STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Stats Perform announced this morning that Stony Brook football running back Roland Dempster has been named to the 2025 FCS Preseason All-America First Team. Dempster is one of only four offensive players from the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) to earn First Team recognition and is the lone representative from Stony Brook.

The preseason accolade adds to what has already been an impressive list of accomplishments for the senior back. Dempster is coming off a record-setting 2024 season in which he was named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the most outstanding offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision. He became just the second player in program history to earn the honor, joining Stony Brook legend Miguel Maysonet, who was a finalist in 2012.

In addition to his Payton Award recognition, Dempster was named a First Team All-CAA selection and earned All-American honors from Stats Perform, the Associated Press, Phil Steele, and FCS Central. He became the first four-time All-American at Stony Brook since Maysonet and one of the most decorated offensive players in program history.

Dempster led the Seawolves in nearly every offensive category last season, finishing with 1,332 rushing yards on 268 carries, averaging 111.0 rushing yards per game. He also contributed significantly in the passing game, catching 32 passes for 335 receiving yards and averaging 10.5 yards per reception. His all-purpose production was among the best in the nation, totaling 138.9 yards per game.
Nationally, Dempster ranked third in the FCS and second in the CAA in total touchdowns, finishing the season with 18 rushing touchdowns and 19 total. He led the conference in both total rushing yards and rushing yards per game, while finishing ninth in the country in all-purpose yards per contest.

In the Stony Brook record books, Dempster now ranks fourth all-time in single-season rushing yards, second in single-season rushing touchdowns by a running back, and third in total touchdowns in a season. He recorded seven games with over 100 rushing yards and reached 100 all-purpose yards in nine different contests. He posted three games with three rushing touchdowns, becoming the first Stony Brook player to do so since Maysonet in 2011, and finished with three games that topped 200 all-purpose yards.

Dempster's impact extended well beyond the stat sheet. His breakout season helped lead a dramatic offensive turnaround for the Seawolves, who saw their scoring average increase from 15.2 points per game in 2023 to 29.6 in 2024. Stony Brook also improved its total yards per game from 314.2 to 403.9 and nearly doubled its rushing production, jumping from 104.1 to 170.3 rushing yards per game.

He became the first player in program history to earn FCS National Offensive Player of the Week honors, receiving the award on September 30. He was also named CAA Offensive Player of the Week on two occasions - September 9 and September 23.

2025 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team (CAA Recipients)
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB – Derek Robertson, Monmouth, R-Sr., 6-2, 200
RB – Roland Dempster, Stony Brook, R-Sr., 6-0, 225
WR – Marquis Buchanan, Rhode Island, R-So., 6-4, 175
OL – Jake Picard, Villanova, R-Sr., 6-4, 310
DEFENSE
LB – A.J. Pena, Rhode Island, Sr., 6-2, 243
DB – Jalen Jones, William & Mary, Sr., 6-0, 190
SPECIAL TEAMS
P – Jeff Yurk, Elon, R-Sr., 6-2, 224
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SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
OL – Brock Bethea, Rhode Island, R-Sr., 6-5, 305
OL – JT Cornelius, Monmouth, Grad, 6-6, 290
DEFENSE
LB – Shane Hartzell, Villanova, Sr., 6-0, 230
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THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
TE – Trey McDonald, William & Mary, Sr., 6-6, 230
OL – Ryan McKenna, William & Mary, Grad, 6-4, 305

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