NEC Football Power Rankings Week 3: Sharks Jump
I don’t think this is any surprise heading into this week. If you beat an FBS team- no, if you control the game against them, have a 4th quarter drive that takes up over 9 minutes, and never trail- well, you get to be first place in the power rankings. Congratulations to the Long Island Sharks, but this early in the season, volatility in the power rankings is everywhere.
Long Island
You know the really brilliant thing that the Sharks have going for them? There can never be a quarterback controversy here. It was understood going into the season that Luca Stanzani and Ethan Greenwood would both play. Now that they’re doing that, it doesn’t really matter if Stanzani takes more of the snaps going forward; you can’t split the locker room when exactly what was expected to happen, well, happens. Long Island now has to take it back home to take on Sacred Heart; they’ll be expected to outscore the Pioneers easily, but if they can do that they have to hit the road to take on a Rhode Island team that’s been consistently ranked. You can’t get ahead of yourself, but taking on CCSU and Duquesne in subsequent weeks toward the end of the season might be the most important two game stretch in LIU Sharks football history. They just have to keep winning until then.
Duquesne
Through no fault of Duquesne, they fall to second place after taking care of business against Lincoln (PA). They’ll welcome #10 Lehigh to the Bluff for next week in what will be one of the biggest games of the week for the NEC. Ty Riddell looked every bit what he showed a few glimmers of against Pitt on Saturday, Joey Isabella found the end zone, and we’ve got a Dukes team that has been all over the place here in terms of opponents, heading from the P4 to D2 and finally to a top 10 FCS team. They’ll then head off to Akron to face a G5. We might not really know what we have with the Dukes until October, but what we saw against Lincoln looked very promising.
Central Connecticut State
The Blue Devils rebounded from facing a tough UConn team on the road to taking on American International at home. It was never in doubt for the Blue Devils, and now they’ll head straight into conference play by welcoming Saint Francis to Hard Hittin’ New Britain. An interesting wrinkle against AIC was that Donovan Wadley had one carry and one catch. You have to imagine that the former NEC Offensive Player of the Year is going to have a bigger role as the season goes on, and as he does that you’d assume that CCSU will further hit its stride. A big opportunity for him is coming up after the Saint Francis game when CCSU travels to former conference foe Merrimack- and Wadley’s former school.
Mercyhurst
The Lake Show was out in full force, defeating New Haven convincingly and confirming that Dylan Evans is here to stay. Adam Urena threw for 347 yards, but the show was more than the signal caller. The Lakers garnered a massive 647 yards of total offense, with Brian Trobel running for over a hundred, sometimes from the wildcat, and rookie Mookie Gamble earning NEC Rookie of the Week honors. Unfortunately, we might be taking a brief break from the Lake Show, as road games against Sacramento State, Montana State, and South Dakota State will challenge the Lakers heavily. On the other hand, Youngstown State is a traditionally strong foe, and the Lakers hung with them well. We’ll have to see how Mercyhurst handles top flight out of conference competition before re-entering conference play.
Wagner
Wagner led for much of the game against Georgetown, but couldn’t pull off the upset and dropped the decision to fall to 0-2. With how well they hung on, though, it seems unfair to punish them too hard. Wagner will be welcoming Marist to Grymes Hill for the first home game of their slate and the first time they’ve faced the in-state Red Foxes since 2008. They’ll be expected to win before they get back on the road to face FBS competition. Wagner looks like they’re talented, but it’s unclear yet if this is the breakthrough season that just feels like the program has been building up to.
Robert Morris
Unfortunately for the Colonials, they weren’t able to do much of anything against the Youngstown State Penguins who had difficulty handling Mercyhurst the week prior. The transitive property strikes and we’re left wondering how Robert Morris will fare against Mercyhurst late in the season. However, we would caution against panic just yet. RMU is a transfer heavy team this season and underwent a lot of coaching turnover, including some late changes. It just might not have come together yet for the Colonials. They’ll have a chance to get right against West Liberty and while there’s some consternation in Pittsburgh, our opinion is to just be patient. Top flight competition, new coaches, and a roster that hasn’t come together yet would make anyone look pedestrian.
Stonehill
The Skyhawks gave up 21 points in the 2nd quarter, but the offense looked to be making some improvements late in this contest. They’ll need it as they’re traveling 270 miles north to Maine. The 90 yard fumble scoop and score for the Skyhawks (Richard Mosley III) might have actually made this one look a little more competitive than it was. Jack O’Connell once again was completing passes, but this time he had some scoring and yardage might behind him, with 3 TD passes and 269 yards through the air. The best football for Stonehill is still up ahead for them this season, and I do still think this is a team with potential to make noise in league play. If they continue to make incremental improvements, you have to like them hitting their stride as conference play begins in earnest.
New Haven
The Chargers weren’t able to stop the Lake Show on defense and the offense struggled as well on the road in Erie. Unfortunately, they’ll hit the road against Albany yet again and won’t have many reprieves this season. AJ Duffy threw for 183 with one TD through the air (he rushed for another) in the losing effort against Mercyhurst. Interestingly, they looked like they’d be very competitive early with a TD drive on the first possession, but as the game wore on they were unable to keep pace with the Lakers. This is still not a team that’s been fully healthy, missing Zaon Laney, and perhaps they’ll get better football under them as the season goes on.
Saint Francis
The Red Flash dropped their second consecutive FBS game to Buffalo and scored their first touchdown of the season late. With CCSU coming up, we still don’t really have a great idea of what Saint Francis will do against like competition this year, but the defense had more trouble against Buffalo than they’d had against ULM and as such they’ll have to stay in the basement here. CCSU and Saint Francis played an incredibly close game in 2024, and an upset is certainly not out of the question as we’ll finally get a chance to see what the Red Flash will offer in 2025.
GAME OF THE WEEK: New Haven at Mercyhurst
It’s finally here- the first ever NEC game for the New Haven Chargers. While we only learned this spring that the Chargers would be joining Division I, it felt like a foregone conclusion- if anyone was coming up soon, it would be the Chargers. When they announced they’d be joining the NEC, there was little surprise anywhere in the sports world- more of a “it’s about time” feeling. That extended to the athletic department at New Haven, who posited (correctly) that they’d been operating as a Division I program for some time.
But the goodwill only lasts so long, and the first showdown with conference-mate Mercyhurst (albeit, as an officially non-conference game) won’t feel anything like two new best friends.
There’s no point in beating around the bush with the key storyline here. This game, from the outside, is all about Adam Urena vs. A.J. Duffy. The two quarterbacks were the best in the league this past week, with Duffy winning the league’s official offensive player of the week for the Chargers. On Thursday, we felt that Urena had dispelled a key storyline heading into the season- that the Lakers signal caller had put up numbers against poor competition and struggled in Division I. We never bought that for a second, and they don’t buy it in Youngstown anymore, either. He had a new favorite target emerge in Dylan Evans and threw for 311 yards and 2 TDs against the Penguins. Clearly, against a Missouri Valley defense, Urena was just as good as he ever looked.
And then A.J. Duffy took the field the next night, throwing for 377 yards on 31 of 55 passes with 2 TDs of his own. For all of the fingers being pointed at Urena’s competition last season, it’s worth noting that Marist had just one win the year prior when New Haven took them on in their inaugural Division I game. Still, the numbers don’t lie, and the counter-argument here- that Duffy had been without expected key contributor Zaon Laney at RB- only underscores what a performance Duffy had.
Both teams enter this one at 0-1 in what has been described as a likely rainy day out on Lake Erie. However, we could have easily had two 1-0 teams coming into this one with momentum.
Another interesting angle is that both New Haven and Mercyhurst were a few mistakes away from winning their respective games. In particular, the stat line for Mercyhurst in their 15-24 loss to Youngstown State reveals one very important difference between the two teams: turnovers. Mercyhurst lost a 4-0 edge to the Penguins when it came to losing the football. There simply can’t be doubt that the Lakers would have won this game had that margin been reversed- it’s awfully hard to win a game down 4 turnovers- but could the Lakers have won had it been 2-2? With a made field goal… I think it’s almost a certainty.
