Following a vote by the conference's seven head coaches, the Liberty League has revealed the 2023 Football Major Awards and All-League teams.
Offensive Player of the Year: Jalen Leonard-Osbourne, Senior, Running Back, Ithaca College
Ithaca College senior running back Jalen Leonard-Osbourne was recognized with Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year honors. It is the second straight year an Ithaca player has been recognized with the award. Leonard-Osbourne played in all 10 games for the Bombers and leads the league in all-purpose yards with 1,229. He has totaled 861 rushing yards, good for second in the Liberty League and nine rushing touchdowns, also second in the conference. He averages 86.1 yards per game and 5.9 yards per play (144 attempts). He also recorded 36 catches for 368 yards (36.8 per game) and three touchdowns receiving. Leonard-Osbourne, a two-time Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week honoree this season, is currently tied for third among league leaders in scoring with 72 points (12 touchdowns).
Defensive Player of the Year: Ben Stola, Senior, Defensive Back, Ithaca College
Ithaca College senior defensive back Ben Stola was named Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. It is the second straight year an Ithaca player has been recognized with the award. A defensive starter in all 10 games for the Bombers, Stola tops the team and league in total tackles (102), tackles per game (10.2) and ranks third in tackles for loss (10.0). He is currently 23rd in Division III in total tackles. In league play, he registered 59 total tackles, averaging 9.8 per game. He also recorded two sacks this season, both of which occurred against league opponents. Stola was recognized with Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week honors three times this season. He posted a season-high 17 tackles on two occasions this season, against Hobart and in the regular season finale against Cortland.
Special Teams Player of the Year: Sterling Walker-Sutton, Senior, Return Specialist, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RPI senior return specialist Sterling Walker-Sutton was selected as Liberty League Special Teams Player of the Year. Walker-Sutton is a dual return threat for the Engineers, leading the league in both kick returns and punt returns. He made 22 punt returns for 306 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 13.9 yards per return. His long return was 89 yards and resulted in a touchdown. Walker-Sutton also recorded 13 kick returns for 368 yards, averaging 28.3 yards per return. On the year, he has totaled 674 yards in returns and is 20th in Division III in combined kick returns.
Rookie of the Year: Kayden White, Running Back, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RPI first-year running back Kayden White earned Liberty League Rookie of the Year accolades. In 10 games, White has amassed a team-high 488 rushing yards on 88 attempts, good for 8th among league leaders. He averages 5.5 yards per carry and 48.8 yards per game, both of which rank him among the league's top 10, fourth and 10th respectively. His long rush of 56 yards was third among league leaders and he recorded five rushing touchdowns. He also made seven catches for 29 yards and a touchdown.
Coaching Staff of the Year: Ithaca College, Michael Toerper – Head Coach
Ithaca College head coach Michael Toerper and his coaching staff have been selected as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year for the second straight year. Toerper guided the Bombers to an unblemished mark of 6-0 in league play, for the second consecutive season, and they finished the regular season at 8-2. The Bombers earned their second outright Liberty League Championship title since joining the conference in 2017 and will be making their 21st appearance in the NCAA Tournament. As a team, Ithaca averages 28.5 points per game and holds opponents to 14.6 points per game. Nationally, the Bombers boasted the top strength of schedule in Division III at .673 and are ranked 27th in scoring defense (14.6 points per game). Toerper is assisted by Mike Hatcher (OC/WR), Tom Biscardi (DC/LB), Kerry Grigsby (DL), Ben Johnson (RB), Drew Miller (OL), Josh Kowalczyk (WR), Zach Kinter (DL), Ryan Shippa (TE), and KP McClain (Offensive Assistant).
