NEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ludovick Choquette, LIU
Running Back, Graduate Student, 5-10, 215 lbs., Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec/Clearwater Academy (Western Illinois)
Week 1 Stats: 128 rushing yards, 15 rushes, 22 receiving yards, 4 receptions, 1 touchdown reception
Choquette delivered an electric performance in his LIU debut at No. 16 UAlbany, the CAA co-champ and a NCAA FCS Playoff semifinalist in 2023. The graduate transfer from Western Illinois racked up 150 yards of offense, including 128 rushing yards on 15 carries. In addition, Choquette connected with redshirt sophomore quarterback Luca Stanzani for an 11-yard touchdown catch that capped a five-play, 37-yard drive and put LIU on top by a 21-17 score in the third.
NEC CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Tyris Harvey, Robert Morris
Cornerback, Sr., 5-11, 180 lbs., Olympia Fields, IL/Rich Central (Eastern Illinois)
Week 1 Stats: 2 interceptions, 1.0 tackle, 1.0 pass breakup
Harvey had an impressive Robert Morris debut at Utah State on Saturday. The Eastern Illinois graduate transfer came away with picks on consecutive possessions within a 2:33 stretch in the first quarter to help the Colonials build a 14-10 halftime advantage against the FBS and Mountain West opponent. Returning those interceptions for 31 yards, Harvey added one tackle and one pass breakup.
Paul Tangelo, Saint Francis U
Outside Linebacker, Redshirt Junior, 6-3, 235 lbs., Gaithersburg, MD/The Avalon School (Lackawanna)
Week 1 Stats: 6.0 tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
Tangelo was a force to be reckoned with at Dayton on Saturday. The outside linebacker stuffed the stat sheet with 6.0 tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss and a pair of forced fumbles, while with sacks on back-to-back plays, he became the first Red Flash player with multiple sacks in a game since 2022. Tangelo’s second strip sack resulted in a Saint Francis U touchdown in the third quarter.
NEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jack Barnum, Central Connecticut
Kicker, Junior, 6-2, 200 lbs., Southington, CT/Southington
Week 1 Stats: 1-1 FG (50 yards), 3 kickoffs, 174 kickoff yards (58.0 yards per kick)
Barnum was tabbed the NEC Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time in his career, and the second time following a season-opening effort. The junior and local product from Southington, CT drilled a 50-yard field goal on Thursday at Central Michigan to tie Central Connecticut’s program record, which was set by Francis Cole against Lafayette in 2018. In addition, Barnum’s field goal marked the 24th time in NEC history that a player converted from 50-yards out or more.
NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Taveon Wheeler, LIU
Defensive Lineman, Redshirt Freshman, 6-0, 280 lbs., St. Petersburg, FL/Lakewood
Week 1 Stats: 5.0 tackles (3 solo), 2.0 tackles-for-loss (7 yards), 1.0 sack (4 yards)
Redshirt freshman Taveon Wheeler applied consistent pressure on No. 16 UAlbany to help hold the Great Danes to just 90 rushing yards in a hard-fought 27-21 defeat to the 2023 CAA co-champs and NCAA FCS Division I national semifinalist on Saturday. The Floridian racked up 5.0 tackles, including 3.0 solo stops. In addition, Wheeler registered 2.0 tackles-for-loss and pushed the Great Danes back seven yards, including four on a sack in the opening quarter.
#NECFB PRIME PERFORMERS (Week 1)
Jack Barnum, CCSU (K, Jr.)
Barnum drilled a 50-yard field goal in Central Connecticut’s 2024 debut at Central Michigan on Thursday. The junior tied the Blue Devils’ program record with the kick, which marked the 24th time in NEC football history that a player converted from 50-plus yards out. Barnum was also named the NEC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Ludovick Choquette, LIU (RB, Gr.)