New Haven was 0-1 on field goals, but two muffed punts might have been the difference. The 31-14 score makes the game seem further out of reach than it was. If those two plays go the other way…
S&P+ has Mercyhurst a 2.2 point favorite on a neutral site. That obviously suggests we’ll have a tight game. It’s unclear at press time if New Haven will get Zaon Laney back in time, but weather permitting, this game should have fireworks and maybe- just maybe- the two best quarterbacks in an NEC that is loaded with good quarterback play.
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.
View From The Other Side: Youngstown State vs. Mercyhurst
We’re very fortunate to have the writing talents of Gino Leone contributing to NEC Blitz tonight- the first time we’ve ever had another contributor to the site! He provides excellent Youngstown State coverage for Redshirt Sports and was kind enough to share his thoughts with us.
Game Recap: Youngstown State vs Mercyhurst
Youngstown State controlled its opener against Mercyhurst, leaning on Beau Brungard’s legs and a stout defense, though questions linger about the offense’s balance.
Offense
Youngstown State came out hot on offense, scoring 21 points in the first half and driving down the field at an efficient rate. The second half was a completely different story, as YSU failed to reach the end zone and often looked one dimensional, relying on a heavy dosage of Beau Brungard to secure the win.
The junior quarterback has grown accustomed to QB power and draw plays, but not to the multitude or volume that he saw Thursday night. With a new offensive coordinator in Mike Yurcich, it was expected that YSU would push the ball down the field more and emphasize explosiveness. However, that wasn’t the case against Mercyhurst.
Beau had 28 carries, being dealt blow after blow and seeing an increased workload. He was productive, totaling 145 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, but he left the field limping after the clock struck zero.
The play selection begs the question: is this approach sustainable? It is a valid concern, yet one that requires a larger sample size to make a fair assessment. What was perhaps more surprising about this offensive game plan was the apparent refusal to give YSU’s tailbacks touches.
Prior to the start of the season, the running back room was spoken highly of and was thought of as one of the deepest and most talented position groups on the roster. Jaden Gilbert and Tahir Mills combined for just ten rushes, contradicting this belief entirely. Again, there could be several explanations for this and time is the only answer.
At wide receiver, Max Tomczak led the team with 43 receiving yards on two receptions. Tomczak hauled in the longest pass of the evening, and Luke Hensley chipped in with an 11-yard snag.
Defense
Front Seven
For Youngstown State, there were a lot of questions about what the defensive line would look like heading into 2025. Although the final result was underwhelming, YSU’s front seven played an outstanding game, holding Mercyhurst to just 63 total rushing yards, and 2.6 yards per rush.
Linebacker Carston Marshall flashed his true potential, racking up 10 tackles, one TFL, and one pass breakup in what was a standout performance. His gap discipline and relentless pursuit of the ball carrier is something that YSU lacked last fall.
Another player that popped on film was transfer defensive tackle Thomas Jolly (Grand Valley State). The stat sheet doesn’t do Jolly full justice – he recorded just one tackle – but he obliterated the interior of the Lakers’ O-Line and disrupted their offensive rhythm. The ‘Guins needed the front line to improve drastically, and it appears the coaching staff has made the necessary adjustments to do so.
YSU moved Michael Wells (6-3, 250) – a linebacker in 2024 – to an Edge/OLB role. This change gives the ‘Guins size and athleticism up front, while not putting them at a serious disadvantage due to Wells' lengthy frame.
Though there were mistakes, Wells thrived with new responsibilities and executed at a high level.
Secondary
The numbers alone might suggest YSU’s secondary had a rough showing, yet that wasn’t the case at all. QB Adam Urena completed 32-of-48 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns, making some remarkable throws and showcasing his lightning-quick release time. This kid can spin it, and there were countless occasions where there was absolutely nothing YSU could do to stop him.
I thought the ‘Guins locked down the Lakers when it mattered the most and were disruptive at pivotal moments. Dathan Hickey broke out and had a good Penguin debut; he led the defense with 13 total tackles and one interception. Justin Wimpye also proved his worth, intercepting a pass and registering two pass breakups.