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB- Jake Kazanowsky, Jr., RPI
QB- A.J. Wingfield, Sr., Ithaca
WR- Hayden Faraday, So., RPI
WR- Sam Kline, Sr., Ithaca
RB- Michael Fiore, Sr., Union
RB- Jalen Leonard-Osbourne, Sr., Ithaca
TE- Dan Mason, Sr., Ithaca
OL- Ethan Kowalski, Jr., Hobart
OL- Matt McCorkle, Jr., Union
OL- Colin Norton, Sr., Ithaca
OL- JoJo Puckey, Sr., Ithaca
OL- Alex Westcott, Jr., Buffalo State
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL- Bradley Beckwith, Gr., Rochester
DL- Isaiah Couser, Jr., Ithaca
DL- Jimaar Edwards, Sr., Union
DL- Connor Gunn, Sr., Hobart
DL- Jordan Sosa, Sr., Ithaca
LB- Jaimen Bliss, Jr., Hobart
LB- Anthony D'Agostino, Jr., RPI
LB- Spencer Goldstien, Sr., Union
LB- Ben Stola, Sr., Ithaca
DB- Jake Connolly, Jr., Ithaca
DB- Carlos Davis, Sr., RPI
DB- Abdoulaye Diallo, Sr., Hobart
DB- Derek Slywka, Sr., Ithaca
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS
PK- Max Gluck, Jr., Union
P- Alex Wing, Jr., Rochester
RS- Sterling Walker-Sutton, Sr., RPI
ATH- Rayshawn Boswell, Sr., Hobart
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB- Donovan Pacatte, Sr., Union
WR- Landers Green, So., Union
WR- Trey Johnson, Sr., Rochester
WR- Tariq Nelson, Jr., Buffalo State
RB- Daniel Papantonis, Sr., Rochester
RB- Ale Wilson, Jr., Buffalo State
TE- Jackson Kane, So., Rochester
OL- Alec Berceli, Sr., Rochester
OL- Kevin Dewing, Sr., Union
OL- Aidan Monteiro, Jr., RPI
OL- Luke Wilson, Sr., Rochester
OL- Jonah Wisniewski, Sr., Buffalo State
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL- Orlando Cabrera, Sr., Buffalo State
DL- Alex Karpawich, Jr., Hobart
DL- Nate Sicard, Jr., RPI
DL- Ethan VanderBrink, Sr., Union
LB- Cole DaSilva, Sr., Union
LB- Jonathan Koumas, Sr., Ithaca
LB- Kenneth Mosley, Jr., Buffalo State
LB- Anthony Romano, Jr., Hobart
LB- C.J. Schumaker, Gr., RPI
DB- Ethan Biscaro, Sr., Buffalo State
DB- Nathan Sullivan, Sr., Union
DB- Jordy Tawa, So., Rochester
DB- Judah Thomas, So., Rochester
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS
PK- Derek Baldin, Jr., Ithaca
P- Tobias Wefering, Jr., Hobart
RS- Rayshawn Boswell, Sr., Hobart
RS- Cole Salyards, Jr., St. Lawrence
ATH- Sterling Walker-Sutton, Sr., RPI
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE
RB- Tim Denham Jr., Sr., Hobart
TE- Garrett Cafaro, Sr., Union
OL- Joe Arico, Sr., Ithaca
OL- Danny Bekkenhuis, Sr., RPI
OL- Ashton Mejias, So., Hobart
OL- Nick Olivola, So., Union
OL- Alexander Rice, Sr., Ithaca
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE
DL- Brian McNeil, Sr., RPI
DL- Thomas Our, Jr., St. Lawrence
LB- Tommy Cavallo, Sr., Union
LB- Happy Chane, Jr., Rochester
LB- Sincere Green, So., Buffalo State
LB- Mike McGhee, So., Hobart
LB- Ryan Surhoff, So., St. Lawrence
DB- Cortez Garrett, So., RPI
DB- Cassius Johnson, So., RPI
DB- Matt Mitchell, FY, Union
DB- Mekhi Rodgers, So., Hobart
DB- Tamir Rowser, Sr., Ithaca
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION SPECIALISTS
PK- Tobias Wefering, Jr., Hobart
P- Darren Brunner, Jr., Ithaca
RS- Darion Jones, Jr., Buffalo State
ATH- Darion Jones, Jr., Buffalo State