Aug. 19, 2004

Somerset. N.J. - The Northeast Conference announced its 2004 preseason all-conference football team this afternoon, which was selected in voting conducted by the league's eight head coaches. Stony Brook and Monmouth landed an NEC-high six players on the squad, followed by Central Connecticut State and Robert Morris, which placed four players on the list. Albany, the preseason favorite, earned three spots on the team with St. Francis (PA) and Wagner each claiming a single honoree. Stony Brook senior T.J. Moriarty (Howell, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) is the coaches' pick at quarterback. A first team all-NEC signal caller as a junior, Moriarty led the league in passing yardage (1,929) and total offense (2,229), while throwing 11 touchdown passes and completing an NEC-high 58.3 percent of his attempts last year. The preseason all-NEC running backs are the top two returning rushers in the NEC - Stony Brook senior Clinton Graham (Milton, MA/Milton/Worcester Acad.) and Central Connecticut State sophomore Cory Harge (Amhurst, NY/Sweet Home). Graham, a preseason Sports Network Mid-Major All-American, steamrolled to 1,055 yards on the ground at 6.3 yards per clip with 12 touchdowns in 2003. Out of the backfield, Graham recorded 18 catches for 300 yards and three scores. The 2003 NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year, Harge galloped to an NEC freshmen record 1,082 yards with eight touchdowns and a 5.7 yards per carry average. Against Stony Brook on November 8, Harge tied an NEC single-game record with 242 rushing yards. Monmouth junior Miles Austin (Garfield, NJ/Garfield) and Robert Morris senior Tyjuan Massey (Orlando, FL/William R. Boone) were tabbed as the conference's top returnees at wide receiver. Austin earned a first team all-NEC spot a year ago by virtue of his deep-threat abilities. He pulled in 44 catches to go along with league-highs in receiving yards (796) and touchdown receptions (12). Massey makes the list after collecting 30 receptions for 457 yards and four TDs in 2003. St. Francis (PA) senior Kevin McCray (Jacksonville, FL/Stranton College Prep) earns the nod at tight end. A converted QB, the Red Flash receiver is the top returning tight end in the league after compiling 28 receptions for 411 yards last season. All five members of the preseason all-NEC offensive line are seniors. Albany's two-time first team all-NEC tackle Geir Gudmundsen (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) and second team center Brandon Shaw (Auburn, NY/Auburn) helped the Great Danes lead the NEC in rushing by setting conference records with 3,215 rushing yards and 292.5 yards per game. Both Gudmundsen, a 2003 Sports Network All-American, and Shaw were named preseason Sports Network Mid-Major All-Americans. Stony Brook's David Charles (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood), who was a first team all-NEC guard last season, joins the Albany duo as the three returning all-stars from a year ago. Rounding out the line are Monmouth tackle Dan Iskra (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) and Wagner center Dan Emanuele (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro). Two vital cogs in Stony Brook's first line of defense, preseason Sports Network Mid-Major All-American defensive end David Bamiro (Central Islip, NY/Central Islip) and Bryan Karp (Bellmore, NY/Mepham), along with Monmouth senior defensive tackle Ed Ratyniak (Bayonne, NJ/St. Peter's Prep) and Robert Morris junior defensive tackle Jason Forrest (Central Islip, NY/St. John the Baptist) comprise the preseason all-NEC defensive line. Bamiro is the solitary first team all-conference holdover from last year after tying for the NEC lead in sacks (9.0) and ranking fifth in tackles for loss (15.0). Karp, a second team all-conference performer in 2002, returns as Stony Brook's nose guard. Assisted by Ratyniak's 19 takedowns and 4.5 sacks, the Hawks ranked first nationally in total and scoring defense last season. Forrest, a second-team all-NEC selection in 2003, added 53 tackles, including 10.5 tackles for loss. The three-man linebacker group contains two all-stars from 2003 - Robert Morris junior James Noel (Miami, FL/North Miami) and Stony Brook senior Eddie Cobbinah (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Hayes) - along with Monmouth senior Dan Blazosky (Coaldale, PA/Panther Valley). Noel has earned postseason all-NEC accolades in each of his two seasons with the Colonials, being named second team in 2002 and first team a season ago. Noel, a preseason Sports Network Mid-Major All-American and the 2002 NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year, is the league's top returning tackler with 107 in 2003. Cobbinah was an all-NEC second team selection last season, collecting 100 total tackles. Blazosky will be asked to perform the role as Monmouth's defensive leader due to the graduation of two-time NEC Defensive Player of the Year Joe Sentipal. As part of the nation's stingiest defense, Blazosky recorded 66 tackles last year - tops among all returning Hawks. The Central Connecticut State senior twosome of Chris Blackshear (Fort Pierce, FL/Port St. Lucie) and Donnie Rose (Hartford, CT/Sports Science Acad.) highlight the preseason defensive backfield selections. Both were named first team all-NEC in 2003. Blackshear, the NEC's all-time interceptions leader with 16 career takeaways, looks to build on that mark in 2004. The preseason Sports Network Mid-Major All-American cornerback tied for second in the league with five picks a year ago, and stood fourth with 14 pass breakups. Rose complemented Blackshear with four interceptions of his own last season and also added a team-leading three fumble recoveries and 52 stops. Joining the Blue Devils in the backfield are two sophomores - Albany cornerback Ryan Chrobak (Clinton, NY/Clinton Central) and Robert Morris cornerback Mike Niklos (Columbus, OH/Hargrave Military Acad. (VA)). Chrobak collected 47 tackles, one interception and seven pass breakups a season ago. Niklos took the league by storm last year by capturing NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and the interception crown. In nine games played, the second-year player amassed six take-aways and took back two for touchdowns. Rose is the only player to be named preseason all-NEC at two positions, earning his second nod as a return specialist. Last season, Rose posted a 15.7 punt return average, totalling 267 yards on 17 attempts, and netted a touchdown return of 90 yards. The other two members on the special teams are both preseason Sports Network Mid-Major All-Americans and Monmouth kickers - senior placekicker Steve Andriola (Union, NJ/Union) and sophomore punter Sean Dennis (Westhampton, NJ/Holy Cross). Andriola walked away with second team all-NEC honors in 2003 after converting a league-high 13 field goals, the second best single-season figure in league annals. His 49-yard field goal against CCSU last November was the second longest in NEC history. Dennis was the lone freshman to earn all-NEC and Mid-Major All-America recognition in 2003. He led the conference by a wide margin with 41.6 yards per kick, placed 14 inside the 20-yard line and uncorked a league-record 84-yard punt versus CCSU.