NEC Football Power Rankings Week 2: Mulligan!
There’s no point in doing power rankings in week 1; that’s just your season predictions. For the NEC, in a lot of ways, there’s not always a ton of value in doing Week 2 power rankings, either.
The membership of our league was not upset, nor did it pull any upsets; everything went pretty much chalk with one exception- S&P+ had New Haven, a school playing their first Division I football game with a new team as a road favorite against Marist. Just pointing that out to be truthful. I think it’s not a huge stretch to say that context matters and whatever metrics go into S&P+ create a strong, fun system. That said, you can’t draw on much of New Haven’s production or performance in prior seasons given both the transition and the team’s lightning-fast rebuilding effort. So we’ll chalk it up as a possible upset, but realistically, I’m not real sure I’d put a ton of stock into that one.
So there’s not too much movement here, but here we go: our power rankings after Week 1.
Duquesne
Duquesne had a tough first game against in-city rival (they call it the City Game, after all) Pitt in front of 53,006 fans. That’s actually more than the Dukes saw whenever they opened up the season against Florida State several years ago, but that makes a lot of sense. Not only were Pitt fans hyped up to see Duquesne, the Dukes faithful didn’t have much of a journey to go on a road trip, either. There was kind of a buzz around the game and in the press box opinion seemed fairly split as to whether or not Duquesne could muddy up the game with their offensive and defensive lines, or if Pitt was just too much for the Dukes to handle.
In the end, it was definitely the latter. The Dukes fell 61-9, but they were very competitive in the first quarter and Pitt certainly got off to a slow start. The offensive line wasn’t able to stay on the field with the Pitt pass rush or run stuffers, but Joey Isabella certainly handled himself well with over 100 yards through the air, Ty Riddell showed some promise with a great deep ball when he had the time to throw, and Jack Dunkley had some big moments from an athleticism standpoint. Point being, we’re not penalizing the Dukes for this one. But we will not tweet for them to be ranked this week.
Central Connecticut State
The Blue Devils had an in-state opponent of their own. While they got on the board first, they weren’t able to keep pace with what is expected to be a very good UConn team. Maybe the most troubling news is that Elijah Howard was on crutches on the sidelines during this game. Rob Gullo at the New Britain Herald tweeted out that it was a calf injury and that he’s been dinged up since camp. We do not speculate on injuries, but certainly hope Elijah is feeling better and is ready to go this week.
Robert Morris
We’re giving Bobby Mo a little bit of a bump northward here as they were able to hang with a West Virginia team for a half (heading into the locker room at 10-3) and the defense that we hoped for out of the Colonials seemed to be present. There’s been a lot of coaching turnover for Robert Morris, but we liked the promotion of Coach Makrinos to defensive coordinator and oftentimes the problem against FBS teams (and especially P4 teams) for FCS teams is depth more than first string talent. That seemed to be the case as the Colonials might have gotten a little gassed later on as the game got out of hand. This is a West Virginia team welcoming back a previous head coach, so we won’t know exactly what they’ve got until later in the season. Still, it was a solid first half performance and enough to get a bump up here.
Mercyhurst
I’m not all-in on the Lake Show after one week, but it would feel pretty criminal not to at least give them a few spots up after playing what was one of the most competitive games for the conference in week 1- in a situation where they were definitely expected to be playing up a few levels. The Lakers hung with the Youngstown State Penguins and showed off new wide receiver Dylan Evans, who caught 7 passes and looked like yet another weapon at receiver for Mercyhurst. Defensively, they hung well with well-regarded offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich’s first outing in Youngstown, although Gino Leone tells us that it may have been a somewhat vanilla gameplan. In any case, the Lakers were probably a handful of miscues away from winning this game. They’ve got a lot of tough road games ahead, but we’ll be in town to see them take on New Haven this Saturday.
Long Island
You just can’t take that much from a game against Florida with 89,000+ fans in The Swamp at night. You just can’t. The negative here for the Sharks from a ranking perspective is that we didn’t really see much to tell us who they are this season yet. Stanzani and Greenwood weren’t able to get much going through the air, and Ingram and Ross pretty much split the tailback carries. Greenwood wasn’t the same weapon on the ground against a top-15 team as he is against more reasonable competition. Deion Richardson had a 28 yard catch, but other than that it was tough going for the Sharks and we’ll have a better chance to truly evaluate them next week against Eastern Michigan. Don’t consider this the Sharks dropping from the preseason so much as getting a better idea of some of the other competition and some more standout performances from them. Teams moved up; the Sharks didn’t really get knocked down.
Wagner
The Seahawks opened up a new and improved stadium for Kansas on a weeknight and the atmosphere and talent from the other side was always going to be a little much to handle. We did get an idea on Wagner’s QB situation (it looks like it’ll be R-Fr Jack Stevens) and a viral interception came of the game from Jayden Brown. What did we say last year- the NEC is the Conference of Insane Interceptions. I’m not really convinced that there’s much to go on from the Seahawks offensively, but this might be an opportunistic team on Grymes Hill as Wagner did win the TO battle at 2-0 against Kansas.
Stonehill
The Skyhawks barely made it to their game (reportedly, they got a flat tire and were almost late) and that might have had an impact offensively. Defensively, they were stout as expected, giving up only one touchdown (they surrendered a field goal and the offense gave up a safety). A 12-7 win is a tough way to lose in week one, but there were bright spots here. Charles Battaglia was as good as hoped for with 9 tackles, and Jack O’Connell was 30-39 through the air. Offensively, they’ll need to turn those completions into yards (212 through the air for O’Connell) and points. It’s not where we hoped Stonehill would start on week one, but it’s a long season.
