PITMAN—The New Jersey Athletic Conference announced on November 20 that 87 student-athletes have earned all-conference honors in football during the 2009 season. All selections were made by a vote of the league’s 10 head coaches.
Kean University senior running back Jared Chunn was selected as the NJAC Offensive Player of the Year, marking the second consecutive year that he garnered the league’s top offensive honor. A four-time all-conference selection, he currently leads the NJAC in rushing with an average of 108.8 yards per game. A two-time NJAC Offensive Player of the Week selection during the 2009 season, he has rushed 195 times for a league-high 1,088 yards, and seven touchdowns. He also produced the highest single-game rushing output of any player in the NJAC during the 2009 season, compiling 246 rushing yards in a victory at William Paterson on November 7. Chunn will wrap up his collegiate career on November 21 when Kean hosts Ursinus in the ECAC Southeast Bowl.
SUNY Cortland senior defensive lineman Bryan Wiley was tapped as the NJAC Defensive Player of the Year. A two-time all-conference selection, Wiley is currently tied for the league-lead in total sacks (10.0), while ranking fourth in the conference in total tackles for loss (17). On the 2009 season, he has produced 69 tackles, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Wiley will conclude his collegiate career on November 21 when the Red Dragons travel to face St. John Fisher in the ECAC Northwest Bowl.
Montclair State University senior kicker Marco Capozzoli was selected as the NJAC Special Teams Player of the Year. A two-time NJAC all-conference selection, he currently leads the conference in PAT percentage (.966), while ranking third in kick scoring per game (5.5 points). On the 2009 season, he has connected on 9-of-14 field goal attempts, and a league-best 28-of-29 PATs. Capozzoli and the NJAC Champion Red Hawks will open play in the 2009 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament by hosting Maine-Maritime on November 21.
Western Connecticut State University freshman running back Tyler DeRosa was tapped as the NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Year, marking the third time in the past four seasons that a Colonial has been selected as the league’s top offensive playmaker. He currently ranks 18th in the NJAC in rushing yards per game (30.5). DeRosa wrapped up his freshman campaign with rushing totals of 75 carries for 305 yards and three touchdowns.
Buffalo State College freshman linebacker Eddie Weiser garnered the NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Year award. A four-time NJAC Defensive Player of the Week selection during the 2009 season, he wrapped up his freshman campaign with 79 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, four interceptions, and one forced fumble. Weiser currently ranks eighth in the NJAC in tackles with an average of 7.9 per game.
Montclair State University head coach Rick Giancola was selected as the NJAC Coach of the Year by his peers. Picked to finish third in the NJAC preseason coaches poll, Giancola led the Red Hawks to nine consecutive league victories for the 2009 NJAC Championship, and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. As champions of the NJAC, Giancola and the Red Hawks will host Maine Maritime in a first round NCAA contest on November 21. In 27 seasons at the helm of the MSU program, Giancola has guided the Red Hawks to an overall record of 190-86-2.