PITMAN, NJ --- Christopher Newport’s
Matt Dzierski (Lorton, VA/South County) has been named the NJAC Football Offensive Player of the Year and Salisbury’s
Sean Carroll (Wilmington, DE/Mount Pleasant) has been named the Sam Mills Defensive Player of the Year. The duo headlines the 76-member NJAC Football All-Conference Team, selected by a vote of the league’s head coaches.
Kean’s
Donte Jamison (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken) was named Special Teams Player of the Year. The College of New Jersey’s
Lucas Spitzer (Roxbury, NJ/Roxbury) is the NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Montclair State’s
Dorian Gashi (Fairfield, NJ/West Essex) earns Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Kean’s
Dan Garrett and Salisbury’s
Sherman Wood share Co-Coach of the Year accolades.
Dzierski, a four-time NJAC Offensive Player of the Week, led the NJAC in conference-only total offense (293.7 yards per game), conference-only passing (248.0 yards per game) and conference-only pass completion percentage (71.1%). He also currently ranks 12th in NCAA Division III in pass completion percentage. He threw for 10 touchdowns and rushed for six more against NJAC opponents as the Captains finished 3-3 in conference play for third place.
Carroll was the backbone to a Salisbury defense that held NJAC opponents to just 10.7 points per game, a league low. The safety picked two interceptions and recorded two pass breakups against NJAC opponents and had three interceptions and four pass breakups overall this season. Carroll and the Sea Gull defense ran through the NJAC schedule with a perfect 6-0 record, and their only loss of the season was against then-No. 3 Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Jamison did it all for Kean. Primarily a returner who also saw time at wide receiver late in the season, Jamison led the NJAC in conference-only all-purpose yards. He averaged 188.2 all-purpose yards per game, nearly 70 more per game than the next highest. He returned three punts for touchdowns and ranks second in the nation in that category. He tied for first in the NJAC in total conference-only touchdowns, rushing for six including the three punt returns. Jamison averaged 21.0 yards per punt return, ranking first among NJAC returners. Jamison twice earned NJAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors and was also the Week 11 Offensive Player of the Week.
Spitzer, a three-time Offensive Rookie of the Week, made immediate contributions on TCNJ’s offense. The tight end caught 20 times for 244 yards and a touchdown, averaging 12.2 yards per reception. He ranked ninth among all NJAC players with 40.7 receiving yards per game in conference play.
Gashi, a five-time NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Week, posted 21 solo tackles and 24 assisted for a total of 45 against conference opponents. He ranked 10th among all NJAC players with 7.5 tackles per game. He was also tied for sixth in the NJAC in tackles for loss, posting 7.5 TFLs to force opponents to lose 15 yards.
Garrett is named NJAC Coach of the Year for the third time in his career (2006, 2011). Garrett coached his 2021 squad to a 4-2 conference record and second place in the league standings after a preseason poll had the Cougars predicted seventh. The winningest coach in Kean program history, Garrett is up to 79 wins on the Cougar sideline since taking over in 2006.
Wood is also named NJAC Coach of the Year for the third time (2015, 2019). He coached the Sea Gulls to their fourth NJAC title since joining the conference in 2015 as they went 6-0 in league play. Wood has 167 career wins since taking over the Salisbury program in 1999 and Salisbury is headed to the postseason for the 17th consecutive season.
