Three Pioneers Named All-New England
11/29/2021 8:23:00 PM | Football
Grant, DiRenzo & Horne earn distinction.
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The season might be complete for the Sacred Heart University football team, but the Pioneers are still bringing in the awards. Running back Malik Grant, left tackle J.D. DiRenzo and safety Salaam Horne were named All-New England by the New England Football Writers Association on Monday.
It's the third time (2013 & 2019) Sacred Heart has had a program-best three recipients. No team was named during the 2020-21 season.
Named Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Grant was named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award last week. The First-Team All-NEC selection is third in the FCS at 1,347 yards and sixth with 112.2 yards per game. Earlier in the season, Grant was recognized by the NEFWA on October 10 with their Golden Helmet award after rushing for 228 yards against Merrimack, the sixth-highest single-game total in school history and the 10th-best in the FCS this year.
An anchor for one of the best rushing attacks in the country, DiRenzo earned his third All-NEC accolade after a second-straight Preseason All-NEC selection. A native of Hammonton, N.J., he has 40 games under his belt and was an All-America selection during the spring season.
Horne's All-New England honor comes on the heels of a First-Team All-NEC selection. A Second-Team honoree in the spring, he led the conference and is amongst the national leaders with a trio of interceptions to go along with three more pass breakups. The Vineland, N.J. native was also fourth on the team with 43 tackles. His six career interceptions are tied for seventh all-time.
Sacred Heart won its second-straight NEC Championship but was defeated by Holy Cross in the first round of the FCS Playoffs.
It's the third time (2013 & 2019) Sacred Heart has had a program-best three recipients. No team was named during the 2020-21 season.
Named Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Grant was named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award last week. The First-Team All-NEC selection is third in the FCS at 1,347 yards and sixth with 112.2 yards per game. Earlier in the season, Grant was recognized by the NEFWA on October 10 with their Golden Helmet award after rushing for 228 yards against Merrimack, the sixth-highest single-game total in school history and the 10th-best in the FCS this year.
An anchor for one of the best rushing attacks in the country, DiRenzo earned his third All-NEC accolade after a second-straight Preseason All-NEC selection. A native of Hammonton, N.J., he has 40 games under his belt and was an All-America selection during the spring season.
Horne's All-New England honor comes on the heels of a First-Team All-NEC selection. A Second-Team honoree in the spring, he led the conference and is amongst the national leaders with a trio of interceptions to go along with three more pass breakups. The Vineland, N.J. native was also fourth on the team with 43 tackles. His six career interceptions are tied for seventh all-time.
Sacred Heart won its second-straight NEC Championship but was defeated by Holy Cross in the first round of the FCS Playoffs.
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