Final Analysis
YSU had this game in control the entire time. To me, it felt like Mercyhurst never had a real shot of winning, but the offensive output was concerning, particularly in the second half. Yurcich kept things incredibly simple, running what I would consider to be basic install plays. Is he masking our talent at receiver and in the backfield for more meaningful games? I don’t know, but it looked like a vanilla offense that had one goal: milk the clock and get out with a win.
The defense played well and buckled up when the game was on the line. This unit has definitely improved and I feel much better than last season about this group.
Recap: Penguins Hold Off Lakers, 24-15
The Lakers were on the cusp of upsetting the Youngstown State Penguins on Thursday night, but they’ll have to settle for a coming out party- nationally- for Adam Urena and transfer portal addition Dylan Evans.
Arguably, the game should have been closer. It’s an ever bigger argument to make, but the Lakers could have won this game. The Green and Blue had too many miscues- 4 turnovers for the Lakers to 0 for the Penguins- and scored only 2 of 3 times in the red zone. A missed field goal could have kept the Lakers within one score, but it was not to be.
The early reaction from Youngstown State fans seems to be a mix of panic and frustration with the secondary. The passing numbers for Urena were gaudy as you’d expect (2 TDs, 311 yards, 32 completions), but there were many instances last night where no one- no one- could have covered Urena to Evans. A back shoulder throw for a first down in the first half comes to mind. I understand the frustration- Penguins fans anticipated they’d walk all over the Lakers- but Urena and Evans put on a show last night. Evans complemented Urena’s performance with 95 yards and 7 catches. We’d already expected the Lakers to have a strong receiver room. Evans might have just put them over the top to be the best in conference.
The question is if the Lake Show will continue into the conference season.
Fortunately, we won’t have long to find out. Mercyhurst will host New Haven next week as the first NEC game for the Chargers (albeit an unofficial one) while Mercyhurst will have their first home game of the year before embarking on a long and difficult road slate out west.
Linebacker Jeff Leavell paced the Lakers defense with 9 tackles. He’s expected to make a big impact this season after previously being mainly a contributor on special teams. His first action as a regular starter looked promising. Mike Yurcich was hailed as a big hire for Youngstown State this offseason, but the Lakers held the Penguins to a reasonable 24 points. Perhaps YSU will get more production from their offense as the season wears on and the players become comfortable. We’ll get the chance to see their growth from Week 1 to Week 2 as they take on Robert Morris next week.
And for the Lakers, those improvements from Week 1 to Week 2 will be crucial, and they’ll have a full week to reflect on how to make the most out of those opportunities, as a 4-0 turnover margin won’t give them many chances to pull an upset. With a tough road slate on the horizon, they’ll need to find a way to keep getting better.
Preview: Mercyhurst at Youngstown State
If you’re from Western PA- even the part up in the northwest, next to a city called North East (I don’t know)- you know that Youngstown belongs. The name on the driver’s license might read “Ohio”, but we’re all one big family over here. In this context, you could think of round 1 for the Mercyhurst Lakers- and the Youngstown State Penguins- as an in-state matchup, absolutely ripe for a rivalry to develop. The Missouri Valley might play by a little bit of a different set of rules, but when the distance is this close, it’s hard not to think about what could be.
The Lakers are still in the midst of making a transition from Division II, of course, and that should color everything about this game. Even with the Penguins coming off of a disappointing season that saw them lose to Duquesne in a game that shouldn’t have even been as close as it was.