New Haven
New Haven hung with Marist in their first game in Division I and, much like Mercyhurst, had opportunities to win the game that weren’t able to be capitalized on, especially on special teams. You make your biggest improvement from Week 1 to Week 2, and gametime decision Zaon Laney will hopefully be healthy heading into Mercyhurst this weekend as we’re expecting rainy, grind-it-out weather up on Lake Erie. A.J. Duffy absolutely looks like the real deal, but we’re in a kind of wait-and-see mode on the Chargers until this Saturday when we get a real data point for them against Erie. The Chargers certainly look like they’ve got a playmaker under center, and I do not think next week is at all out of reach for this team.
Saint Francis
Saint Francis headed into Louisiana-Monroe and after a weather delay weren’t able to get off the blocks offensively. Geno Calgaro had an outstanding performance with 12 tackles, and the Red Flash were able to block two extra points. Unfortunately, the longest play for the other side of the ball was 14 yards, and while the Red Flash were able to go into half time at 10-0, Louisiana-Monroe is not traditionally the same level as a West Virginia and so you have to adjust the credit that you give the defense accordingly. Still, just like every season in the portal era, the Red Flash lost plenty and were still able to rebuild their defense. Hopefully, we get a little bit of a better idea of what to expect offensively next week before they open up the NEC season on the road in Hard Hittin’ New Britain.
NEC Football Preview and Predictions 2025: “The NEC is a Funny Thing.”
We’re going to try and provide predictions for the order of finish in this preview, but as a sitting NEC head coach once told me, “The NEC is a funny thing.” It was the first interview I’d ever done as a media member covering the league, and for the time I’ve been covering it has been a repeated statement I’ve made, most obviously when Central Connecticut State- picked last in 2024- won the league and challenged Rhode Island on the road in the first round of the playoffs.
If you bought the magazine, please don’t worry- this is more of a primer on the season than the full blown deep dive you’re enjoying as a reader. However, I noticed some errors in other previews and felt a set of corrections was necessary as a result. The league is kind of hard to follow casually; if you’re not embedded in it, you’ll miss transfers and graduations. It’s part of what makes it so much fun.
1. Duquesne
CCSU was picked first in the coaches preseason poll, but in our NEC preview magazine we picked Duquesne first after the meticulous research and coach interviews we conducted with the schools over the offseason. There’s just very few questions with Duquesne. We wondered about the QB situation with the graduation of Darius Perrantes- easily the best QB in the league last year and the likely Offensive Player of the Year prior to a poor performance in the season finale in a loss to CCSU- but the Dukes were able to reload here. Ty Riddell, a former SoCon champion, joins the team as a heavily experienced transfer. The Dukes lost RB JaMario Clements in the transfer portal to the P4 at Wake Forest, but they’ve got Taj Butts and Offensive Rookie of the Year Shawn Solomon available. It barely matters who has the rock, though, because they return 5 linemen with significant starting experience and will ave the best offensive line in the league without question. On the DL, they return A.J. Ackerman and Jack Dunkley. We have two all-NEC Blitz first teamers on the back end with Antonio Epps and DJ Cerisier. We had some questions at linebacker, but transfer Tyson Meiguez has gotten rave reviews and the Dukes should be favored in every NEC game this season.
2. CCSU
The defending champions were picked first by the coaches, but they’re actually something of a wildcard. They return Offensive Player of the Year Elijah Howard, so the offense should still be potent. They’ve actually added here as well, with WR Donovan Wadley transferring in from Merrimack. Wadley is the former NEC Offensive Player of the Year from 2023, so the Blue Devils now have the past two OPOYS in the year at QB Brady Olsen’s disposal. Olsen is solid and experienced, even if he’s not in the conversation for the best QB in the league. The real trouble for the Blue Devils is what they’ve lost in the trenches, with most of their vaunted OL graduating or transferring- it was easily the best in the league last season and a huge part of their success. The issue is only compounded by OL coach Jeff Ambrosie departing for Syracuse. They’ve also lost the two leading pass rushers on the defensive line and their prduction will be difficult to replace even with Derek Berlitz coming in from WVU. Christopher Jean in the secondary was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024, and the linebacker corps is led by Jack Stoll, but this is still a unit that has to replace Defensive Player of the Year Kimal Clark although they added a ton of transfer depth to try and do that. It’s hard to know what the Blue Devils will be without the same line play as they enjoyed last year, and they did benefit from a lot of bounces their way last season. I have them at second, but this is a competitive league and close losses could easily be coming their way if they lose some of their turnover production.
3. LIIU
The Sharks are likely going to become a bigger force in the league moving forward as the program opted in to revenue sharing- one of 3 NEC football squads to do so. They return all purpose threat Ethan Greenwood, rushed and threw for over 900 yards last season despite earning the starting job midway through the year. The Sharks were historically unlucky last season, losing close games to open 0-6. Greenwood took the reigns and the team led in the rest of their games in the 4th quarter and went 4-2. They’ll still use two QBs this season and run the most unique and unconventional offense in the NECC. They’re difficult to prepare for and talented, but will have a lot of new starters. They lost 4 OL this offseason to the FBS- OL coach Ian Pace does a tremendous job here and recruits as well as he coaches. On the defensive side of the ball, DQ Watkins, Rafael Fasolino, and Todd Bowels are all returning players that we love at each level (Edge, LB, DB respectively). The Sharks might actually surprise people on defense this season and with Ethan Greenwood as the most dynamic player in the NEC, they’ll challenge for the title.
