Kean University junior quarterback A.J. Roque and Rowan senior defensive end Keith Heimerl have been named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Football Players of the Year respectively for the 2006 season.

A two-time all-conference selection at quarterback, Roque completed 162 of 280 pass attempts for 2,320 yards and 19 touchdowns on the season. He currently leads the NJAC in passing yards per game (210.9), total offense per game (216.7), and passer efficiency rating (137.7). The leader of the Cougar offense and a Week 10 NJAC and ECAC Player of the Week selection, Roque quarterbacked Kean to a 7-4 overall record  highlighted by a 37-0 victory over King’s in the ECAC Southeast Bowl Championship.

A two-time all-conference selection for the Profs, Heimerl has registered 36 tackles, nine sacks, 15.5 tackles for a loss, one interception, and one forced fumble for NJAC Champion Rowan. He currently leads the conference in tackles for a loss per game (1.55), while ranking second in the league in sacks per game (0.90). Heimerl and the 8-2 Profs, who earned a 20-18 victory over Hobart in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament, will travel to face Wilkes in a second round contest on November 25.

Western Connecticut State University freshman quarterback James Williams was selected as the NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Year. During his freshman campaign, he completed 152 of 245 pass attempts for 1,818 yards and 11 touchdowns. A six-time NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Week selection, Williams currently ranks second in the NJAC in passing yards per game (181.8), total offense per game (183.7), and passer efficiency rating (129.4). 

William Paterson University freshman defensive back Stephon Anderson was selected as the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year after finishing the year with 34 tackles, three tackles for a loss, six interceptions, 10 pass break-ups, one sack, and one forced fumble. Anderson currently ranks second in the NJAC in interceptions per game with a mark of 0.60.

Kean University head coach Dan Garrett was selected as the NJAC Coach of the Year by his peers after leading the Cougars to a 7-4 overall record highlighted by a 37-0 victory over King’s in the ECAC Southeast Bowl Championship. Picked to finish eighth in the preseason league coaches poll, Garrett led Kean to a fourth place conference finish and a postseason appearance in his first year at the helm of the Cougar program.

2006 NJAC FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS