Football Slotted Third in NEC Preseason Poll; Four Pios Named to All-NEC Preseason Team
7/19/2023 4:11:00 PM | Football
Malik Grant, DeAndre Byrd, Ernest Howard, Arsheen Jiles represent the Pios on the All-NEC Preseason Team
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.: The Northeast Conference (NEC) announced its preseason poll and all-conference teams before the start of the 2023 Media Day at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Wednesday morning.
Sacred Heart was picked to finish third, along with Duquesne, in the eight-team league. Defending champion Saint Francis earned five first-place votes to be tabbed as the preseason favorite for 2023. Merrimack earned two first-place votes to be tabbed second, while the Dukes and Pioneers rounded out the top three.
The Pioneers had four selections to the preseason team, one on the offensive and three on the defensive side of the ball. Running back Malik Grant (Bronx, N.Y.), linebackers DeAndre Byrd (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and Ernest Howard (Absecon, N.J.), and defensive back Arsheen Jiles (Montclair, N.J.) represented the Pioneers on the preseason team.
Grant was one of the top running backs in the league and named second-team All-NEC in 2022. With a pair of 1,000-yard rushing seasons under his belt, the elusive running back was 23rd in the FCS in rushing yards per game (98.2) and 26th in rushing scores (12), while his NEC-leading 14 total touchdowns were good for 23rd in the nation. Grant is also fourth in school history with 2,598 rushing yards and seventh with 27 touchdowns.
Byrd averaged 5.9 tackles per game and was promoted to the All-NEC First Team in 2022 after garnering second-team honors the year before. His 5.9 tackles per game was a team-leading stat and 14th in the NEC. Over the final four games of 2022, he had five tackles for a loss (TFL) – including three versus Saint Francis - to move him up to 11th in the NEC. Byrd also had a season-high 10 stops at Morgan State.
Howard made his presence known on the defensive side of the ball in 2022 as he was the team's top tackler in four of the first six games and was the NEC leader. The Absecon, N.J. native made a career-high 11 tackles and came through with a game-ending interception in overtime against Dartmouth to earn NEC Defensive Player of the Week.
Jiles returns on the preseason all-conference team for the second straight season. Last fall with the Pioneers, he made his presence known on the final play of the Central Connecticut State game when he came up with an interception at the goal line as the Blue Devils were looking to score. The Montclair, N.J. native was fourth in the NEC for passes defended with his league-best eight pass breakups and two interceptions.
The Pioneers' regular season kicks off on Saturday, September 2nd, when SHU hosts the Leopards of Lafayette College in its home opener at Campus Field at 6:00 PM.
NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Saint Francis U (5)
2. Merrimack (2)
3. Duquesne (1)
3. Sacred Heart
5. LIU (1)
6. Central Connecticut
6. Stonehill
8. Wagner
* First-place votes in parentheses ( ).
* Stonehill will play full NEC schedule, but is not title eligible until 2024
For a full list of the NEC Preseason All-Conference Team click here.