4. Stonehill
Stonehill?! Everyone else has them picked 8th, including the league Coaches Poll. I like Stonehill because my philosophy has always been that the most important metric in college football- and particularly in the transfer era- is returning production and continuity. The Skyhawks have more of that than anyone else in the NEC. The trouble is that they had a poor showing last year with only one win. The coaching staff responded by changing things up in the offseason, revamping the strength and conditioning program and accordingly the Skyhawks set over half of their 30 strength records they track this offseason. Charles Battaglia at LB and Mo Seide at DB lead what should be a much improved defense- probably by more than a touchdown per game. The offense returns two solid RBs and WR Brigham Dunphy, but the QB situation took the entire season in 2024 to resolve. Hopefully, this is now settled with Jack O’Connell, and if so Stonehill will have a big turnaround. It’s also worth noting that they’ve defeated Duquesne 2 of the last 3 years.
5. RMU
RMU is the wildcard this season. They were hit harder by coaching turnover (including two coaches in the past month) and the transfer portal than anyone. Noah Robinson, the star WR and engine of this offense, transferred to Tennessee Tech and was the biggest loss, but they lost effectively the entire RB room and QB Anthony Chiccit to Temple. The OL was injured in spring and didn’t get as much work as you’d hope. Defensively, they lost some of the best players in the NEC and will have to rebuild at almost every position. Acrobatic viral sensation Rob Carter Jr. graduated and is currently in the CFL. RMU is skilled at building through the portal and has done it at a scholarship disadvantage in the Big South-OVC before, but this might be a down year with the coaching turnover getting settled still.
6. Wagner
The Seahawks should be improved in 2025 but face a logjam ahead of them. They’ll be running two quarterbacks out on the field against Kansas (that’s Jordan Barton and Jack Stevens) and will have to decide between young potential and JUCO experience at the position. WR Jaylen Bonelli departed in the portal, but Terree McDonald should be able to step into the lead receiver role. Brady Anderson anchors the offensive line and Logan Barnes will be a force on the defensive line. It’s not really a question of if Wagner has improved- they’re more talented and deeper offensively than they’ve been since Coach Masella began rebuilding his alma mater- but they may have been hit harder in the transfer portal over the years then you’d like to see from a contender. They’re capable of surprising anyone, though.
7. Saint Francis
This is Saint Francis’s last season in the NEC before they drop to Division III and the PAC, which does include perennial powers like Grove City and especially Carnegie Mellon, which they’ll have to find a way to recruit successfully against when they’re at the same level. Coach Villarial is one of the best to ever coach in the NEC, and they’ve only lost the usual amount of production that they go through every offseason. We should note here that Markell Holman has departed in the transfer portal despite some reporting to the contrary and Andrew Vines, a DB, was listed at RB in the spring and may be switching positions this season. The Red Flash will lean on three QBs with starting experience, an experienced OL, and Geno Calgaro and Trey McLeer on defense (LB and DB respectively). The Red Flash always seem to have players ready to step into the voids filled by transferring players, but it’s hard to know what to expect with the talent dropoff they’ll likely start to experience with the transition down to D3.
8. Mercyhurst
The Lakers have begun to build a Division I caliber program after their transition from the PSAC. They return the best QB in the NEC, Adam Urena, RB Brian Trobel, and an experienced WR corps including Rylan Davison and Adam’s brother, Austin Urena. The issue for the Lakers is that they’re replacing an OL and good DL, including Camden White. While they return a lot in the receiving room, WR Cameron Barmore transferred into the Big 12 with Arizona where he’ll play tight end. Barmore is a legit pro prospect and a big loss for the Lakers. When you have a quarterback, you have a chance, but the Lakers are still building up to the level of the rest of the conference.
NEC Releases Coaches Poll
The official NEC Coaches Poll just dropped.
I’m always the first to say it- those guys are the experts, not me. But football is fun, and so are friendly disagreements. Let’s compare the coaches poll and our rankings and then dive into four places where our opinions differ.
2025 NEC Preseason Coaches Poll
CCSU (5)
Duquesne (2)
Robert Morris (1)
LIUWagner
Saint Francis U
Mercyhurst
Stonehill
And here’s how we see it:
NEC Blitz Rankings
Duquesne
CCSU
LIU
Stonehill
RMU
Wagner
Saint Francis U
Mercyhurst
Let’s get to the meat of it.
1. Duquesne at #1?
We like the Dukes to be at the top of the conference, while the coaches picked them at second with two first place votes. The Dukes feel that they have five starting offensive linemen are back. That alone should send a message. Jack Dunkley and A.J. Ackerman return up front on defense, and on the back end, DJ Cerisier and Antonio Epps keep things locked. Add in Joey Isabella at wideout and Taj Butts in the backfield? There are questions for the Dukes, but there are a lot more answers than unknowns.
We had a lot of questions about the linebackers heading into practices this summer, but word out of camp is clear: they’ve reloaded at that spot and will be just fine. Duquesne is the most complete team on paper and deserves the top spot.
2. CCSU: Still Dangerous, Still Some Holes
CCSU deserves their place among the league’s elite, and we like them as a close second place, while the coaches have them favored to repeat. Donovan Wadley’s arrival bolsters the receiver corps, and there’s transfer talent across the board, especially in the secondary to replace Kimal Clark. Elijah Howard remains the best offensive player in the league until proven otherwise, and there’s a good stable of backs behind in for depth.
But replacing most of that offensive line and the OL coach? That’s not a small thing. On the defensive front, Jalen Howard and Dan Toatley are gone. Those are huge losses. While there’s a lot of solid talent we’ve heard great things from coming in, the Blue Devils still have to find a way to replace the NEC Defensive Player of the Year, and while Christopher Jean is a good answer, it’s still a big question. Derek Berlitz is a great get from WVU, but CCSU has more to replace than people realize.
