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.
New Haven is on the Board for 2026 with Garrison Heslop
The New Haven Chargers are officially on the board for 2026, and they didn’t have to look any further than their own back yard to land their first pledge. Garrison “G-Money” Heslop, a 6’2”, 170-pound defensive back from nearby West Haven, CT, has become the first player to commit to New Haven for 2026- the season that the program will officially make its move to the NEC in football. And he knows exactly what that milestone means.
“Knowing that the Chargers are moving to Division 1 and that I’ll be eligible to compete for a conference title as a freshman was a huge factor,” Heslop told NEC Blitz. “I want to be part of a program that’s not only competitive but also making big moves and growing. The opportunity to play D1 football right away, and be part of something special from the beginning, really stood out to me.” Heslop is right about what he’ll be competing for. While the FCS playoff spot is ineligible to transitioning programs- at least, for now- there is no rule against hanging banners as a transitioning team. The Chargers will have every chance to do that in 2026 when they play their first full league slate.
While Heslop’s commitment marks a symbolic first for the new-look Chargers, it also speaks to the trust he’s built with the coaching staff. We asked about relationships that stood out to him, and he pointed out the one he’s built with a coach on the other side of the ball in offensive line coach Adrian Burnori.
“Coach Brunori was a great influence,” Heslop said. “He helped me during the recruiting process and he’s the one that offered me.”
For now, the plan is for Heslop to line up at cornerback, though his versatility could lead to reps at other spots in the secondary.
“Corner is my main position, but I definitely feel that I can bring more to the table and play safety or nickel,” he said. “But for now, CB is what I’m being recruited for.”
New Haven’s jump to Division I play signals a new era for the program, and Heslop’s commitment is a sign they’re already building it with intention. He's not just a key get. He's the first.
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.
New Haven Schedule Revealed
The New Haven Chargers have released their updated 2025 football schedule. It came together quickly and there’s a lot to like about it. When we spoke to Athletic Director Devin Crosby, he gave us some ideas about how the schedule could look and probably was able to calm the nerves down of a fanbase that wasn’t sure how many games they’d get in 2025. Not all of those games were able to come through, but the coaches and athletic department were able to get ten games together that keep the Chargers within the region and offer some good home opportunities.
Originally built as a Division II slate, the schedule has since been reshaped as the Chargers begin the reclassification process ahead of their official NEC debut in 2026. While they won’t play a full NEC schedule this fall, they’ll get a taste of league play with three unofficial conference matchups. In total, it’s a 10-game campaign, and definitely a very competitive one, as the opening act for the NEC’s newest member.
Let’s walk through it.
The season opens with a road trip to Marist on August 30. But the first big milestone comes just a week later, when New Haven travels to Mercyhurst on September 6. That game will serve as the Chargers’ first unofficial NEC matchup, even if the conference standings won’t reflect it. We’re excited about the prospect of seeing the Chargers this early in the season against a future conference foe. Mercyhurst will be coming off of a tilt against Youngstown State that’ll kick off the 2025 season for all NEC teams.
From there, the schedule stays challenging. On September 13, the Chargers head to Albany, one of the games that was predicted for us by Crosby when we spoke to him. Then on September 20, they return to “The Blue” for their home opener against Saginaw Valley State, a Division II school located in Michigan.
They’ll follow that with a trip to Pittsburgh to take on Duquesne on September 27—another unofficial NEC contest, and one that could prove a valuable measuring stick. Duquesne has long been one of the conference’s standard-bearers, and this year should be no different. Nevertheless, Mercyhurst played the Dukes well in 2024 and Stonehill entered the NEC and beat the Dukes in their first two seasons in the league. The Dukes will be up for this game- there’s too much recent history for them not to be on their toes- but it still could prove to be an intriguing matchup.
October offers a solid mix of regional flavor and home dates. New Haven hosts Pace on October 4, then Western Connecticut State on October 11. Western Connecticut is D3, which should provide a solid opportunity for New Haven to get a win. Notably absent on the calendar this season is Southern Connecticut State. The in-state rivals couldn’t come to terms for 2025, and it looks like the 16 game win streak enjoyed by the Chargers is safe through this calendar year.
The Chargers wrap up unofficial NEC play on October 25 at LIU, then visit Sacred Heart on November 1 for an in-state matchup. They’ll close the season at home on November 8 against Merrimack, which was another game that Crosby gave us a heads-up about.
Four home games is a pretty solid showing for a scheduling process that we know only took weeks to put together. They were able to secure three unofficial NEC tilts, all on the road.
There’s still uncertainty around the roster. Several players hit the portal amid the realignment chaos, but with the path forward now clear, some could return. Others have already committed elsewhere, including to FBS programs.
