CSJ Conference Preview: NEC

090216 Wesley Bunnell | New Britain Herald CCSU QB #9 Jacob Dolegala hands off to RB #24 Brenden Lytton. Sept 2, 2017 against Lafayette

 

College Sports Journal announces their 2018 Fearless Prediction for the Order of finish of the Northeastern Conference.

Last year, Central Connecticut State won the NEC championship and qualified for their first-ever FCS Playoff appearance, and in 2018 CSJ picks them to repeat as conference champions.

Central’s offense, which is slated to return eight starters, had four players named to the Preseason All-NEC Team. Leading the returnees was senior QB Jacob Dolegala. A three-year starter, Dolegala became the program’s all-time leading passer last season. In 33 career games, he has thrown for 5,908 yards and 32 touchdowns. He was also named the league’s Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 13 after figuring in all four touchdowns of CCSU’s win at Duquesne to clinch the league title.

For information and details on each school’s prospects for 2018, click on the links below.

  1. Central Connecticut State
  2. Duquesne
  3. St. Francis (PA)
  4. Bryant
  5. Wagner
  6. Sacred Heart
  7. Robert Morris

2018 All-Northeast Conference Football Preseason Team

Offense
QB Jacob Dolegala Central Connecticut Sr. 6-6 235 Hamburg, NY/Milford Academy
RB Ryan Fulse Wagner Sr. 5-11 195 Fort Meade, FL/Monroe College
RB AJ Hines Duquesne Jr. 5-11 225 Wilson, NC/Fike
WR Nehari Crawford Duquesne Sr. 5-11 170 Fort Pierce, FL/Fort Pierce Central
WR Kamron Lewis Saint Francis Sr. 6-4 195 Fresno, CA/Edison
WR Tom Kennedy Bryant Sr. 5-11 190 Farmingdale, NY/Farmingdale
TE/HB Arthur Gilmore Central Connecticut Jr. 6-4 235 North Plainfield, NJ/North Plainfield
OL J’Von Brown Central Connecticut Jr. 6-3 350 Norwich, CT/Norwich Free Academy
OL Alex Conley Duquesne Sr. 6-4 305 Akron, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit
OL Mederick Flavius Saint Francis Sr. 6-4 300 Lauderhill, FL/Northeast
OL Matt Fitzpatrick Duquesne Sr. 6-3 300 Pennsauken, NJ/Bishop Eustace
OL Connor Mignone Central Connecticut So. 6-4 305 Redding, CT/Joel Barlow

Defense
DL Amir Fenwick Robert Morris Sr. 6-1 270 Clinton, MD/Frederick Douglass
DL Dillon Guthro Bryant Sr. 6-3 247 Newburyport, MA/Newburyport
DL Kevin Lazo Bryant Sr. 6-1 280 Pembroke Pines, FL/West Broward
DL Chris Tinkham Central Connecticut Sr. 6-2 280 Lynn, MA/East Coast Prep
LB Thomas Costigan Bryant Sr. 6-3 230 Stamford, CT/Trinity Catholic
LB Quintin Hampton Wagner Sr. 6-0 235 Moultrie, GA/Central Florida
LB Kenneth Keen Central Connecticut Sr. 6-1 235 Norwalk, CT/Brien McMahon
LB Adam Wollet Robert Morris Sr. 6-0 220 Poland, OH/Poland Seminary
DB Jonathant Istache Duquesne Sr. 5-10 180 Belle Glade, FL/Glades Central
DB Tajik Bagley Central Connecticut Jr. 5-11 190 Ansonia, CT/Ansonia
DB Hakeem Kinard Saint Francis Sr. 5-10 195 York, PA/York Catholic
DB Nick Rinella Saint Francis Jr. 5-9 190 Collegeville, PA/La Salle

Special Teams
K Gavin Rowley Bryant Jr. 6-3 194 Hampstead, MD/Loyola Blakefield
P Andrew Zecca Saint Francis Sr. 6-2 190 Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston
RS Jean Constant Bryant Sr. 5-9 168 Delray Beach, FL/Village Academy