3. Stonehill Deserves More Respect
This was the real head-scratcher. Last in the coaches poll? I guess I get it, but if you look past the record there’s some good things here. Stonehill returns a lot of pieces, and that matters in a conference with razor-thin margins. The Skyhawks had a great offseason in the weight room, and they showed fight last year even against the league's top teams. They’ve got a shot to open up at 1-0 against Sacred Heart, and doing that might be enough to give them the confidence to find their way through league play. On one hand, I think I might be a year early on sounding the alarm for the Skyhawks. On the other hand, as a head coach in this league once told me: The NEC is a funny thing.
They might not win the league, but they’re a long way from the bottom.
4. RMU: One Big Mystery
We’re all for bold picks, but a first-place vote for Robert Morris? It’s hard to know what team you’re voting for. Coaching turnover, roster overhaul, and a rebuilt skill position group make this team a big question mark. RMU has experience reloading through the transfer portal and it’s certainly within the realm of possibility that they’ll be in the top tier of the league, with the RMU vs. Duquesne game at Joe Walton determining the fate of the league. It’s possible, but it’s so hard to work out where the standouts for the Colonials are with all of the big losses. Players always step up, but I’m hesitating until I get more information.
They’ll be very strong on defense again with Coach Makrinos becoming the new defensive coordinator, but they’re breaking in new backs, receivers, and a tight end. There's talent in the DB room and at linebacker, but far too many unknowns to justify a top-3 spot.
Bonus: Stop Snubbing Urena
We get it. Picking preseason awards is tough. But once again, the league has opted to not name Adam Urena to the all-NEC team. That’s a mistake that’s going to age badly. You’ve just given one of the NEC’s top returning signal-callers a giant chip on his shoulder. Best of luck with that.
The season can’t get here fast enough.
NEC Blitz Unveils Our 2025 All-NEC First and Second Teams
PITTSBURGH, PA – NEC Blitz is proud to release our inaugural 2025 Preseason All-NEC Football Teams, showcasing the league’s top players. Featured in the NEC Blitz 2025 magazine, this elite lineup previews the Northeast Conference season, providing a watchlist for fans and analysts. Both magazine cover athletes, Adam Urena and Zaon Laney, are featured on the first team.
2025 Preseason All-NEC Team:
First Team Offense:
QB: Adam Urena (Mercyhurst)
RB: Elijah Howard (CCSU)
RB: Zaon Laney (New Haven)
WR: Joey Isabella (Duquesne)
WR: Donovan Wadley (CCSU)
TE: Noah Canty (Duquesne)
OL: Brian Beidatsch Jr (Duquesne)
OL: Michael Fallah (Duquesne)
OL: Donnie Hardin (LIU)
OL: Isaiah DeLoatch (CCSU)
OL: Brady Anderson (Wagner)
Second Team Offense:
QB: Ethan Greenwood (LIU)
RB: Brian Trobel (Mercyhurst)
RB: Taj Butts (Duquesne)
WR: Teree McDonald (Wagner)
WR: Brigham Dunphy (Stonehill)
WR: Rylan Davison (Mercyhurst)
OL: Cameron McLaurin (Duquesne)
OL: AlecZander McCoy (CCSU)
OL: Mofe Adewole (RMU)
OL: Gary Satterwhite III (Duquesne)
OL: Connor Van Tassell (Saint Francis)
First Team Defense:
DL: A.J. Ackerman (Duquesne)
DL: Jack Dunkley (Duquesne)
DL: DQ Watkins (LIU)
DL: Logan Barnes (Wagner)
LB: Geno Calgaro (Saint Francis)
LB: Charles Battaglia (Stonehill)
LB: Malachi Wright (CCSU)
DB: DJ Cerisier (Duquesne)
DB: Christopher Jean (CCSU)
DB: Antonio Epps (Duquesne)
DB: Mo Seide (Stonehill)
Second Team Defense:
DL: Sharod Watkins (CCSU)
DL: PJ Williams (Stonehill)
DL: Jonas King (Mercyhurst)
DL: Zack Athy (Stonehill)
LB: Rafael Fasolino (LIU)
LB: Jack Stoll (CCSU)
LB: Jordan Nelson (RMU)
DB: Trey McLeer (Saint Francis)
DB: Dylan Merrell (LIU)
DB: Jordan Irvine (Stonehill)
DB: Todd Bowles Jr. (LIU)
First Team Special Teams:
K: Jayson Jenkins (RMU)
P: Will Lynch (LIU)
AP: Ethan Greenwood (LIU)
Selected by NEC Blitz, this team predicts 2025 potential, including New Haven’s FCS transition with Zaon Laney. Full analysis of the schools and players is in the NEC Blitz 2025 magazine, available at NECBlitz.com and Amazon.com.
Follow @NECBlitz on Twitter for season updates and join the NEC conversation.
LIU Lands 4th OL from NJ
Stop me if I’ve written this article before.
It sure feels familiar. LIU landing a commitment from an offensive lineman in New Jersey? We haven’t discussed this before?
We have. But it’s never a bad time to check in with what the Sharks are doing in the trenches.
Shaheem Dezonie, a 6-foot-3, 315-pound offensive lineman out of East Orange, New Jersey, has committed to LIU—becoming the fifth member of their 2025 class, and yes, the fifth offensive lineman.
That’s not a coincidence. It’s a signal.
LIU has found an identity in developing players in the trenches, and the momentum is clearly building. Dezonie said what drew him in was the way the coaching staff connected with him early and consistently.
“The thing that made LIU the place for me was the culture and the coach,” Dezonie said. “From day one the coach [was] talking with me and helping me with any questions I had, showing that they really wanted a person like me to play for them.”
For Dezonie, it wasn’t just football. It was familiarity. LIU’s program culture reminded him of the structure and support he experiences at home in East Orange.
“The culture they had there was similar to what I do now with my family over here in East Orange.”