The Penguins have a mix of old and new this season. Out is old offensive coordinator Troy Rothenbuhler, who shipped over to Robert Morris, and in is former Penn State, Texas, and Oklahoma State OC Mike Yurcich. He has some familiarity with the NEC as he’s previously held the same position at Saint Francis. Yurcich has historically been an OC who pushes tempo, but when you’re taking a job as an OC, you should immediately expect to tailor your offense to the players on your roster unless you have years to establish yourself. So while we’ve got a coach who’s familiar with airing the ball out at close to a 50/50 split historically with the run, it starts with who the Penguins have and the immediate player you’ll notice is QB Beau Brungard. Brungard threw for 2141 but ran for 998. He’ll have to be considered the immediate threat on offense running or passing. Passing is no problem, either, because Max Tomczak is going to be among the nation’s best. They won’t stop with him, though, as they brought in a duo of wideouts from D2 Slippery Rock in Kylon Wilson and Mike Solomon. TC Caffery transferred in from Ohio State and is expected to contribute at tailback. Yurcich has brought plenty of optimism, but these kind of coordinator changes are rarely as easy as fans would hope and it’s possible they’ll still be working out the kinks against the Lakers.
Defensively, the big question mark for the Penguins is the defensive front and that’s probably a good fit for the Lakers, given the retooled offensive line they’ll be fielding. That should give Brian Trobel and Ayron Rodriguez some opportunities to pound the rock. The other big benefit is that it may give Adam Urena time to throw downfield. The YSU LB and DB rooms are solid, but the Lakers have as good of a QB and WR room as you could hope for given the loss of Cam Barmore to Arizona.
Beyond the line, there’s a mix of old and new offensively for the Penguins, defensively is primarily about the “new.” They return just 3 full-time starters but have some rotational pieces who should play bigger roles in 2025. NEC transfer Michalangelo Loretto (Robert Morris) signed with the Penguins but his eligibility status has been somewhat unclear and we’ll have to wait to see if he suits up on Saturday. Makai Shahid and DJ Harris are returning safeties for YSU who are tackling machines. The CB room was an open competition heading into fall camp, so hopefully this is a place the Lakers can exploit and go deep on the Penguins.
Coach Riemedio has said that the Lakers are excited to kickoff against a historic program like the Penguins. We can’t wait. This is the first game of the NEC season and comes up on Thursday evening. Christmas is just around the corner for NEC football fans.
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.
Lakers Host JUCO OL On Official Visit
Mercyhurst has been making moves in the trenches all offseason. And, as we’ve pointed out before, they like to look west for JUCO players. They’ve had no problem going to the Golden State before- including this offseason- and they’re still fishing for at least one more lineman.
Navi Arretché, an offensive lineman out of Modesto Junior College, recently took an official visit to Mercyhurst and came away impressed. The Lakers are the first Division I program to offer him, and while Arretché has drawn interest from UC Davis and made an unofficial stop at UCLA, Mercyhurst brought him on campus to show him what life on Lake Erie would look like for the young OL.
“Being there just felt comfortable, and that was because of the people,” Arretché said. “Everyone was welcoming. The coaches are also really easy to have a connection with. Talking with Coach Riemedio felt like talking to a father who wanted the best for you, and knows the potential that you have. Coach Waring is also someone who I can tell would do anything for his offensive line. It’s really enjoyable to be around him. He’s also incredibly smart when it comes to offensive line play as well.”
In a recruiting landscape increasingly shaped by NIL- even at the FCS level- it’s refreshing to be reminded that connection still matters. And not just surface-level rapport. Official visits can be a lot of fun, and a lot of times you hear about what campus is like and the activities the recruits got to participate in. What stands out with Navi Arretché isn’t just that he had a good time on his official to Mercyhurst- it’s who he felt that bond with.
When your first Division I offer comes with genuine relationships, and those ties are with the head coach and recruiting coordinator, that’s meaningful. Arretché spoke about Coach Riemedio like a mentor, and had high praise for Coach Waring’s approach to both the person and the position. That kind of alignment doesn’t guarantee a commitment, but it does create staying power, and the Lakers seem poised to be a player moving forward.
And why not? It wouldn’t be the first time a California JUCO product found a home in Erie. The Lakers have had success in that lane before- most notably with Adam Urena- and Arretché could be the next in line. He’s transferring after a true freshman season and should have plenty of eligibility to develop. No commitment yet, but Mercyhurst has clearly set the tone. This is one to monitor.
