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Bridgewater, NJ — In a year that came down to the final day of the regular season to determine the automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs and had the year-end standings land a never-before-seen four-way tie for second place, it's only fitting that the 2023 Northeast Conference (NEC) football major award winners were evenly distributed amongst five league members.
 
For the first time in program history, the NEC Offensive Player of the Year belongs to a Merrimack Warrior. Sophomore wide receiver and dangerously elusive kick returner Donovan Wadley (Newark, NJ/Weequahic) claimed ownership of the conference's top offensive accolade for his work on the gridiron this fall.
 
One year after he made history as LIU's first-ever major award winner, defensive lineman Eric O'Neill (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) added another entry to the recordbook by becoming the first-ever Shark to secure the NEC Defensive Player of the Year award. In the process, he became just the third player in NEC annals to make the leap from NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year to NEC Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons, joining UAlbany's Colin Disch (2004, 2005) and Monmouth's Jose Gumbs (2007, 2008).
 
LIU's impenetrable force will be on the national ballot when voting for the Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award commences. 
 
Dynamic freshman wideout Jaylen Bonelli (Cooper City, FL/St. Thomas Aquinas) became the second Wagner Seahawk — joining Nick Doscher in 2009 — to bring the NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year award to Staten Island. The 5-foot-10 Floridian was a four-time Rookie of the Week in his first season on Grymes Hill.
 
Playmaking linebacker Carter Glassmyer (Central York, PA/Central York) put the NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year award back in Saint Francis U's possession for the second time in the past three seasons.
 
Navigating Duquesne back to the top of the NEC for an unprecedented sixth time in 2023, longtime head coach Jerry Schmitt pocketed the NEC Coach of the Year award for the second time in his storied career. The Dukes' skipper is on the list of national finalists for the Stats Perform Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.
 
More coveted NEC hardware was handed out four days after all eight teams closed out the 2023 regular season. In addition to the announcement of the league's five major award winners, the NEC revealed two 27-player All-NEC teams on Wednesday.
 
All honorees were determined by a vote of the league's eight head coaches. 
 
A lethal blend of speed, grit and explosiveness coupled with a keen sense of field awareness made Wadley one of the most versatile and valuable performers in the league this season. He became the first wide receiver to garner the Offensive Player of the Year honor since Saint Francis U's Kamron Lewis in 2016, but simply calling Wadley a wideout does not paint the full picture.
 
Wadley did it all for an explosive Merrimack offense. He shredded defenses to the tune of 26 catches for 471 yards and five touchdowns. The 5-foot-9 Garden State product ranks in the NEC top-10 in receiving yards (8th), touchdowns (t-3rd), yards per catch (18.1, 6th) and yards per game (42.8, 8th).
 
Drawing parallels to NFL All-Pro Alvin Kamara, Wadley showcased his versatility by rushing for 216 yards and three scores, while also making a significant impact as a return specialist.
 
He currently leads the nation in two special teams categories, and is third in another. He ranks first with three kick returns for touchdowns and an astronomical 37.9 yards per return, while his 645 kickoff return yards, which are the most by a conference player in nearly half a decade, are good for third in the FCS. Three of the longest kickoff returns on the FCS charts this season have Wadley's name inked next to them, as he is the only specialist in the entire nation to have three returns of 90-or-more yards. All of those returns went for touchdowns, including a 90-yard score against LIU (Oct. 21), a 94-yard haul to the end zone against Wagner (Sept. 23) and a 95-yard house call against UMass (Nov. 4). His monstrous performance of 188 return yards against UMass earlier this month is the second-best effort in the FCS in 2023, and the league's best showing since Bryant's Jean Constant racked up 191 yards at Howard in 2018.
 
Wadley dipped his foot in the All-NEC Awards pool twice, also garnering a pair of First Team nods as a wide receiver and return specialist. 
 
O'Neill, a preseason All-American who flashed plenty of ability as a rookie in 2022, continued to be a dominant force. The 6-foot-3 defensive lineman was second in the circuit in sacks (5.5 per game) and was first in the NEC in tackles-for-loss (23.5) over the course of the regular season. In addition, his 2.14 tackles-for-loss per contest are good for second overall on the FCS leaderboard. He was also credited with 80 tackles, one forced fumble, seven quarterback hurries, three pass breakups and one interception.
 
The Staten Island native made a plethora of noteworthy plays against prime competition. He opened the season by making 3.5 tackles-for-loss at FBS opponent Ohio University, which finished second in the East Division of the MAC, before he contributed 2.0 tackles-for-loss at FBS member Baylor. In more than half of his NEC appearances, O'Neill produced 2.0-or-more tackles-for-loss, including a league-leading 4.5 against Merrimack, the top offense in the circuit.
 
