RPI senior quarterback Mike Hermann was selected as the Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight season. Hermann led the league and ranked 12th in the nation in total offense. He was also the league leader with 2,366 passing yards and 23 touchdowns.
Liberty League announces 2012 football award recipients
2012 Liberty League Football Awards:
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Mike Hermann, Sr., QB, RPI
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute senior quarterback Mike Hermann was selected as Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Hermann led the league in passing offense (262.9 yards per game), touchdown passes (23), and total offense (319.6 yards per game). He was also the Engineers' leading rusher, ranking eighth in Liberty League with 510 yards. Hermann also ranked 12th nationally in total offense. He concludes his standout career with 7,177 passing yards, 57 touchdown passes and 9,112 yards in total offense.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Tyre Coleman, So., DE, Hobart
Hobart College sophomore defensive end Tyre Coleman was selected as the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. Coleman, the Liberty League Rookie of the Year last season, anchored a Statesmen defensive unit that ranked fifth nationally in scoring defense (229.8 yards per game), 22nd in scoring defense (14.8 points per game) and fourth in sacks (3.8 per game). Individually, Coleman led the Liberty League and set school single-season records for sacks (14.5) and tackles for a loss (24.5). He finished the regular season ranked second nationally in tackles for loss and third in sacks.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Austin Caswell, Sr., P/PR/KR, RPI
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute senior Austin Caswell was chosen as the Liberty League Special Teams Player of the Year. Caswell was involved in virtually every aspect of the Engineers' special teams, handling punting duties as well as both punt return and kickoff return duties. He also caught 26 passes and three touchdowns as a receiver. As a punter, Caswell averaged 38.0 yards on 40 punts, dropping 10 punts inside the 20 yard line. Rensselaer also led the Liberty League in net punting (punts minus return yards) with an average of 33.85 yards per punt. As a return man, Caswell averaged 20.4 yards per kickoff return and 4.6 yards ranking among the league leaders in both.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:
Jonathan Marrero, Fr., QB, Springfield
Springfield College freshman quarterback Jonathan Marrero was voted the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. Marrero took over as the starting quarterback for the Pride early in the season and directed a Springfield offense that ranked second in the nation in rushing. Individually, he rushed for 634 yards, ranking sixth in the league, and also scored eight rushing touchdowns. Through the air, Marrero passed for 504 yards with 10 touchdowns and just one interception. In his top offensive performance of the season, he threw for 163 yards and four touchdowns and also ran for 144 yards and three scores in a win over Merchant Marine on Oct. 13.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR:
Hobart, Head Coach: Mike Cragg; Assistant Coaches: Kevin DeWall, Scott Yoder, Aaron Backhaus, Jon Drach, John Manley, Kyle O'Laughlin, Marc Tapscott, Drake Woodard.
Hobart head coach Mike Cragg and his staff led the Statesmen to an eighth Liberty League championship and a seventh NCAA Playoff appearance. Hobart recorded its first unbeaten regular season in 55 years. The 10 wins are a program record. The Statesmen led the Liberty League in scoring offense, scoring defense, total offense, total defense and 14 other statistical categories.
|
2012 Liberty League First Team Offense |
|
QB |
Mike Hermann |
|
RPI |
Sr. |
Hardeeville, S.C. |
|
RB |
Bobby Dougherty |
|
Hobart |
Sr. |
Bellerose, N.Y. |
|
RB |
T.J. Franzese |
|
Union |
Jr. |
Allendale, N.J. |
|
RB |
Steven Webb |
|
Hobart |
Jr. |
Dundee, N.Y. |
|
FB |
Joel Altavesta |
|
Springfield |
Sr. |
Tewksbury, Mass. |
|
WR |