Mercyhurst Is All Alone in Cincinnati
It is true- there are no lakes in Cincinnati. Just the Ohio River. But while there’s no lakes, there’s been plenty of Lakers.
Mercyhurst is making a strong play for Cincinnati-area talent, focusing on Class of 2026 prospects roughly 345 miles from their Erie, PA campus. The Lakers have extended offers to several players from the region, including Reid Baker (Inside Linebacker), Kemaury Tye (DB), Andre Underwood (ATH), Grant Hester (OT/OG), and most recently, Brady Kuhn (OLB), all hailing from Cincinnati, OH. They’ve also been active in suburbs like Springboro, OH, where they have an offer out to OLB/TE Evan Weinberg.
It’s actually been a working strategy already for Mercyhurst. They snagged WR Trace Jallick from Cincinnati in the 2025 class. He was listed as a 3 star on 247, and was the National High School offensive player of the year. Statistically, Jallick was 4th in the nation in receiving yards. Mercyhurst may have had a unique pitch and definitely had offensive firepower that Akron and Kent State couldn’t match, as he committed to the Lakers. Jallick figures to be one of the key additions from the Mercyhurst 2025 high school class and a player who could see the field as a freshman.
Interestingly, Mercyhurst seems to have this recruiting territory largely to themselves among NEC teams. Other conference programs haven’t shown significant activity in the Cincinnati area based on our current recruiting trackers. Even RMU, who historically recruits Ohio very strongly, hasn’t gone this deep into the Buckeye state. This strategic focus could give Mercyhurst an edge in building their roster with some overlooked Ohio talent as they continue their transition to Division I in the NEC.
California Dreaming: Mercyhurst Gains Commitment From Amir Lemmons
Mercyhurst has added a key piece to its defensive backfield with the commitment of Amir Lemmons, a physical and productive defensive back out of Sierra College in Northern California. At 6’1”, 200 pounds with a rangy 78-inch wingspan, Lemmons is the kind of athlete who stands out on film. It’s not just on film where he makes an impact, though. Lemmons is always readily apparent in the box score.
Lemmons was a Unanimous All-NorCal First Team selection after a monster season in the JUCO ranks, racking up 134 tackles, 8 pass breakups, 5 tackles for loss, and 1 interception. More than just a stat machine, Lemmons brings physicality to the backend of the Mercyhurst defense. You love to see a physical player that’s adept at tackling at the safety position, and it looks like the Lakers may have landed just that.
The reason why Lemmons committed from all the way in California is simple and a reflection that at our level the relationships still matter. “It felt like home. All of the people there are great,” Lemmons said of his commitment to the Lakers.
It’s not the first time the Lakers have pulled from California, and it certainly won’t be the last.
Mercyhurst head coach Ryan Riemedio has deep ties to California from his time as a player and coach in the region, and that familiarity has quietly become a recruiting edge. Lemmons isn’t the first JUCO standout from California to find his way to Erie—Adam Urena, a quarterback from Citrus College, took the same path previouisly.
It’s an unusual pipeline for a program based in western Pennsylvania, but the returns speak for themselves. Mercyhurst has found value in looking beyond traditional borders, especially when it leads to players with Lemmons' level of production and polish. Whether it’s Western PA or northern California, the Lakers are showing they know how to identify talent—and land it.
With Lemmons in the mix, the Lakers' secondary just got more dangerous. We’ll be keeping an eye out for him this season.
Camden White: Mercyhurst Standout Seeks NFL Pro Day Opportunity
Camden White, a standout defensive end from Mercyhurst University, is a man with a dream.
With an impressive college career under his belt, the 6’4”, 265-pound edge rusher is determined to prove he belongs on an NFL roster. We know about his talent- at least, if you watched the Lakers this season, you’ve seen what he can do on the football field and to opposing players. And we know that the NFL has taken notice, as teams including the Baltimore Ravens took the time to visit Erie this past season to see White and some of his teammates. The Canadian Football League, likewise, has shown lots of interest in the big DE.
The problem for White has never been getting to the quarterback, and it won’t be next season, wherever that may be. The issue he’s faced instead is getting in front of scouts at a pro day.