And for players from Jersey- where the football is competitive and the athletes are typically well-prepared- Dezonie’s size and foundation make him a natural fit for LIU’s vision up front. He also singled out two coaches he’s built relationships with: Coach Pace and Coach Merritt (defensive ends/recruiting), underscoring the cross-unit buy-in that likely made LIU’s pitch even stronger.
LIU has now secured pledges from a complete offensive line unit before the first snap of football has been played in 2025. Four of those players hail from New Jersey, and one is from the Empire State. In the NEC, development is how you play high level ball. The Sharks clearly see something they like from athletes in their backyard, and the feeling is obviously mutual. They’ve got the line of the future already set to come to Long Island next fall. It’s strong work from the Sharks early on, who have the most commitments in the NEC to this point.
There’s still a long way to go before National Signing Day, but with five OL commits and counting, LIU is making a clear statement: the path forward starts in the trenches.
Sharks Swarm the Jersey Shore: 4th LIU Commit is Ethan Muller
The early theme of LIU’s 2025 recruiting class? Big men up front. Ethan Muller has become the fourth offensive lineman to commit to the Sharks. Notably, he’s also the fourth overall commit for the program so far.
The Sharks are nothing if not consistent.
Muller, a 6'2", 300-pound lineman out of Hammonton, New Jersey, is the third Garden State native in LIU's current class. With another commit hailing from New York, it’s clear that the Sharks are doubling down on local recruiting early in this cycle. And given the steady rise of New York-area football in recent years- and New Jersey’s long-standing reputation for competitive high school ball- well, it’s a strategy that makes a lot of sense. Certainly, we’ve always been impressed with the toughness you get from athletes up here.
Muller said LIU “just felt like home,” pointing to the energy and vibe of the program as a deciding factor. “The coaches and players matched the energy I wanted in a team. I always dreamed of going D1 and now it happened. Only thing left to do from here is to ball out,” he told NEC Blitz.
Thank goodness that he’s done plenty of that before.
One relationship in particular helped seal the deal. Muller has built a close connection with offensive line coach Ian Pace, who has played a major role in helping LIU become an offensive line pipeline. We’ve mentioned before that no one really wants to be an offensive line pipeline, but having a reputation for developing good offensive linemen and enjoying them for a few years before they move on? Well, there are worse fates. And after sending four offensive linemen up to the FBS level last season, LIU is clearly committed to keeping that momentum going. Muller looks to be yet another key piece in that continued effort.
For a program that’s seen success in developing linemen and helping them move on to bigger stages, the mission is clear: replenish, retool, and keep building up front. With Ethan Muller, they’ve added another piece to that blueprint.
The Sharks want to keep swimming with the big fish in the NEC. And you win in the trenches. If they can keep doing that, it’s only a matter of time before they’re still in the water at the end of November.
LIU’s Going to Need a Bigger Boat: Gets 3rd OL Commit, Rob Yakovchuk
The offensive line factory on Long Island keeps humming.
After exporting four players to the FBS in 2024, the next batch of raw steel is heading in to be molded into the next great Sharks team. But you win football in the trenches in the Northeast, where the cold winter we’ve forgotten in July returns each season and turns football into a game of will and attrition. Speed kills, but you win with toughness here. The Sharks know that.
On July 2, Rob Yakovchuk became the third offensive lineman to commit to LIU in the 2025 cycle—and the third overall commit, period. At some point, it became evident that this is not a coincidence. It’s a factory blueprint.
At 6’4” and 302 pounds, Yakovchuk is the kind of physical presence you expect from someone raised in Brick, New Jersey—a town that sounds like it was engineered to produce trench talent. And LIU’s staff, led by OL coach Ian Pace, has been locking in those kinds of players early in this cycle. We had the chance to catch up with Yakovchuk about his commitment.
“Their upcoming class of recruits is strong,” Yakovchuk said. “And the coaching staff is top tier, with Coach Cooper, who was with Nick Saban at Alabama, and Coach Pace.” Nick Saban’s the best college football coach of all time- there’s no disputing this- but Coach Cooper isn’t exactly a slouch, either. He rates as probably a top 3 coach of all time at Eastern Michigan and parlayed that into the head role at Louisville. Now he’s building it up at one of the true sleeping giants in D1 ball. On his relationship with Pace, Yakovchuk told us he’s clicking with his future position coach. “We’ve built a good relationship ever since I met him at their camp I attended.”
It was at that camp, on the Brooklyn campus, where things moved from interest to offer.
“After I showed off my talents, both Coach Pace and Cooper were impressed and they decided to offer me on the spot,” Yakovchuk recalled. “I tried to keep a serious face while talking to Coach Cooper, but as soon as I turned to look at my dad on the sideline, my face lit up.”
Hard to blame him. LIU has become a landing spot for linemen looking to develop under one of the region’s most respected position coaches. And now, Yakovchuk joins a growing 2026 class that’s trench-built from the inside out.
And that factory in Brookville, NY keeps on humming, churning out another batch of stud OLs.
Sharks Attack New Jersey, Land OL Irvine
Saint Augustine Prep’s Joe Irvine is headed to the Northeast Conference, and he’s bringing a whole lot of power with him.
The 6’5”, 300-pound right tackle from Swedesboro, New Jersey, is the sixth NEC commit we’ve confirmed for the 2025 class, and the second offensive lineman bound for LIU. He’s actually also their second overall commit, and their first from the Garden State. As of right now, LIU is looking for- and landing- big fish locally. If you’ll pardon the pun.
Irvine’s decision adds to a growing trend: offensive linemen see something they like in Brookville. And while the entire LIU staff made an impression, Irvine had no hesitation about what sealed the deal.
