KILLINGWORTH, Conn. – The Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) announced their all-conference teams and major award winners for the 2023 season as voted on by the league's head coaches. Student-athletes from all member institutions earned recognition.
Offensive Player of the Year
Anna Maria Quarterback Ryan Russell (West Springfield, Mass.) was selected as the Offensive Player of the Year after a stellar junior season with the AMCATs. Russell led the league in several categories, including yards thrown (2,884), yards per game (320.4) and touchdowns (27). He finished second in completion percentage (54.5%). The junior QB also added 243 yards with four rushing touchdowns. Russell threw for over 300 yards in six games this season, including two games for over 400 yards. His season was highlighted by a 539 yard and six touchdown performance against Husson. Russell finished 4th overall in the nation for average passing yards per game (327.75) and 8th in the nation in total offense per game (511.9 avg).
Defensive Player of the Year
Gallaudet linebacker Jacob Hartman (Petersburg, W. Va.) was named Defensive Player of the year for the second straight year. Hartman was selected to the ECFC All-Conference 1st Team in both his freshman and sophomore campaigns. The 2022 All-Region Defense 1st Team linebacker ranks second in the league in solo tackles (20) and fourth in tackles (57). Hartman had six or more tackles in five games this season, including two games where he totaled nine and 11 tackles, respectively. The junior linebacker also added three sacks and one forced fumble to his impressive season.
Offensive Lineman of the Year
Anna Maria's Max Cyr (Middletown, Conn.) was honored as the ECFC Offensive Lineman of the Year after his impressive senior campaign. Cyr is a three-year starter for the AMCATs and has given up only one sack in three years. He anchored a line for an offense that compiled 4,593 total offense yards, leading the ECFC in that category and ranking No. 8 in the nation in total offense per game (511.9 avg).
Special Teams Player of the Year
The AMCATs senior kicker Ryan Kent (Irvington, N.J.) was honored as the Special Teams Player of the Year. He ranked 1st in the ECFC for field goals made (6) and total points (57). He also ranked 1st in extra-point percentage (95%) in his nine games of the season. In conference play, Kent was a perfect 20/20 on extra-point attempts. Kent also took on punting duties, punting 10 times on the season for 373 yards and a 37.3 average. Half of his punts forced opponents inside their own 20-yard line.
Rookie of the Year
Gallaudet's Marcus Gabriel (Beeville, Texas) was honored as the Rookie of the Year after his impressive rookie campaign for the Bison. Gabriel finished the season with 47 tackles, averaging 5.9 tackles per game which ranked 3rd on the Bison squad for tackles. The Beeville, Texas linebacker finished out his rookie season with 25 solo tackles, five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.
Coach of the Year
Anna Maria Head Coach, Steve Croce, was recognized by his peers as the ECFC Coach of the Year. Croce led the AMCATs to a 3-1 record in conference play and 5-4 overall record. The AMCATs finished their 2023 regular season campaign tied for 1st place in the ECFC. Croce led an Anna Maria squad that finished 8th nationally in total offense (511.9 avg) and 5th in passing yards per game (341.1 avg). The AMCATs were selected to represent the ECFC in the New England Bowl this year, taking on Salve Regina University on Saturday, November 18th.
Assistant Coach of the Year
Tanner Kingsley was selected as the 2023 ECFC Assistant Coach of the Year. Kingsley is in his 4th season coaching with the AMCATS football program. In just his second season as the Offensive Coordinator, Kingsley steered a squad that led the league in total offense, passing yards, and yards per game. Anna Maria finished 8th nationally in total offense (511.9 avg) and 5th in passing yards per game (341.1 avg).
