Castleton |
Sr. |
|
LB |
Sean Hart, Maritime (N.Y.) |
Jr. |
|
DB |
Rylie Van Fleet, Alfred State* |
So. |
|
DB |
Frank Vano, Maritime (N.Y.) |
Sr. |
|
DB |
Dre Kidd, Dean |
So. |
|
DB |
Kordell Scott, Dean |
Sr. |
|
DB |
Armstrong Antoine, Anna Maria |
Sr. |
DB |
Sergio Borda, Maritime (N.Y.) |
So. |
|
|
DB |
Jack Gray, Gallaudet |
Jr. |
|
DB |
Jerell Springer, Keystone |
Fr. |
|
P |
Joseph Gagliardi, Maritime (N.Y.)*$ |
Sr. |
|
P |
Mike Morgan, Castleton^ |
Sr. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* 2019 1st Team Selection & 2019 2nd Team Selection
$ 2018 1st Team Selection ^ 2018 2nd Team Selection
Honorable Mention
Alfred State: Roman Napoleon (Jr., WR), Caleb Maier (Jr., OL), Dawson Fontaine (So., K), Anthony Allen (Jr., DB), Rylie Van Fleet (So., P) Anna Maria: David Robinson (Jr., WR), Collin McCarthy (So., OL), Ryan Kent (So., K), Jarred Grant-Spann (Sr., DL), Danny George (Gr., LB), Swavaughn Small (Gr., LB), Sam Jakana (So., LB), Lamar Wilkes (Jr., DB) Castleton: Alex Martellio (Sr., FB), Evan Keegan (Sr., TE), Joe Stimpfel (Sr., OL), Seth Gewanter (Sr., LB) Dean: David Curry (Jr., QB), Michael Bethune Jr. (Sr., RB), Ki'sean Bullard (Jr., WR), Mason Dill (So., K) Gallaudet: Timel Benton (Sr., QB), John Scarboro (Fr., OL), Michael Gibson (So., DB) Maritime: Kevin Murphy (Sr., WR), Cole Trosclair (Fr., TE), Everett Hymel (Fr., OL), Nicholas Tulipano (Fr., DL), Manuel Costales (SR., DL), Andrew Wierzbicki (Sr., LB)