Choquette was impressive in his LIU debut at No. 16 UAlbany, a team that was crowned co-champ of the CAA and made a run to the semifinals of the NCAA FCS Playoffs last season. In the hard-fought 27-21 defeat, the graduate transfer from Western Illinois ran for 128 yards on 15 carries while adding 22 yards and one touchdown on four receptions in what was a heated back-and-forth battle between the two Empire State squads. Choquette also earned NEC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Luca Stanzani, LIU (QB, R-So.)
Stanzani was stellar in LIU’s debut, a hard-fought battle at 2023 NCAA FCS Playoff semifinalist and No. 16 UAlbany on Saturday. The redshirt sophomore signal caller gave the Sharks three leads on the night after going 20-for-31 for 179 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Cameron Barmore, MU (WR, Gr.)
Barmore was one of two NEC receivers to catch for 100-plus yards on opening weekend in Mercyhurst’s win over Wheeling on Thursday. Totaling 101 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches, the graduate student surpassed 1,500 receiving yards and 100 catches on his career in the triumph.
Tyvon Edmonds Jr., RMU (RB, Sr.)
Edmonds racked up 115 all-purpose yards in his Robert Morris debut at Mountain West and FBS opponent Utah State on Saturday. The veteran rushed for 86 yards — the second most in the NEC this past week — and added 29 yards behind a game-best five catches.
Tyris Harvey, RMU (CB, Sr.)
Harvey came away with a pair of interceptions within a stretch of 2:33 in the first quarter at Utah State on Saturday. With those picks, the Colonials limited the Aggies to just seven points in the opening stanza en route to building a 14-10 halftime advantage against the FBS and Mountain West opponent. Harvey was also pegged the NEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
Paul Tangelo, SFU (LB, R-Jr.)
Tangelo was a force on a Saint Francis U defense that held Dayton to 196 total yards, including just 40 net yards on the ground. The redshirt junior delivered 6.0 tackles, including 3.0 tackles-for-loss, two forced fumbles and strip sacks on consecutive plays, the second of which led to a Red Flash touchdown midway through the third quarter. Tangelo was also named the NEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
Jaylen Bonelli, WC (WR, So.)
The 2023 NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year got his sophomore season at Grymes Hill off to a sensational start. On four catches, the Floridian caught for a pair of touchdowns in the first half and a league-leading 106 total yards to lead the Seahawks to a season-opening win over Virginia Lynchburg on Saturday.
AROUND THE NEC IN 8 SENTENCES
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT junior Jack Barnum drilled a 50-yard field goal for Central Connecticut in the second half against Central Michigan to tie the Blue Devils’ program record and become the 24th player in NEC football history to convert on a 50+ yard attempt against a Division I opponent.
DUQUESNE’s first game of 2024 at Toledo marked the 10th time in program history that the Dukes face an FBS opponent, and the fifth time they begin a new season against a squad from the highest level of college football in the nation.
LIU’s six-point setback at No. 16 UAlbany marked the program’s slimmest margin of defeat against a nationally-ranked FCS opponent since joining the league for the 2019 season.
MERCYHURST took the field for the first time as a Division I program and came away with a three-point victory over Division II Wheeling on Thursday.
ROBERT MORRIS junior defensive back Rob Carter Jr. came away with an acrobatic, one-handed interception in the first quarter at FBS and Mountain West opponent Utah State, a highlight that landed the number one spot on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10.
SAINT FRANCIS U redshirt junior Paul Tangelo became the first Red Flash player to record multiple sacks in a game since 2022, when Sebastian Benjamin had four in the season opener at Akron.
STONEHILL was picked to finish fifth in the annual NEC Preseason Coaches Poll, marking the Skyhawks’ best projection since joining the league in 2022.
WAGNER came out with a win on opening day for the first time since it defeated Bowie State to start the 2018 campaign.
2024 NEC FOOTBALL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS:
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sept. 2: Ludovick Choquette (LIU)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sept. 2: Tyris Harvey (Robert Morris) & Paul Tangelo (Saint Francis U)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sept. 2: Jack Barnum (Central Connecticut)
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Sept. 2: Taveon Wheeler (LIU)