But the pieces are coming together, and with the three NEC games on the calendar, we won’t have to wait long at all to see how the Chargers could fare as they step up to the big leagues.
New Haven Scheduling Update
NEC Blitz spoke with New Haven AD Devin Crosby yesterday about everything happening in New Haven’s transition to Division I. As you’d anticipate, the topic of scheduling came up as New Haven will be rebuilding their slate from scratch.
We can confirm that they are losing the NE10 schedule and Slippery Rock, their non-conference opener.
To replace them, New Haven will be adding Grand Valley State, Albany, Merrimack, and Stonehill. Conversations continue with an in-state opponent for a Thursday night game and with an Ivy League school, alongside continuing to speak with other schools on the west coast and in the south. It does appear New Haven should have no issues compiling a schedule despite the short time frame they’ll have to do it.
Mr. Crosby additionally shared that Michigan, UConn, and Penn State are all in the works to appear on their basketball schedule, so stay tuned for more information as New Haven transitions to Division I.
Update 3:42 pm: Stonehill will not appear on New Haven’s schedule. We anticipate this was an error.
New Haven Parts Ways With Head Coach Chris Pincince
After more than a decade at the helm, New Haven has officially moved on from head coach Chris Pincince, ending a tenure marked by consistent success, five playoff appearances, and two straight NE10 titles. The timing and reasoning behind the decision remain unclear at this time, but the move represents a significant turning point for what was one of the Northeast’s most stable Division II programs, now transitioning to Division I and the Northeast Conference.
Pincince took over in New Haven in 2014 and quickly returned the Chargers to prominence, posting six or more wins in every full season since. His teams were perennial playoff contenders, culminating in dominant NE10 runs from 2021 through 2024. Under his leadership, the Chargers notched three straight conference titles and maintained a reputation for some of the best football in the Northeast.
While postseason exits have recently been in the first round, New Haven was a fixture in the national picture—going 8–3 in each of the last three seasons and routinely finishing atop the NE10 standings. In 2021, they posted a perfect 8–0 conference record, 10-2 overall, only to fall in the second round of the NCAA playoffs. That year also marked their highest national finish under Pincince at #14.
The Chargers’ consistent success made them a recruiting destination in the region, and Pincince oversaw not just wins, but a culture of development that prepared players for the next level. They sent a player to the Cleveland Browns this offseason and routinely developed overlooked players or transfers into excellent players. While it’s true that scheduling uncertainties had caused players at New Haven to enter the transfer portal, there have been only positive messages regarding Pincince and his staff in transfer announcements.
There’s no word yet on a successor or on what Pincince plans to do next—but whoever takes over in New Haven inherits a program with lots of recent success, and transitioning to the next level. They’ll have the opportunity to put their own stamp on a program entering a new era.
We wish Coach the best of luck as he continues his career.
Update 7:37 PM: Per New Haven’s official release, they will initiate a coaching search at the conclusion of this season. The interim head coach will be defensive coordinator Mark Powell.
This is a developing story that will be updated as further details emerge.
“Scheduling Uncertainties”: Explaining New Haven’s Transfer Portal Buzzword
Change is here for New Haven—and it's happening fast.
As the Chargers prepare to join the NEC, their longtime home in the NE10 for football appears to be in the rearview. The initial release from the school and the NEC described a longer timeframe for the transition to football. That all makes sense- schedules were already completed and announced for both the league and New Haven, and getting games together would pose a serious challenge for the Chargers.
Despite that release, however, sources indicate that they’re expected to be removed from NE10 competition and schedules this fall in football. That includes their long-standing rivalry game against Southern Connecticut State, a series they’ve owned with 16 straight wins. After winning back-to-back conference titles, the program has long since overcome the challenge of winning games. Accordingly, New Haven is now facing a very different challenge: actually finding games to win.
There’s been a noticeable uptick in New Haven players entering the transfer portal, with many of those players citing scheduling uncertainty. With the confirmation that the Chargers aren’t expected to compete against their NE10 foes, that reasoning tracks. Without NE10 matchups and the possibility that D2 opponent Slippery Rock might be rethinking their games against the transitioning Chargers, New Haven’s 2025 slate might be wide open. If you’re a player, you want to compete. If you see a future for yourself in football, you want to get yourself on film, and you can’t do that without games. This is the rare moment where transferring has nothing to do with the school, program, or roster- those are all looking just fine for many of the players. It’s about having games, and in today’s college football landscape, sometimes there’s just not enough spots out there for student athletes to wait. That’s the grim reality.
I should note here that I do expect New Haven to find games to play, just as Mercyhurst did last year. At the same time, I completely understand feeling as though you can’t wait to see what’ll happen with new roster size limits in effect.