Boosting his All-NEC First Team award count to two, O'Neill has also been named a national finalist for the second straight season. Making the cut for last year's Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award, which is awarded to the nation's top freshman, he inked his name as a finalist on the 2023 Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award list, which recognizes the FCS's Defensive Player of the Year. 
 
Bonelli compiled the fourth-most receiving yards on the circuit in his first season at Wagner. After the speedy 5-foot-10 wideout combined for four catches in Wagner's first three games, he went on to make three-or-more receptions in seven of the Seahawks' final eight contests. He was Wagner's most targeted receiver and he ranked in the loop's top-five with 40 catches, 627 yards and 57.0 receiving yards per game. 
 
A native of Cooper City, FL, Bonelli did most of his damage once the slate turned to conference play. All four of his touchdowns came during that seven-game stretch, including a two-score performance in a 28-17 win over Stonehill on Oct. 28. In NEC games, Bonelli was second in receptions (30), second in touchdowns, third in receiving yards (448) and third in receiving yards per game (64.0). Midway through the season, he became the first Wagner rookie since Joe Kinard 2004 to rack up 100-plus receiving yards in a game with a 104-yard performance against Saint Francis U (Oct. 12). One week later, he accomplished the feat once again and bested that performance by racking up 128 yards against Central Connecticut on Oct. 21. Bonelli's standout play helped lead the Seahawks to their winningest season since 2018.
 
Glassmyer made multiple tackles in all 10 games for a Red Flash unit that held its NEC counterparts to just 22.3 points per game, and the Keystone State product wasted little time in making his name known as a disruptive force in the NEC loop. He delivered 9.0 tackles per contest to lead all FCS rookies and rank 27th overall in the nation. The 6-foot-1 linebacker wreaked even more havoc on conference opponents, as his 78.0 total hits during conference play were a whopping 20 more than the next closest competitor.
 
Glassmyer, who added 6.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery, twice earned the NEC Defensive Player of the Week award. His first honor came after he anchored a Saint Francis U defensive effort that conceded just 10 points in a last-second win over Stonehill with 13 tackles, including 11 solo hits, 2.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.0 sack on Sept. 30. Two weeks later, Glassmyer was all over DeGol Field in a 31-7 Thursday night prime time win over Wagner on CBS Sports Network with 11 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack. Those were two of his league-leading five performances that featured double-figure tackles, a string that was ignited by an NEC-best 16-hit effort against Sacred Heart on Sept. 23.
 
The Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award finalist added All-NEC First Team accolades to his resumé and was just one of two rookies to earn all-conference distinction.
 
Schmitt and the Dukes have been synonymous with winning in the NEC football circuit. Under the direction of their longtime head coach, Duquesne has claimed three FCS Playoff bids, the NEC's second FCS Playoff victory and six regular season crowns since 2011. Most impressively, the Dukes have not finished lower than second place in the standings in three of the past four years, and seven of the past nine seasons. Schmitt presides over the top-ranked offense in the league that boasts a lethal passing game, as the Dukes' 17.33 passing yards per completion ranks first in the FCS. 
 
The winningest coach in Duquesne history, Schmitt is one of just 12 active FCS coaches to have at least 100 victories at their current institution. The nine-time conference champion and four-time conference coach of the year is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award for the third time in his career. In 24 years as a head coach, including 19 at the helm of the Dukes, he has racked up 148 career victories.
 
MORE TO KNOW…
 
> All eight NEC football programs earned multiple all-conference selections this season. 
 
> Sacred Heart linebacker DeAndre Byrd (Lawrenceville, GA/Deerfield Academy) and Saint Francis U offensive lineman Seth Osborne (Williamsburg, VA/Lafayette) were the lone three-peat All-NEC honorees. They both earn first team distinction for the second consecutive season.
 
> Including Byrd and Osborne, the All-NEC First Team touted eight student-athletes making their second straight appearances on the league's top squad. LIU led the way with three repeat first team honorees while Stonehill contributed two players to that list.
 
> In addition to O'Neill, fellow teammates Owen Glascoe (Massapequa Park, NY/Massapequa (Penn State)) and Will Lynch (Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia/Somerset College) maintained their first team status for the Sharks.
 
> Glascoe, a redshirt senior tight end, was one of the most versatile ballers in the circuit. A local product of Massapequa Park, NY, he had a hand in 11 of the Sharks' 27 touchdowns with six rushing scores, three touchdown catches and a pair of touchdown passes.
 
> Lynch assumed the Sharks' punting duties for the second straight year and averaged a league-leading 41.5 yards per boot. Blasting an NEC-best 11 punts for 50-or-more yards, the Australian-born sophomore saw 14 of his attempts land inside the 20-yard line and seven go for touchbacks. 
 
> Two of Stonehill's three first team members were repeat honorees in senior running back Jermaine Corbett (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) and graduate offensive lineman David Satkowski (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug).
 