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 |
Ryan Russell, Anna Maria College |
Jr. |
QB |
Justin Horvath, Alfred State College |
So. |
|
|
RB |
Jamal Cariglia, Anna Maria College |
So. |
RB |
Justin Brown, Anna Maria College | Jr. | |
|
RB |
Mikka Harvey, Gallaudet University | Jr. | WR | Dy'Riece Smith, Dean College | Fr. | |
|
RB |
Jake Palmer, Alfred State College | Sr. |
WR |
Jalen Smith, Dean College | Jr. | |
|
FB |
Dre'Vaughn Mackall, Gallaudet University | Sr. |
|
WR |
Ben Ba, Alfred State College | Sr. |
|
WR |
Deandre Wallace, Anna Maria College | Sr. |
TE |
Tyler Bulinkski, Anna Maria College | Sr. | |
|
WR |
Jazir Francois, Alfred State College |
So. |
OL |
Timothy Northrup, Anna Maria College | Jr. | |
|
WR |
Mark Johnson-Morgan, Anna Maria College |
Sr. |
|
OL | Clayton Hughes, Alfred State College | Jr. |
|
TE |
Jordan Mason, Dean College | Sr. |
|
OL | Aidan Carton, Alfred State College | So. |
|
OL |
Max Cyr, Anna Maria College | Sr. |
|
OL |
Jahden Jean-Baptiste, Dean College | Fr. |
|
OL |
Da'Shawn Allen, Anna Maria College | Sr. |
|
OL | Billy Haynes, Gallaudet University | Jr. |
|
OL |
Eagan Enke, Alfred State College | Jr. | RS/RB | Noah Currier, Alfred State College | Fr. | |
|
OL |
John Scarboro, Gallaudet University | Jr. |
|
|||
|
OL |
Kyle Albertson, Gallaudet University | So. |
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|
K |
Ryan Kent, Anna Maria College | Sr. | ||||
|
K |
Jonathon Waterman, Gallaudet University | Sr. | ||||
|
RS |
Andrae' Green, Gallaudet University | So. | ||||
|
First Team Defense |
Second Team Defense |
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| DL | Austin Roy, Dean College | Sr. |
DL |
Rayshawn Powell, Alfred State College | Sr. | |
| DL | Elijah Allston, Anna Maria College | Gr. |
DL |
Kelvin Benjamin, Gallaudet University | Fr. | |
|
DL |
Mark Howland, VTSU Castleton | Sr. |
DL |
Jordan Wright, VTSU Castleton | Gr. | |
| DL | Malik Kirnon, Anna Maria College | Gr. |
|
DL |
Josh Borowicz, Alfred State College | Sr. |
| LB | Jacob Hartman, Gallaudet University | Jr. |
LB |
Kevin Smith Jr., Dean College | Fr. | |
| LB | Kevin McDonough, VTSU Castleton | Jr. |
LB |
Silas Egenlauf, Alfred State College | Jr. | |
| LB | Tyler Buxton, VTSU Castleton | Jr. |
|
LB |
Dilaver Ibrahimi, Anna Maria College | Jr. |
| LB | Antonio Giano, Anna Maria College | Gr. |
|
LB |
Jeremiah Nixon, Alfred State College | Sr. |
| DB | Lamar Wilkes, Anna Maria College | Sr. |
|
LB |
Marcus Gabriel, Gallaudet University | Fr. |
| DB | Andrae' Green, Gallaudet University | So. |
|
DB |
Rashawn Shelton, Anna Maria College | Fr. |
| DB | Rylie Van Fleet, Alfred State College | Sr. |
DB |
Danny Browning, Alfred State College | Fr. | |
| DB | Dawson Pierson, VTSU Castleton | Sr. |
|
DB |
Isaac Dorlean, Dean College | Fr. |
|
DB |
Andrew Liverman, Dean College |
So. |
DB |
Max Fair, VTSU Castleton | Jr. | |
|
P |
Noah Crossman, VTSU Castleton |
Sr. |
|
|
||
| P | Jonathon Waterman, Gallaudet University | Sr. |
Honorable Mention
Alfred State: Noah Sifler (Sr., TE), Daniel Gonzalez (Jr., OL), Jaylen White (Sr., DL), David Harrell (Jr., LB), Maxwell DeMare (So., K), Rylie Van Fleet (Sr., P) Anna Maria: Eric Pino (Sr., RS) Dean: Isaac Sisneros (Fr., QB) Gallaudet: Brandon Washington (Jr., QB), Tyler Connor (So., OL), Zachary Wade (Jr., DL), Zefan Nathanson (So., LB)
