The NJAC presented its 2006 gridiron awards at the ECAC Football Dinner held at the Meadowlands on February 7. Among the NJAC award winners in attendance were Offensive Player of the Year Phil Silva, Defensive Player of the Year Adam Haas, Defensive Rookie of the Year Zach Garren, and NJAC Coach of the Year Jay Accorsi. Kean head coach Charlie Cocuzza accepted the Offensive Rookie of the Year award on behalf of Chase Long who was unable to attend due to an academic commitment.

A senior wide receiver from Rowan, Silva is a three-time all-conference selection. He tallied 46 receptions for 681 yards and nine touchdowns for a Prof squad that captured its second consecutive NJAC Championship while earning its second straight trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament. He finished the season ranked second in the NJAC in receiving touchdowns, eighth in the league in receptions per game, and seventh in the NJAC in receiving yards. He also was an instrumental cog in a Rowan offensive unit that led the NJAC in both total offense and red zone offense.

A junior defensive tackle from SUNY Cortland, Haas is a three-time NJAC all-conference selection. He is a two-time NJAC Defensive Player of the Week honoree in 2005 who registered 53 tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss, and 10.5 sacks for a Red Dragon squad that posted a 7-2 regular season record while earning an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament. He led the conference and ranked tied for 11^th nationally in sacks with an average of 1.2 per game. He also finished fifth in the league in tackles for a loss and 25^th in the conference in total tackles. An equally effective run stopper, he was a consistent performer on a Cortland defense that led the NJAC and ranked second nationally by allowing just 41 rushing yards per game.

Long, a freshman wider receiver from Kean, finished his rookie campaign ranked 10^th in the NJAC in touchdown scoring. He wrapped up his first collegiate season with 30 receptions for 422 yards and six touchdowns while earning second-team all-conference honors.  

A freshman linebacker from Rowan, Garren was a four-time NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Week selection who posted individual statistics of 97 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, one sack, and three interceptions. He finished his rookie campaign ranked eighth in the league in tackles with an average of 7.5 per game. 

Rowan head coach Jay Accorsi was selected as NJAC Coach of the Year by his peers for the third time in his four-year head coaching career after leading the Profs to an 8-1 regular season record and the 2005 NJAC Championship. In four seasons at the helm of the Rowan program, he has produced a 38-9 overall record while leading the Profs to three NJAC Championships, three NCAA Tournament appearances, and two trips to the NCAA Tournament national semifinals.

Rowan coordinators Tom Doddy, Mark Hendricks and Brian Bodine accepted the conference championship for the Profs. In 2005, Rowan posted an overall record of 11-2 and captured its 16^th NJAC crown while making its 13^th trip to the NCAA Tournament. In 2005, they produced three NCAA Tournament victories before falling to the eventual National Champions in the NCAA semifinals for the second consecutive season.

In addition to the conference honors, Rowan also received the 2005 Lambert Meadowlands Award and the ECAC Division III Team of the Year Award. The Lambert Meadowlands Award is given to the Eastern football team that best exemplifies excellence on the field of play. Rowan’s award represented the eighth time in school history that the institution has was recognized as the best program in the East in Division III. The Profs also received the trophy in 2004, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1995 and 1993. The award also marks the 10^th time that Rowan was chosen the ECAC Team of the Year (2004, 2001, 1999-98-97-96-95-93-92). In addition, Rowan freshman linebacker Zach Garren received the ECAC Southeast Region Rookie of the Year Award.