Pioneers Place Seven on Preseason All-NEC Teams
8/3/2022 3:55:00 PM | Football
Peprah repeats from 2021 team.
SOMERSET, N.J. – In addition to being picked as the favorite to win the Northeast Conference in the preseason poll, the Sacred Heart University football team also led the way with the most Preseason All-NEC members. The Pioneers led all teams with seven selections as announced by the conference on Wednesday.
The only repeat choice from a year ago is defensive lineman Kevin Peprah. Making their first appearance was linebacker DeAndre Byrd, running back Malik Grant, defensive back Arsheen Jiles, quarterback Marquez McCray, offensive lineman Jon Mucciolo and wide receiver Kenneth Womack.
Named Third-Team All-American early in the week by Stats Perform, Peprah was a one-man wrecking crew on the defensive line in 2021. His 9.5 sacks rated 22nd in the NCAA while his 13 tackles for a loss were 37th. Twice named NEC Defensive Player of the Week, the Woodbridge, Va. native also rated 14th in the country with four forced fumbles. A two-time First-Team All-NEC selection, Peprah was third on the team with 48 tackles, including a career-high nine against Wagner.
Overlooked in year's past, Byrd received his first all-conference nod last season. He rated 17th in the NEC at 4.8 tackles per game while his 59 stops led the team. A native of Lawrenceville, Ga., Byrd is one of the most consistent players on the team, recording five or more tackles in seven games, including the last four. He had a season-best 12 tackles at Bryant.
Last year's NEC Offensive Player of the Year, Grant already has two preseason All-America honors under his belt. Voted the 2021 New England Football Writer's Most Outstanding Player, Grant was also a finalist for the 2021 Walter Payton Award. He was fourth in the FCS at 1,347 rushing yards – fifth on the SHU single-season list - and sixth with 112.2 yards per game. A First-Team All-NEC selection, the Bronx, NY native crossed the goal line 11 times, which was tops in the NEC and 32nd nationally.
Jiles was one of the best secondary defenders in the conference last year, ranking sixth with seven pass breakups. He had a pair in the win over Duquesne and the FCS Playoff game at Holy Cross. The Montclair, NJ native had a season-high five tackles against Saint Francis.
Going into his third season as the starter under center, McCray is the top returning passer in the NEC. He ranked second in the league last year with 1,818 passing yards while rating fifth with a 129.7 passing efficiency and 150.5 passing yards per game. A native of Philadelphia, he was third in the league and 51st in the FCS with a 59.7 completion percentage.
Mucciolo was part of a SHU offensive line that had the Pioneers ranked 11th nationally at 211.3 yards per game. Sacred Heart was also second in the league at 366.2 yards per game of total offense. The Mahopac, NY native started all 12 games last season after appearing in eight total during his first two years.
Last season Womack was one of McCray's favorite targets. A native of Upper Marlboro, Md., he was second on the team with 31 receptions while rating third at 379 receiving yards. Womack had a career-high six catches for 86 yards against Duquesne.
Sacred Heart starts the defense of back-to-back NEC titles on September 3 at Lafayette. The Pioneers begin the league slate the following week at CCSU.
The only repeat choice from a year ago is defensive lineman Kevin Peprah. Making their first appearance was linebacker DeAndre Byrd, running back Malik Grant, defensive back Arsheen Jiles, quarterback Marquez McCray, offensive lineman Jon Mucciolo and wide receiver Kenneth Womack.
Named Third-Team All-American early in the week by Stats Perform, Peprah was a one-man wrecking crew on the defensive line in 2021. His 9.5 sacks rated 22nd in the NCAA while his 13 tackles for a loss were 37th. Twice named NEC Defensive Player of the Week, the Woodbridge, Va. native also rated 14th in the country with four forced fumbles. A two-time First-Team All-NEC selection, Peprah was third on the team with 48 tackles, including a career-high nine against Wagner.
Overlooked in year's past, Byrd received his first all-conference nod last season. He rated 17th in the NEC at 4.8 tackles per game while his 59 stops led the team. A native of Lawrenceville, Ga., Byrd is one of the most consistent players on the team, recording five or more tackles in seven games, including the last four. He had a season-best 12 tackles at Bryant.
Last year's NEC Offensive Player of the Year, Grant already has two preseason All-America honors under his belt. Voted the 2021 New England Football Writer's Most Outstanding Player, Grant was also a finalist for the 2021 Walter Payton Award. He was fourth in the FCS at 1,347 rushing yards – fifth on the SHU single-season list - and sixth with 112.2 yards per game. A First-Team All-NEC selection, the Bronx, NY native crossed the goal line 11 times, which was tops in the NEC and 32nd nationally.
Jiles was one of the best secondary defenders in the conference last year, ranking sixth with seven pass breakups. He had a pair in the win over Duquesne and the FCS Playoff game at Holy Cross. The Montclair, NJ native had a season-high five tackles against Saint Francis.
Going into his third season as the starter under center, McCray is the top returning passer in the NEC. He ranked second in the league last year with 1,818 passing yards while rating fifth with a 129.7 passing efficiency and 150.5 passing yards per game. A native of Philadelphia, he was third in the league and 51st in the FCS with a 59.7 completion percentage.
Mucciolo was part of a SHU offensive line that had the Pioneers ranked 11th nationally at 211.3 yards per game. Sacred Heart was also second in the league at 366.2 yards per game of total offense. The Mahopac, NY native started all 12 games last season after appearing in eight total during his first two years.
Last season Womack was one of McCray's favorite targets. A native of Upper Marlboro, Md., he was second on the team with 31 receptions while rating third at 379 receiving yards. Womack had a career-high six catches for 86 yards against Duquesne.
Sacred Heart starts the defense of back-to-back NEC titles on September 3 at Lafayette. The Pioneers begin the league slate the following week at CCSU.
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