“Coach Pace was really the deciding factor,” Irvine told NEC Blitz. “He was absolutely great throughout the whole process, and I’m very excited to work with him.”
That’s a sentiment we’ve heard more than once this cycle. Coach Pace continues to resonate with big men up front. These are players who want development, opportunity, and a coach who understands the nuances of trench warfare in the NEC and beyond. I’ve pointed it out before and I’m sure it was pointed out to Irvine: LIU lost FOUR offensive linemen to the FBS this past season, and one of them had only completed his redshirt freshmen year. You hope to keep all of the players you develop, of course, but if the big issue is that your development is too good, well… you’re not actually having an issue, are you?
Irvine chose LIU over an offer with another NEC school. It’s early in the cycle, and players are going to pick plenty of NEC schools over each other. But it is an early momentum boost for the LIU staff, who are tasked with maintaining what is yearly one of the most talented rosters in the conference. In the NEC, the most important factor in recruiting is relationships, and the one Irvine was able to build with Coach Pace won out.
But for Irvine, it wasn’t just the relationships.
“The LIU staff is just great,” he said. “I loved the look and the feeling of just being on campus.”
As for the moment the Sharks finally decided to strike with that scholarship offer?
“Surreal,” Irvine said. “They were the first program to take a chance on me, and I’m forever grateful for that.”
It’s another early win for LIU in this recruiting cycle. And as the Sharks continue to build their class, landing a reliable bookend like Irvine gives the program another anchor. You win in the trenches, after all. So why not start building there?
LIU Secures Hometown OL Matthew Benjamin
Matthew Benjamin knew where he wanted to be. The 2026 OL/DL out of William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, NY, had been making the trip to Long Island University for the past two years, making his interest known. So when the opportunity finally came, there wasn’t much to think about.
“I’ve been attending LIU camps for two years now,” Benjamin said. “They run a well-organized camp, and Coach Cooper and his coaching staff get everyone fired up, especially in the one-on-ones. I loved the camps so much I went to two of them in one year.”
That interest and the proximity made the Sharks a natural fit. Mastic Beach is just 70 miles east of Brooklyn, where the most recent camp was (LIU has multiple campuses), and Benjamin has been steadily building a connection with the program for years. He’s a Long Island resident who’s had a chance to swim with the Sharks on more than a few occasions.
“Every time I step foot on campus, it feels like home,” he said. “I felt like I was already part of the team during my spring practice visit. I’ve been keeping in contact with Coach Pace this offseason—he’s a great guy, and I can’t wait to learn from his experience.”
Coach Ian Pace has quietly become one of the top developers of offensive line talent in the Northeast. He’s good enough that I almost feel like I shouldn’t be typing his name out. I don’t want to stop covering the offensive lines he’s been putting out. LIU was not an easy place to play offensive line in 2024. When their offense hit its stride late in the season, it did so with quarterback Ethan Greenwood, who made a lot of his plays in a freelancing situation. Linemen had to hold their blocks and be able to adapt to a play changing behind them. The Sharks line could do it, and as the offense started piling up the points it was impossible for their work to be a secret. Last season alone, LIU had four offensive linemen transfer- each one to an FBS program. And while that kind of attrition could be seen as a setback, at LIU it’s understood as the byproduct of doing the job well. Build guys up, teach the right habits, get them game-ready. Sometimes, that preparation gets noticed elsewhere.
The Sharks also had an All-NEC redshirt freshman on the line last fall in Moshood Giwa. He didn’t need years to make an impact. He got on the field after sitting and developing for a year, proved he belonged, and ultimately landed at Rutgers in the Big 10. Again: it’s not the goal, but it’s evidence that the development pipeline at LIU is real. When you look at the offensive line roster for this year’s team, your eyes immediately head towards the redshirt freshmen. Is there going to be another Giwa this season, and who’s it going to be?
Now, Benjamin joins that proven system as the first commit in the Sharks’ 2026 recruiting class. He’s also just the second 2026 commitment in the NEC so far. A two-way player at William Floyd, Benjamin projects as a key piece in LIU’s next wave of linemen—tough, engaged, and apparently already comfortable in the culture. He’ll pass the eye test going on the field, currently at 6’5” and 279 lbs. The William Floyd Colonials use him at left tackle, and the camp film we’ve watched does show a player who’s tough to get past off the edge.
The road from Mastic Beach to LIU isn’t a long one, even in New York traffic. For Benjamin, it’s already felt like home for a while. Now, it’s official.
From the Big Apple to the Big Ten: LIU Sends 2 to the P4
Long Island University may not historically be a household name in Power Four recruiting circles, but two recent spring portal transfers are making that case harder to maintain. Defensive lineman Elijah St. John and offensive tackle Moshood Giwa are now suiting up for Purdue and Rutgers, respectively—two Big Ten programs. In the Big Ten, they’re awfully familiar with the “cloud of dust” approach to football, and linemen on both sides of the ball are crucial to winning with and against the run game.
For LIU, these moves are more than just roster changes; they’re proof of concept. No one wants to lose their best players, and the Sharks will have their work cut out for them replacing some of their best players in 2025. But from a recruiting standpoint, it’s hard to ignore what Coach Cooper and his staff is doing: If you come to LIU unranked, you can work and be developed into a player ready for the P4 ranks.
From LIU to the Big Ten Trenches
The jump from the NEC to the P4 is not just about raw talent. It’s about a program developing their players. Both St. John and Giwa have gotten stronger and turned into game changing players while on Long Island. It probably doesn’t hurt that they’ve been going against each other in practice for over a year, either.
