PITMAN, NJ --- Christopher Newport University sophomore running back Gunner White (Virginia Beach, VA/Tallwood) and Montclair State University junior linebacker Nicholas Burgess (Hackensack, NJ/Cardinal Hayes (NY)) have been named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Football Offensive Player and Sam Mills Defensive Player of the Year to headline an impressive slate of award winners and all-conference honorees.

Additionally, Salisbury University sophomore kicker Kollin Samaha (Lovettsville, VA/Woodgrove) was tabbed NJAC Special Teams of the Year; Rowan University freshman quarterback Nate Maiers (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) is the NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Year; Rowan freshman defensive lineman Carter Williams (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) earned NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors; and Christopher Newport head coach Paul Crowley and his staff and The College of New Jersey head coach Casey Goff and his staff share NJAC Co-Coaching Staff of the Year accolades.

In total, 78 student-athletes earned all-conference recognition for the fall 2023 season. All-conference and major award selections were determined by a vote of the league's seven head coaches and were based on conference-only performances.

White led CNU to its first NJAC title since joining the conference in 2015. He was second in conference-only scoring (7.3 points per game) and third in conference-only rushing (66.8 yards per game). He ran for 401 yards and five touchdowns against NJAC opponents. He also corralled 16 receptions, averaging 10.1 yards per catch, and caught two TDs. Overall, White ranked atop the NJAC statistical leaderboard with 10 rushing touchdowns on the season.

Burgess, a two-time NJAC Defensive Player of the Week and now two-time First Team All-Conference linebacker, led all NJAC players in conference-only tackles. He averaged 10.0 stops per game, 1.2 more than the next highest. He made 24 solo and 36 assisted tackles in league play and also ran an interception back for a touchdown.

Samaha was perfect this season on extra points, going 22-for-22 in conference play and 36-for-36 overall. A Week 6 Special Teams Player of the Week, Samaha ranked first in the NJAC in kicking points per game (5.7) and also connected on four field goals in conference action.

Maiers stepped in mid-season as Rowan's starting quarterback, and made an immediate impact as the Profs headed into conference play. He averaged 153.7 passing yards per game and ranked second among all NJAC quarterbacks in pass efficiency (131.2). A Week 8 Offensive Rookie of the Week, Maiers threw for 922 yards and eight touchdowns against league opponents with a 95-yarder to highlight his rookie season.

Williams, a high school teammate and now Rowan teammate of Maiers, provided a defensive spark for the Profs in just his first season. A two-time Defensive Rookie of the Week, the freshman ranked tied for third among all NJAC players in conference-only tackles for loss (7.0). He averaged 5.0 tackles per game in league play, including 17 solo stops.

Crowley and his staff guided the Captains to a 5-1 NJAC record and the outright conference title in just their second season at the helm. The title marked the first for CNU since joining the conference in 2015. They also coached 17 all-conference honorees this season. CNU is headed back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014.

Goff and his staff led the Lions to a solid turnaround this season, going from 3-6 in 2022 to falling just one win shy of the NJAC title in 2023. They guided the Lions to their first win over four-time defending champion Salisbury for the first time since 2001 and coached 12 Lions to all-conference honors.