2021 NEW JERSEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
ALL-CONFERENCE FOOTBALL TEAM |
|
| OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Matt Dzierski, Christopher Newport |
| SAM MILLS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Sean Carroll, Salisbury |
| SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Donte Jamison, Kean |
| OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Lucas Spitzer, TCNJ |
| DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Dorian Gashi, Montclair State |
| CO-COACHES OF THE YEAR: Dan Garrett, Kean & Sherman Wood, Salisbury |
|
| FIRST TEAM OFFENSE |
| Name |
Year |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown/High School |
| Matt Dzierski |
SO |
QB |
Christopher Newport |
Lorton, VA/South County |
| James Fara |
JR |
RB |
Rowan |
Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro |
| Terrique Riddick |
SO |
RB |
William Paterson |
Bridgeville, DE/Woodbridge |
| Joey Bildstein |
SO |
FB |
Salisbury |
Ridgely, MD/North Caroline |
| Matt Clarke |
SO |
WR |
William Paterson |
Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch |
| Donte Jamison |
SO |
WR |
Kean |
Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken |
| John Maldonado |
JR |
WR |
Rowan |
Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro |
| Garrison Mayo |
GR |
WR |
Christopher Newport |
Fincastle, VA/Lord Botetourt |
| William Frese |
SR |
TE |
William Paterson |
Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick |
| Kevin Chesebrough |
SR |
OL |
Salisbury |
Westminster, MD/Loyola Blakefield |
| Drew Knott |
SR |
OL |
Christopher Newport |
King George, VA/King George |
| Nick Norman |
GR |
OL |
Christopher Newport |
Yorktown, VA/York |
| Joseph Osborne |
SR |
OL |
Salisbury |
St. Leonard, MD/Calvert |
| Matt Schnoll |
GR |
OL |
Montclair State |
Lyndhurst, NJ/Lyndhurst |
|
| FIRST TEAM DEFENSE |
| Name |
Year |
Pos. |
School |
Hometown/High School |
| AJ Akins |
JR |
DL |
Rowan |
Somerville, NJ/Somerville |
| Nick Celli |
SR |
DL |
TCNJ |
Martinsville, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan |
| Dimitri Pali |
JR |
DL |
Montclair State |
Northfield, NJ/Holy Spirit |
| Sam Pavlick |
SR |
DL |
Salisbury |
Poolesville, MD/Poolesville |
| Dante Capozzoli |
SR |
LB |
Kean |
Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell |
| Aaron Cottrell |
SR |
LB |
Kean |
Villas, NJ/Lower Cape May |
| Seamus Nelson |
GR |
LB |
Montclair State |
Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon |
| Sean Wilkinson |
GR |
LB |
Christopher Newport |
Vienna, VA/James Madison |
| Nazier Wright |
JR |
LB |
William Paterson |
Paterson, NJ/John F. Kennedy |
| Kyeon Taylor |
SR |
CB |
Kean |
Willingboro, NJ/Rancocas Valley |
| Zahir Wilder |
GR |
CB |
Montclair State |
Rahway, NJ/Rahway |
| Sean Carroll |
SR |
S |
Salisbury |
Wilmington, DE/Mount Pleasant |
| Myles Christian |
SR |
S |
Salisbury |
Fort Washington, MD/Friendly |
| Brennan Ray |
SR |
S |
Montclair State |
Woodbine, NJ/Lower Cape May |
|
| FIRST TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS |
| Nick Firth |
SR |
P |
Kean |
New Brunswick, NJ/Manville |
| Bert Schrecongost |
SR |
K |
Salisbury |
Queenstown, MD/Kent Island |
| Chris Clark |
SO |
RET |
Salisbury |
Glen Burnie, MD/Archbishop Spalding |
| Donte Jamison |
SO |
RET |
Kean |
Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken |
|
| SECOND TEAM OFFENSE |
| Mike Husni |
