SOMERSET, N.J. – The Sacred Heart University football team earned six Northeast Conference (NEC) All-Conference bids, including a pair of First Team selections, as announced by the league on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Linebacker, team captain DeAndre Byrd, and defensive back Arsheen Jiles earned placement on the First Team All-NEC list. Four Pioneers were named to the Second team All-NEC list, including defensive linemen and team captains Tyreke Brown and Carson Primrose, defensive back Mike-Lee Joseph, and kicker Sam Renzi.
 
Byrd, a graduate student from Lawrenceville, Ga., collected the second First Team nod of his career after playing a pivotal role on the defensive side of the ball. This is Byrd's second straight year earning First Team recognition and third overall of his career. He finished with a team-leading 79 tackles behind 31 solo and 48 assisted stops. His 79 tackles ranked seventh in the NEC. Byrd also recorded 5.0 tackles-for-loss, and his season-high in tackles was nine on four occasions. 
 
Jiles, a senior defensive back from Montclair, N.J., recorded another impressive season for the Pioneers this fall. He has earned back-to-back year-end recognition from the NEC, but his first First Team selection. Jiles finished within the top five in the league in passes defended behind seven pass breakups and one interception. He forced a team-leading two fumbles this season while recovering one fumble against Merrimack. He also tallied 38 tackles and one sack. 
 
Brown, a senior defensive lineman from Pens Grove, N.J., earned his first All-NEC Second Team nod. Playing in nine games this fall, he finished with 47 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a team-leading 10.0 tackles-for-loss. His two forced fumbles against LIU were good enough for second in the NEC. 
 
Primrose, a senior defensive lineman from Pittsburgh, Pa., was a big part of the Pioneers' defensive line success this season. For the second straight year, Primrose was selection to the Second Team. Playing in all 12 games, Primrose finished the fall campaign with 45 tackles, 2.0 sacks, and 5.5 tackles-for-loss. His two sacks, including one against Yale, ranked him second on the team, while his 5.5 tackles for loss put him third on the team. 
 
Joseph, a graduate student defensive back from Bridgeport, Conn., recorded a breakout season for the Pioneers as he led the conference with four interceptions. He also finished with 36 tackles, one sack, two pass breakups, and 3.0 tackles-for-loss. His 0.4 interceptions per game ranks him 14th in the NCAA FCS national rankings. This recognition was Joseph's first of his career. 
 
Renzi, a kicker from Alexandria, Va., had a stellar performance on special teams this season en route to his first All-NEC nod. He kicked 14 field goals and went 15-of-15 in extra point attempts, which ranked him eighth in scoring in the NEC. His 14 field goals, including a 40-yard game-winner against Saint Francis, lead the conference and rank 13th in the NCAA FCS national rankings in field goals per game.