Kyle Reynolds |
|
Union |
So. |
Delray Beach, Fla. |
|
WR |
Junior Woodard |
|
Hobart |
Sr. |
Marcy, N.Y. |
|
TE |
Kenny Apostolakos |
|
Rochester |
Jr. |
Pittsford, N.Y. |
|
OL |
Duke Ekblom |
|
Springfield |
Sr. |
Gansevoort, N.Y. |
|
OL |
Art Garvey * |
|
Hobart |
Sr. |
East Aurora, N.Y. |
|
OL |
Ali Marpet |
|
Hobart |
So. |
Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y. |
|
OL |
Greg Skjold |
|
Union |
Sr. |
Ramsey, N.J. |
|
OL |
Jay Yaskanich |
|
RPI |
So. |
Troy, N.Y. |
|
* Unanimous Selection |
|
2012 Liberty League First Team Defense |
|
DL |
Ted Abriel |
|
RPI |
Jr. |
Slingerlands, N.Y. |
|
DL |
Nick Auriemma |
|
Hobart |
Sr. |
Melville, N.Y. |
|
DL |
Tyre Coleman * |
|
Hobart |
So. |
Poughkeepsie, N.Y. |
|
DL |
Max Nacewicz |
|
Springfield |
So. |
Sandy Hook, Conn. |
|
LB |
Shaine Grogan |
|
WPI |
Sr. |
Dalton, Mass. |
|
LB |
Noah Joseph * |
|
Union |
Sr. |
Chevy Chase, Md. |
|
LB |
Tony Ortega |
|
Rochester |
Jr. |
Rochester, N.Y. |
|
LB |
Devin Worthington * |
|
Hobart |
Jr. |
Rochester, N.Y. |
|
DB |
Jolyon Davis |
|
Hobart |
Jr. |
Carthage, N.Y. |
|
DB |
Kobie Hamm |
|
Rochester |
Sr. |
Staten Island, N.Y. |
|
DB |
Mitch McClune |
|
WPI |
Gr. |
Pembroke, Mass. |
|
DB |
Tyler Washington |
|
Merchant Marine |
Jr. |
Chatham, N.Y. |
|
* Unanimous Selection |
|
2012 Liberty League First Special Teams |
|
K |
Andrew Franks |
|
RPI |
So. |
Carmel, Calif. |
|
P |
Austin Caswell |
|
RPI |
Sr. |
Round Rock, Texas |
|
RS |
Mike Davis |
|
Springfield |
Sr. |
Madison, Conn. |
|
2012 Liberty League Second Team Offense |
|
QB |
Nick Strang |
|
Hobart |
Sr. |
Hopewell Junction, N.Y. |
|
RB |
Mike Davis |
|
Springfield |
Sr. |
Madison, Conn. |
|
RB |
Connor Kennedy |
|
Merchant Marine |
Jr. |
Bellerose, N.Y. |
|
FB |
John-Leon Gosselin |
|
Merchant Marine |
Sr. |
Nashua, N.H. |
|
WR |
Thomas Hayes |
|
Rochester |
Sr. |
Syracuse, N.Y. |
|
WR |
Mike Tateosian |
|
St. Lawrence |
Jr. |
Keene, N.H. |
|
TE |
Eric Zavadsky |
|
Union |
Sr. |
Trumbull, Conn. |
|
OL |
Elias Damouni |
|
Union |
Sr. |
Fort Lee, N.J. |
|
OL |
Tyler Garvey |
|
Hobart |
Sr. |
East Aurora, N.Y. |
|
OL |
Mike MacDonald |
|
Springfield |
Jr. |
North Dighton, Mass. |
|
OL |
Pete Meile |
|
Union |
Jr. |
Ramsey, N.J. |
|
OL |
Josh Nitso |
|
WPI |
Sr. |
Londonderry, N.H. |
|
2012 Liberty League Second Team Defense |
|
DL |
Joe Everett |
|
WPI |
Sr. |
Columbia, Conn. |
|
DL |
Wade Hansen |
|
RPI |
So. |
Troy, N.Y. |
|
DL |
Oraene Morgan |
|
St. Lawrence |
Sr. |
Bridgeport, Conn. |
|
DL |
Casey Muse |
|
Union |
So. |
Oklahoma City, Okla. |
|
LB |
Zach Cicero |
|
Rochester |
Jr. |
Fairport, N.Y. |
|
LB |
Matthew Day |
|
RPI |
Sr. |
Claremont, N.H. |
|
LB |
Andrew Klindera |
|
Hobart |
Sr. |
Chagrin Falls, Ohio |
|
LB |
Kevin Shields |
|
Springfield |
Sr. |
Melville, N.Y. |
|
DB |
Fajri Jackson |
|
Hobart |
So. |
Fayetteville, N.Y. |
|
DB |
Jafar Johnson |
|
Union |
Sr. |
Albany, N.Y. |
|
DB |
Dustin Schuld |
|
RPI |
Sr. |
East Brunswick, N.J. |
|
DB |
Sam Weiss |
|
Springfield |
Jr. |
Glasser, N.J. |
|
2012 Liberty League Second Special Teams |
|
K |
James Hull |
|
Hobart |
Fr. |
Bloomfield, N.J. |
|
P |
Josh Neuss |
|
Hobart |
Fr. |
Williamsville, N.Y. |
|
RS |
Austin Caswell |
|
RPI |
Sr. |
Round Rock, Texas |
Honorable Mention Offense: Phil Baier, WR (Springfield); Victor Coker, OL (St. Lawrence); Connor Eck, QB (Union); Tim Grupp, OL (WPI); Tim Hersey, FB (Union); Jacob Margrey, OL (Merchant Marine); Brent Matazinsky, TE (Hobart); Don Rohauer, OL (St. Lawrence); Ben Runchey, OL (Merchant Marine); Ryan Schmidt, OL (St. Lawrence); DeAndre Smith, OL (Hobart); Nick Weber, WR (RPI).
Honorable Mention Defense: Nick Borkowski, DB (RPI); Nick Chambers, DL (WPI); Jeff DeVico, LB, (Union); Michael Dublin, LB (Springfield); Shola Fakorode, DB (Rochester); Kevin Hearon, DB (Hobart); Troy Johnson, DL (Hobart); Bill Meile, DL (Union); Matthew Morse, DL (Merchant Marine); Joe Napolitano, LB (St. Lawrence); Skyler Stone, DB (Merchant Marine); Corey White, DL (RPI).
Honorable Mention Special Teams: Mitch McClune, RS (WPI); Matthew McDaniels, RS (Merchant Marine); Rick Peacock, K (Springfield); Vinny Tavernelli, P (WPI); Steven Webb, RS (Hobart).