Elijah St. John, a 6-1, 275-pound defensive lineman from Ottawa, Ontario, has committed to Purdue after back-to-back seasons as a disruptive force up front for the Sharks. In 2024, he posted 40 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, and two forced fumbles in 12 games. That kind of performance, combined with his motor and experience, made him a key target for the Boilermakers as they reshaped their defensive front. For our part, he was anticipated to be an all-NEC player. We had him graded as the best second team All-NEC Blitz preseason defensive lineman prior to his departure.
Purdue, which has leaned heavily on the portal this offseason, added St. John as one of six defensive linemen in the spring window. The Canadian’s journey from Clearwater Academy International to LIU, and now to West Lafayette, underscores how LIU can turn overlooked prospects into Big Ten contributors. For St. John, he now faces a tough competition to earn playing time among a defensive front that will look to play and rotate out players for maximum disruption. He’ll have to lean on the same effort that turned him into a starter at LIU to do that for the Boilermakers.
Meanwhile, Moshood Giwa brings a different kind of toolset to Rutgers—a 6-6, 315-pound frame with 34-inch arms and experience at both tackle spots. After redshirting in 2023, the Brooklyn native logged 734 snaps across 11 games in 2024. He can play both tackle spots, which might have made him even more attractive to the power schools. That versatility is now drawing attention in Piscataway, where Rutgers is looking to replace longtime starter Hollin Pierce and solidify the edges of its offensive line.
With three years of eligibility and a solid foundation built at LIU, Giwa is already deep in the competition under offensive line coach Pat Flaherty. His ability to plug in at multiple positions makes him a valuable asset for a team that’s reconfiguring its line around returning veterans and young challengers. It’s possible that he’ll need further development, but he’s already shown the potential to grow.
A Development Blueprint
It’s an exciting time to be recruited by the Sharks. LIU’s coaching staff has built a reputation on evaluating under-recruited talent and turning it into opportunity. That approach has now paid off on both sides of the line, in two of the most physically demanding positions in college football. For a program that played physical ball in the NEC last season, sending a pair of linemen to the Big Ten is a statement about just how powerful they can be.
This isn’t a one-off. LIU continues to build its roster with the knowledge that if players perform, the Power Four will come calling. That may challenge traditional views of success in the FCS—but for LIU, success now means preparing athletes not just to compete, but to ascend. From here, the Sharks will bring in the next class of players and develop them into difference makers. They’ll lose some after they’re successful in the Big Apple, but that’ll just make them more attractive to the next class of student athletes that want to develop into stars.
As the college football landscape continues to shift with the portal and NIL, programs like LIU are redefining what it means to be a developmental program. St. John and Giwa are proof: the Sharks aren’t just keeping up. They’re developing their athletes into players that any team in the nation would love to have.
They’re sending players to the biggest stages in the sport. And that message is clear. If you can be a difference maker here, you can play anywhere.
Looking Ahead to 2025: Ethan Greenwood, QB, LIU
It took a while for LIU to turn the keys over to Ethan Greenwood—but once they did, the offense found its gas pedal.
A transfer from The Citadel, Greenwood didn’t open the 2024 season as the starter. But by midseason, he was running the show, and in a 186-yard outburst against Stonehill, he didn’t just win the job—he rewrote the playbook.
On first thought, you might note that 186 yards isn’t exactly an eye dropping number for QB passing. And you’d be right. But let’s be specific here- Greenwood got those 186 yards on the ground.
Suddenly, the Sharks were a different team with an offense that could be impossible to contain at times. LIU went 4-2 down the stretch with Greenwood under center, and in the two losses, they still held leads in the fourth quarter. The late-season surge earned Greenwood second team All-NEC honors and set the stage for a potentially massive 2025 campaign.
LIU already had an identity on offense and ran a little atypical. Greenwood got into the games, taking snaps in the shotgun or in the backfield as a threat. But despite his utilization, as it was LIU had fallen to 0-6. They were a good 0-6, to be fair, with lots of chances to win games that just didn’t bounce their way. But clearly, something had to change for the Sharks. Enter Greenwood as the starter.
What makes Greenwood such a challenge is that he doesn’t just run the offense—he is the offense. LIU tailored its scheme around his skill set, and while the passing numbers (921 yards, 6 TDs, 52.3% completion rate) might not turn heads, they’re not the full story. Greenwood rushed for 913 yards in his 12 games, averaging 5.6 yards per carry with 5 touchdowns. Had he started the entire season, his numbers would have certainly been higher. He turned broken plays into backbreakers for opposing defenses, looking more like a throwback slash player than a conventional quarterback. Think Kordell Stewart and you’re in the right ballpark.
(See? Being old and having a memory has its benefits sometimes.)
His success wasn’t a solo act. A talented offensive line gave him the freedom to freelance, and Greenwood paid it off by becoming a constant scramble threat that no defense in the NEC fully solved. That element of surprise might be gone in 2025, but Greenwood’s ability to disrupt the game remains firmly in place.
The question now is whether he can take the next step as a passer. LIU’s schedule opens brutally—with Florida and Eastern Michigan—but if Greenwood continues to evolve, the Sharks could quickly become a problem in the NEC. Opposing coaches will spend all offseason game-planning for him, and it still might not be enough. Greenwood forces defenses to defend every inch of the field—and then some. We’re excited to see if any of the defensive coordinators in the league have found an answer- clearly, the week before gameday wasn’t enough time in 2024.
Greenwood changes the way football looks in the NEC. Sometimes, the play breaks down. And sometimes, that was the plan all along.
LIU’s SEC Challenge Highlights 2025 Schedule Release
Sharks in The Swamp. It sounds like a bad horror movie.
But in the NEC, it's how Ethan Greenwood will kick off his first season as the undisputed starting quarterback.