> Satkowski's presence on the offensive line made it possible for Corbett to rush to the top of the NEC rankings. Despite missing two games with an injury, Corbett is second in the conference in rushing yards per game (111.8) and touchdown rushes (9), while his 894 total yards on the ground are good for third.
 
> With senior linebacker Sam Murphy (Lockport, NY/St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) also making the cut for the All-NEC First Team, Stonehill improved upon last season's all-conference total of four by tacking on two All-NEC Second Team picks (WR Chris Domercant, TE/HB Noah Canty).
 
> Merrimack and Saint Francis U — two teams that were a part of a four-way tie for second place in the final standings — led the way with five first team selections apiece.  
 
> The Warriors' five All-NEC First Team members were the most in program history.
 
> Merrimack senior offensive lineman Antonio Derry (Baltimore, MD/Saint Frances Academy (Stetson)) became the second Warrior to earn first team distinction in back-to-back seasons. He was joined on the first team by linemate Nick Reimer (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic), a junior.
 
> The duo helped pave the way for junior Tyvon Edmonds Jr. (White Plains, MD/Bishop McNamara), one of the nation's top running backs. The only NEC player this season to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards this season — and the Warriors' first since transitioning to Division I in 2019 — he ranks sixth in the FCS in rushing yards (1,247) and rushing yards per game (113.4). Edmonds' 10 rushing scores tops the NEC charts.
 
> Duquesne has dominated the quarterback slot of the All-NEC First Team as of late. Topping the NEC charts with 2,291 passing yards, a 140.9 pass efficiency rating, 21 touchdowns and six multi-score games, junior Darius Perrantes (Los Angeles, CA/St. Francis (Rhode Island)) became the fourth Duke signal caller since 2016 to earn the honor. Putting up 200-or-more passing yards against all seven NEC opponents, the Walter Payton Award Finalist threw for three touchdowns four times.
 
> One of Perrantes' top targets, graduate student DJ Powell (Deerfield Beach, FL/Blanche Ely (Bethune Cookman)), racked up first team-worthy numbers in his debut season in the NEC. The Bethune Cookman transfer caught a league-best nine touchdowns and was second in the loop in receiving yards (702) and receiving yards per game (63.8). 
 
> With Powell's award, Duquesne has produced a first team wide receiver in each of the past three seasons.
 
> Rounding out the Dukes' first team picks were a pair of defenders: graduate defensive lineman Noah Palmer (Jefferson Hills, PA/Thomas Jefferson (Pittsburgh)) and redshirt sophomore defensive back Ayden Garnes (Philadelphia, PA/Monsignor Bonner). 
 
> Rookie sensation Edward Robinson (Maple Heights, OH/Maple Heights), a three-time Rookie of the Week, rose to the scene during NEC play, with six of his seven rushing scores coming during that seven-game stretch. His second team selection made him the only true freshman in the conference to garner All-NEC distinction.
 
> Sacred Heart senior defensive back Arsheen Jiles (Montclair, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) and Saint Francis U redshirt senior offensive lineman Bailey Ibolean (Alexandria, VA/West Potomac) were two NEC all-stars that upgraded their status from second team in 2022 to first team in 2023.
 
> Central Connecticut offensive lineman Reis Spicer (Cicero, NY/Cicero North Syracuse) made the jump to the league's first team one year after he made his All-NEC debut with second team honors. 
 
> LIU junior return specialist Davon Wells (Kissimmee, FL/Osceola (The Citadel)) earned second team honors for the second time in as many seasons.
 
> Saint Francis U, which finished above .500 in conference play for the third straight season with a 4-3 record, was well-represented on the first team with a league-best five picks. Three of those all-stars made their all-conference debuts, including Glassmyer, redshirt junior wide receiver Dawson Snyder (Berlin, PA/Shanksville-Stonycreek) and junior linebacker Eddie Bierals (Wayne, NJ/DePaul Catholic).
 
> With 43 catches, Snyder was the most targeted receiver in the NEC this season. He racked up a league-best 718 receiving yards and 71.8 receiving yards per game, while his five touchdown catches have him tied for third in the conference.
 
> The All-NEC Second Team was littered with five repeat all-conference honorees, including Saint Francis U redshirt junior quarterback Cole Doyle (Glendale, CA/Crescenta Valley (College of the Canyons)), the 2022 NEC Offensive Player of the Year.
 
About The Northeast Conference
Now in its 43rd season, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of nine institutions of higher learning located throughout five states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States including New York (#1), Boston (#9). Hartford/New Haven (#34) and Syracuse (#85). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 24 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 15 different NCAA Championships. NEC member institutions include Central Connecticut, FDU, Le Moyne, LIU, Merrimack, Sacred Heart, Saint Francis U, Stonehill and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league's official website official website (www.northeastconference.org) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, all @NECsports.