White’s career stats reflect the dominant player that he was in Erie. Over his time at Mercyhurst, he racked up 59 solo tackles and 118 total tackles, including 24 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks. His ability to disrupt opposing offenses didn’t stop there, as he forced 6 fumbles and recovered 3. White earned PSAC All-Conference honors, and a Phil Steele NEC All-Conference nod (3rd team). It doesn’t matter what league he’s in- he’s always one of the top players in it. He was a player the Lakers looked to for leadership, too, earning a role as a captain twice.
White was slated to participate in Gannon University’s and RMU’s pro day, but both events fell through, leaving him without a platform to display his measurables. And, from what’s been reported, they’re very strong ones. His testing numbers would make a sleepy scout spit-take his espresso: a 6.94-second L-cone drill, 29 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, a 4.37-second 20-yard shuttle, a 1.59-second 10-yard split, a 34-inch vertical jump, a 9’8” broad jump, and a 4.78-second 40-yard dash.
White’s message remains simple and urgent: “All I need is a shot to showcase what I can do.” Nothing comes easy outside of the P4, and White isn’t asking for it to be. He just needs an opportunity to get in front of scouts.
For a small-school prospect like White, the path to the NFL is rarely straightforward. Pro days are often the lifeline for players outside the Power Five conferences, offering a stage to prove they can hang with the five stars. Without those events at Gannon or RMU, White is left searching for another way in. His production certainly suggests he’s capable of competing at the next level at any of the pro leagues, and if he can duplicate his numbers at a live setting, there can be little doubt about his athleticism.
There are limited pro days and regional scouting opportunities remaining for prospective players like White. The CFL also holds independent tryouts, and he may be able to compete there. We’ll keep an eye out to see which avenue he has to take to get to the next level. Just like getting to the quarterback, though, it feels like it’s just a matter of time for him.
Mercyhurst QB Adam Urena Returning in 2025
Sometimes, your biggest recruiting wins aren't who you add, but who you keep.
For Mercyhurst, that might be the case this offseason. NEC Blitz can confirm that Adam Urena, one of the NEC’s top quarterbacks in 2024, has one more year of eligibility—and he’ll be using it in Erie.
Urena’s 2024 season was nothing short of spectacular. He completed 268 of 400 passes (67%) for 2,773 yards and 31 touchdowns, throwing just five interceptions. His efficiency and playmaking ability kept Mercyhurst’s high-powered offense firing on all cylinders. Yet, despite the gaudy numbers, he was left off of the conference’s All-NEC team.
What stood out wasn’t just the snub—it was how his teammates responded. They took it personally. It was clear they believed their quarterback deserved more recognition, and their reaction spoke volumes about the trust and respect he commands in the locker room. At least there was some consolation: Urena later earned Phil Steele Second-Team All-NEC honors.
While Cameron Barmore—the other half of Mercyhurst’s dynamic duo—moved on to the Power Four ranks with Arizona, Urena’s return catapults the second-year Lakers as a darkhorse into the NEC title conversation. The offense, already one of the most explosive in the conference, retains a quarterback with a full year of experience against Division I defenses. With Urena at the helm, expect Mercyhurst to put up big numbers once again and be a force in the NEC race.
Retaining Urena wasn’t just about continuity—it was a statement. Mercyhurst has its quarterback, and they have his back. Now, the question is: how far can they go in their first season as a full-fledged NEC member? While they remain ineligible for the FCS playoffs as of now, a regular-season championship and a banner in Saxon Stadium are still up for grabs. Cameron Barmore is a massive loss, sure. It remains to be seen who can replace his production. But with Urena leading the charge, a new playmaker could emerge- and the Lakers have every reason to believe that their goals just might be within reach.
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.
Mercyhurst Lands Key Additions on Signing Day Ahead of First NEC Season
As Mercyhurst gears up for its inaugural season of full Northeast Conference competition, the Lakers made a statement on National Signing Day, securing several high-impact players who could contribute immediately. With a mix of standout high school prospects and an experienced graduate transfer, Mercyhurst is showing that it won’t be taking a back seat in its new conference home.