The LIU Sharks are set to open their 2025 football season with an unprecedented challenge—facing the Florida Gators in Gainesville on August 30. This matchup marks the first time a Northeast Conference football team has taken on an SEC opponent. It's a daunting test that will push LIU before September even begins.
Florida, a program rich in history and success, represents one of the toughest environments in college football. Playing in front of over 88,000 fans at The Swamp is an experience few NEC teams have ever faced. The closest comparison might be Duquesne’s trip to Florida State to open the 2022 season, but even that doesn’t quite match up to this stage.
Head coach Ron Cooper has led LIU into difficult matchups before. Last season, the Sharks traveled to Ft. Worth to take on TCU from the Big 12 in an early-season challenge game. When we’ve talked to coaches about these FBS matchups, they often acknowledge the financial component but also emphasize the unique opportunity for their players to compete in an unforgettable atmosphere. For the Sharks, this game isn’t just about the score—it’s about playing on a national stage and measuring themselves against top-tier competition. There can be no doubt that this game will be televised nationally.
This contest won’t impact the NEC standings, but it will test the Sharks at the highest level. What LIU takes away from Gainesville will become clear as the season unfolds. The coaching staff will have the chance to see how well their roster matches up against a power four FBS opponent. These types of games are rarely wins from a binary perspective, but if you want to see what you’ve got on your squad, there’s no better way to find out.
The Sharks have embraced a major challenge to open the year, and now they prepare to see how they measure up.
And, as always, if you win one of these, you'll never forget it.
First Glance: What Game Should Each Fanbase Be Most Excited For?
With the 2025 NEC football schedule officially released, each team has at least one marquee matchup that could define their season. Whether it's a rivalry clash, an early test against an FBS opponent, or a key conference showdown, these are the games that we’re looking forward to most for each team.
CCSU at Connecticut (8/30/25)
Coming off a Fenway Bowl victory, UConn will have plenty of momentum entering 2025, and Storrs should be electric for this in-state matchup. Electric, yes- but also maybe overconfident. The Blue Devils, fresh off an NEC title, aren’t in rebuilding mode—they’re reloading. Week 1 tends to deliver surprises, and an upset here would certainly make waves across the NEC and beyond.
Duquesne at Robert Morris (11/22/25)
This game carries the most weight for both programs, especially as RMU navigates key coaching and personnel changes. The Colonials start their season with a major test at West Virginia, while Duquesne begins its campaign against city rival Pitt. By the time these two meet in late November, playoff implications could be in play, making this rivalry battle one of the biggest games in the conference. And obviously, in-city rivalry games are what college football should always be about.
LIU at Rhode Island (9/20/25)
Last year, LIU led Rhode Island in the fourth quarter before a late rally by the Rams spoiled the Sharks’ hopes of a signature win. Now, the rematch takes place in Rhode Island, with LIU quarterback Ethan Greenwood firmly established as the starter. After two early FBS matchups, this game will serve as an early measuring stick for just how competitive LIU can be this season.
Mercyhurst vs. LIU (10/4/25)
This is more than just a conference matchup—it's a historic first. Mercyhurst officially enters NEC league play with this home game against LIU, marking a significant moment for the Lakers' program. After ending 2024 on a high note with a win over Saint Francis, the Lakers will be eager to prove they belong in their new conference home.
Saint Francis at CCSU (9/13/25)
Last year’s matchup was a tight contest, with CCSU’s opportunistic defense making the difference. This time, the Red Flash will look to flip the script in their NEC opener on the road. The question is whether CCSU can continue its turnover-driven success or if Saint Francis can capitalize when those opportunities don’t materialize.
Stonehill at Duquesne (10/4/25)
The Skyhawks have been a thorn in Duquesne’s side, winning in both 2022 and 2023 before the Dukes finally got revenge in 2024. Now, the question remains: does Coach Eli Gardner have Duquesne’s number? Playing on the Bluff is always a challenge, and this matchup could have serious implications for NEC standings.
Wagner at LIU (11/22/25)
This rivalry game (we call it the Boroughs Brawl) deserves a trophy—perhaps the Verrazzano-Narrows Trophy, named after the bridge connecting Staten Island and Brooklyn. Last season, LIU took the win, 28-21, ending what had been another growing year for Wagner with a sour taste in Staten Island’s mouth. This time, the Seahawks will have a chance to return the favor and end their season on a high note- or take their season even further, into the playoff.
LIU Adds Transfer Trey Watkins to Secondary
The LIU Sharks have bolstered their secondary with the addition of Trey Watkins, a 6'1", 185-pound defensive back from Rahway, N.J., who transferred from Lafayette. With two years of eligibility remaining—and a possibility for a third—Watkins can bring an immediate impact that lasts over several seasons.
For Watkins, the decision to join LIU was a natural one. "LIU felt like home from the moment I stepped on campus for my official," he shared. "Coach Cooper and the staff’s energy and expertise, combined with their vision for me and how my skillset fits into the program, made the decision an easy one."
Watkins joins LIU after three seasons at Lehigh, where he appeared in 11 games, including nine in 2023. His experience and intelligence on the field will be critical for a Sharks defense that struggled last season, allowing 19 passing touchdowns and nearly 28 points per game.
The need for reinforcements in the secondary is clear, especially with the graduation of Maurice Wilmer, who led the Sharks with two interceptions last year. LIU managed just three interceptions all season, with the third coming from standout linebacker DQ Watkins. While DQ shined, the secondary's lack of playmaking left the team vulnerable against the pass.
Watkins’ size, versatility, and hunger to contribute position him as a key addition to the Sharks' defensive plans. LIU’s decision to prioritize a player with a combination of talent and drive reflects strong self-scouting by the coaching staff. Watkins is expected to make an immediate impact as the Sharks aim to improve their defensive numbers and climb the NEC standings.