Following a vote by the conference's seven head coaches, the Liberty League has announced the Football major awards and All-League teams.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: E.J. Taylor, Sophomore, Running Back, Hobart College
Hobart College sophomore running back E.J. Taylor was named the Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year. Taylor was the league’s only 1,000 yard rusher this year, finishing the regular season with 1,002 total rushing yards. He had four games with 100-plus rushing yards; three were during the Statesmen’s last four games. Taylor paced the team and conference in touchdowns (11) and tied for a league-best nine rushing touchdowns. He is second among league leaders in scoring with 66 points and 6.6 points per game. In the final game of the regular season, Taylor totaled 158 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the only player in the conference to rush for three touchdowns in a game this season. Taylor also had a hand in the Statemen’s passing game with 14 receptions for 104 yards (7.4 yards per catch) and a pair of touchdowns. He tied for fourth on the team in receptions and third in receiving touchdowns.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jaimen Bliss, Senior, Linebacker, Hobart College
Hobart College senior linebacker Jaimen Bliss was recognized as the Liberty League Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Bliss is a defensive stalwart for the Statemen and anchors a defense that ranks among the top 20 of Division III in scoring defense (2nd), turnovers gained (9th), red zone defense (14th), passes intercepted (16th), and defensive touchdowns (17th) Bliss led the Statesmen and was second in the league in tackles with 89 (34 solo, 55 assisted) in 10 games (8.9 per game). He finished the regular season with 11.5 tackles for loss (42 yards), 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception. In four seasons and 42 games with the Statesmen, he amassed 252 career tackles (104 solo, 148 assisted), ranking him 10th on Hobart’s all-time tackles list.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jake Connolly, Senior, Defensive Back, Ithaca
Ithaca College senior defensive back Jack Connolly was selected as the Liberty League Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Connolly wrapped up his senior campaign leading the Bombers in tackles (86), and tackles for loss (5.5). He paced the team with two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries while finishing second in pass breakups (6). Connolly also recorded one sack and one interception. Among league leaders, he was third in tackles while tying for second in fumbles recovered and fumble returns. Connolly had five games with 10-plus tackles this season. He ended his four-year career with the Bombers with 225 total tackles (101 solo, 124 assisted).
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Tobias Wefering, Junior, Placekicker, Hobart College
Hobart College junior placekicker Tobias Wefering was tabbed the Liberty League Special Teams Player of the Year. Wefering boasts a league-high 72 points and 7.2 points this season, thanks to 15 field goals and 27 extra points. He made 15-of-20 field goals (0.75 made) this season and had a career-long 49-yard field goal in late October. Wefering was 4-for-4 on field goals longer than 40 yards this season and he was good for 27-of-29 extra point attempts (0.931). He broke Hobart’s season and career record in field goals made; he currently has 34 in three seasons. Wefering also tied Hobart’s game record for field goals in a game with three. He is the tenth Hobart player to tally more than 200 points, and his 206 career points ties him for ninth among the team’s career scoring leaders. Wefering also handles kickoffs for the Statesmen, he is second among league leaders in yards per kickoff (57.4) and touchbacks (12).
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Johnny Harding, Wide Receiver, Hobart College
Hobart College first-year wide receiver Johnny Harding earned Liberty League Rookie of the Year honors. Harding made an immediate impact for the Statesmen, playing and starting all 10 games this season. He is tied for a league-high eight receiving touchdowns and is ranked fifth in receptions per game (4.1). He averaged 55.6 yards per catch, good for fifth in the Liberty League. He broke Hobart’s rookie season record in receptions (38) with five catches in the final game of the regular season for 41. The four-time Liberty League Rookie of the Week honoree has at least one catch in all 10 games and eight games with four or more.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Hobart College – Kevin DeWall, Head Coach
Hobart College head coach Kevin DeWall and his coaching staff have been named the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year. DeWall guided the Statesmen to a 9-1 overall record and an unbeaten 6-0 record against conference foes en route to capturing the 2024 Liberty League title. It’s the first title for the Statesmen since 2016 and the first time Hobart went undefeated in league play since 2014. Hobart paced the league in scoring offense with 27.3 points per game and scoring defense, holding opponents to 8.3 points per game. The Statesmen defense was even stingier in league play, holding all six Liberty League opponents to 41 total points (6.8 per game). They topped the league in total defense (244.0 yards per game) interceptions (16), fumbles forced (11, 1.1 per game), and fumbles recovered (11, 1.1 per game). Hobart will be making its first appearance in the NCAA Championship since 2016 and it will be the team’s 11th overall appearance in NCAAs.