In any case, there’s no point in dwelling on what you can’t control. So for the Chargers, what now?
New Haven will likely need to turn toward FCS programs in need of additional games. LIU, Saint Francis, Duquesne, and former NEC member Merrimack all currently have 11-game schedules, leaving some potential openings. There may also be room with other programs—schools looking to round out a home-heavy calendar or plug a late dropout. Mercyhurst added schools like Buffalo State to their slate last season to fill out their schedule. But opportunities are limited this late in the cycle, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see New Haven play a heavy road slate, much like Mercyhurst did last season in their similar transition phase.
It’s an uncertain stretch, but not an insurmountable one. The path forward is clear: secure games, keep developing the roster, and prepare to make an impact in the NEC.
Despite the transfer portal entries, New Haven has an established record of success and a coaching staff that knows how to build a roster. Give the athletic department time to see what they can put together. Transition years are never easy- that’s why we give them their own label.
Get to Know the 2024 New Haven Chargers
With New Haven set to join the NEC, it’s worth reviewing how the Chargers fared in 2024 to gauge how they might stack up in 2025. Although they won’t begin official NEC football play this fall, we’ll be tracking them closely. If they’re not permitted to maintain an NE10 schedule, expect them to fill open dates by facing several NEC opponents.
In 2024, New Haven captured its second straight Northeast-10 championship—a result that surprised no one. The Chargers were picked to finish first in the preseason poll, and with their loaded backfield, they lived up to the billing.
Anyone questioning whether it’s time for New Haven to move up only needs to look at their dominance over crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State. The Chargers have now won 16 straight in that series, including a shutout win in 2024. Against the rest of the NE10, they posted a 7-1 record and finished 8-3 overall, with two of those losses coming at the hands of Slippery Rock—one in the regular season, the other in the Division II playoffs.
Christopher Ais led the ground attack, racking up 1,045 rushing yards over 11 games, including a standout 238-yard performance against Bentley in a shootout. He wasn’t the only Ais making noise for New Haven. Christian Ais, his twin, was a standout safety with 5 pass breakups on the year who has signed with Cleveland for their rookie minicamp. Both Christian and Christopher are moving on, but Christopher isn’t leaving the backfield cabinet empty.
Zaon Laney, the Chargers' “other” back, tallied 186 yards in that same Bentley game and finished the season with 757 yards and five touchdowns. Laney enters 2025 as one of the top returning running backs among NEC programs.
The lone conference loss came at Assumption, in a 19-14 game where the offense never quite found its rhythm. Still, the defense turned in a strong performance—highlighted by holding the opposing quarterback to just 81 passing yards.
New Haven’s season ended with a narrow 14-7 playoff loss at D2 power Slippery Rock, closing out another championship campaign for New Haven.
The line between top-tier Division II and FCS football is thinner than many realize. Depth and small margins separate the two levels. New Haven appears poised to compete right away. Their roster has traditionally drawn from in-state and regional talent, but with the NEC transition, they’ll have at least one season to adjust and upgrade—if needed—before entering full conference play.
New Haven to Join the NEC
There’s a logo at the bottom of this page that we’ve never used before, but we’re thrilled to be able to use it.
At NEC Blitz, we couldn’t be more excited to welcome the University of New Haven to the Northeast Conference. This is a football program that’s proven it can win at the D2 level. Now, they’ll be transitioning to the big leagues, but the Chargers have certainly shown the potential to make waves up here.
New Haven arrives fresh off an 8-3 season and a Northeast-10 championship. This isn’t anything too new for the Chargers. They’ve won six conference titles since 2009 and have been competitive in the D2 playoffs, including a near upset over powerhouse Slippery Rock last season. They’re also well-equipped from a branding perspective. We’re very familiar and excited to cover the distinctive blue field at DellaCamera Stadium. It’s where some of the best football in the Northeast has been played- and now, will continue to be played. We fully expect New Haven to continue its tradition of success and challenge for titles.
There’s also plenty of intrigue on the horizon. An in-state rivalry with Central Connecticut State is all but inevitable, and it’s one we’re already circling on the calendar. Connecticut fans have every reason to get hyped—this matchup has the potential to become a staple of the regional college football scene. With high school football on the rise in Connecticut, this is one that local fans are going to pay attention to, and bragging rights will carry lots of cache on the recruiting trail.
Frankly, this move is a win for everyone involved. The NEC gains a member that aligns with its academic and athletic priorities, and the Chargers join a conference that knows how to elevate rising programs. We think they’ll be able to be competitive quickly in their new home.
From our vantage point, New Haven is ready for this moment. We can’t wait to see what they do with it.