Defensive Steal: Kaleb Platz
One of the most significant commitments for the Lakers was linebacker Kaleb Platz from Montour High School. Platz, a WPIAL standout, had a tremendous senior season, racking up four interceptions and nine tackles for loss. A player with a nose for the football, he had interest from multiple NEC programs, including Duquesne, before choosing Mercyhurst. The buzz around Platz has been significant, with some calling him the “steal of the year,” and WPIAL Sportsmen ranking him among the top 10 players in Pennsylvania. Given the WPIAL’s reputation for producing tough, battle-tested athletes- and you know what we always say about WPIAL players- Mercyhurst is betting that Platz can be a defensive cornerstone in its first NEC campaign.
Offensive Playmaker: JaMeir "Mookie" Gamble
On the offensive side, the Lakers secured a major win with the signing of JaMeir Gamble, a running back from Massillon, OH. A three-star recruit, Gamble attracted interest from FCS and even FBS programs, including Central Michigan and Temple. Massillon has a strong football pedigree, and Gamble’s ability to make one cut and outrun a defense should make him an immediate factor in the Lakers’ backfield. Beating out higher-division competition for his signature is a significant recruiting win for Mercyhurst as they look to establish themselves in the NEC.
Two-Way Potential: Camden Lewis
Another WPIAL talent, Camden Lewis from South Allegheny, will be joining the Lakers as a tight end. However, his impact on both sides of the ball in high school is worth noting. WPIAL Insider ranked him as the #13 most disruptive defensive player in his section and the #15 overall two-way player in a highly competitive class. Mercyhurst had to fend off former NEC member Sacred Heart for his commitment, which speaks to his potential. Expect Lewis to bring versatility and toughness to the Lakers. And, once again, you can win a lot of games with WPIAL players.
Experienced Addition: Donovan Everette
Not all of Mercyhurst’s big signings came from the high school ranks. Graduate transfer Donovan Everette, a defensive lineman from Norfolk, VA, is set to play his final season in Erie after moving on from Elon. Everette was highly sought after within the NEC, with Duquesne and Saint Francis both vying for his services. With his collegiate experience, he could provide an immediate boost to Mercyhurst’s defensive front, bringing size and strength to the trenches.
Building for the NEC Battle
Mercyhurst’s ability to land these recruits, especially against direct NEC competition, is an encouraging sign as the program transitions into its new conference. The Lakers made it clear that they aren’t just here to participate—they’re here to compete.
4 Star Transfer QB Visits Mercyhurst
The transfer portal continues to create ripples in college football, and the Mercyhurst Lakers are among the NEC programs capitalizing on its potential. On Thursday and Friday, Mercyhurst reached far to the west to try and bolster their squad for their first season of full NEC play. The Lakers hosted Class of 2023 quarterback Brayden Dorman, a former 4-star recruit from Arizona on a visit weekend. That visit also included former WVU offensive lineman Aiden Ellis, who has committed to Mercyhurst.
Dorman, who has three years of eligibility remaining, shared his thoughts on the visit:
“I really enjoyed it. I really like what Coach Sydeski had to say and what his plans for me were. I think their offense is explosive and an offense I can thrive in and be able to be developed by a program that believes in me.”
Dorman did not see game action during his time at Arizona, making this potential move a fresh start for the talented signal-caller. Mercyhurst’s high-powered offense has been a key attraction for recruits seeking to make an immediate impact. Adam Urena, Mercyhurst’s quarterback in 2024, posted a stat line of 31 TDs to 5 interceptions. This kind of production would be attractive to any quarterback.
Adding intrigue to the story is the offseason transfer of star Lakers wide receiver Cameron Barmore to Arizona. If Dorman were to commit to Mercyhurst, it would create a unique narrative—one player making his way to the desert while another arrives in Erie.
The Lakers, who are no strangers to finding diamonds in the portal and JUCO ranks, continue to position themselves as a top destination for players seeking development and opportunity. With Dorman’s interest piqued, Mercyhurst could be gearing up for an exciting 2025 season.