JR |
QB |
Rowan |
Toms River, NJ/Toms River North |
| Jack Lanham |
SR |
QB |
Salisbury |
Prince Frederick, MD/Calvert |
| Nicholas Chambers |
SR |
RB |
TCNJ |
Howell, NJ/Howell |
| Chad Gleason |
SR |
RB |
Salisbury |
Walkersville, MD/Walkersville |
| Isaiah Williams |
JR |
FB |
Christopher Newport |
Virginia Beach, VA/Landstown |
| Taz Burton |
SO |
WR |
William Paterson |
Millville, NJ/Bridgeton |
| Hunter Cleaver |
JR |
WR |
Salisbury |
Walkersville, MD/Walkersville |
| Myles Toppin |
SR |
WR |
Kean |
Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield |
| Lucas Spitzer |
FR |
TE |
TCNJ |
Roxbury, NJ/Roxbury |
| Duro Ajayi |
JR |
OL |
TCNJ |
Washington, NJ/Warren Hills |
| Connor Lugo |
JR |
OL |
Salisbury |
Lawrenceville, NJ/Notre Dame |
| Richie Squeo |
SR |
OL |
William Paterson |
Keansburg, NJ/Keansburg |
| Robert Stashek |
SO |
OL |
Rowan |
Raritan, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan |
| Kyle Young |
SR |
OL |
Rowan |
Hamilton, NJ/Steinert |
|
| SECOND TEAM DEFENSE |
| Nasir Adams |
JR |
DL |
William Paterson |
Newark, NJ/Hudson Catholic |
| Dominic Ferrara |
SR |
DL |
Montclair State |
Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove |
| Jamere Furbush |
SR |
DL |
Salisbury |
Salem, NJ/Salem |
| Jared Lyles |
SR |
DL |
TCNJ |
Chesilhurst, NJ/Winslow Township |
| Jamma Ndiaye |
JR |
DL |
Kean |
Union, NJ/Union |
| Casey Counts |
SO |
LB |
Salisbury |
Oakton, VA/James Madison |
| Mike Mascioli |
JR |
LB |
Rowan |
Hammonton, NJ/St. Joseph |
| Sam Pagella |
JR |
LB |
Salisbury |
Germantown, MD/Northwest |
| Jared Salgado |
SR |
LB |
William Paterson |
Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany Hills |
| Aaron Jahnke |
JR |
CB |
Salisbury |
Walkersville, MD/Walkersville |
| Devyn Blount |
SO |
CB |
William Paterson |
Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch |
| Anthony Bassani |
SR |
S |
Kean |
Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan |
| Cole Groschel |
JR |
S |
TCNJ |
Brick, NJ/Brick Township |
| Malachi Winters |
SR |
S |
Rowan |
Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton |
|
| SECOND TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS |
| Mile Djordjiovski |
SR |
P |
Montclair State |
Lodi, NJ/Lodi |
| Ryan Castle |
JR |
K |
Christopher Newport |
Dublin, VA/Pulaski County |
|
| HONORABLE MENTION |
| Ja’Quill Burch |
SR |
QB |
Montclair State |
Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth |
| Spencer Lee |
FR |
QB |
William Paterson |
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ/Hasbrouck Heights |
| Shamar Gray |
SR |
RB |
Salisbury |
Prince Frederick, MD/Calvert |
| CJ Barrett |
JR |
TE |
Rowan |
Lindenwold, NJ/Sterling |
| Tyler Palmer |
SO |
OL |
Christopher Newport |
Chesapeake, VA/Grassfield |
| Zac Wiles |
JR |
OL |
TCNJ |
Freehold, NJ/Freehold |
| Joshua Harris |
SR |
DL |
Kean |
Herndon, VA/Herndon |
| Gavin Liepe |
SR |
LB |
TCNJ |
Mays Landing, NJ/Holy Spirit |
| Eric Matos |
SO |
LB |
Rowan |
Camden, NJ/Paul VI |
| Andre Butler |
SO |
CB |
Salisbury |
Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional |
| Nas Neal |
SR |
CB |
Kean |
Newark, NJ/Newark Tech |
| Shawn Hamilton |
SO |
S |
Christopher Newport |
Virginia Beach, VA/Ocean Lakes |
| Jojo Kirby |
FR |
S |
William Paterson |
Lewes, DE/Cape Henlopen |
| Mike Ramos |
SR |
S |
Montclair State |
Kenilworth, NJ/David Brearley |
|
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