CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Sacred Heart University freshman running back Mitchell Summers and Bates College junior running back Ryan Lynskey are this week's recipients of the New England Football Association Gold Helmet Awards presented by the Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation.

Summers, a native of Greensboro, N.C., and a graduate of Grimsley High School, rushed 18 times for 243 yards and two touchdowns, including an early 80-yard scamper in the Pioneers' 32-14 win over Howard University. Summers' second score was a 49-yard run in the fourth quarter that put the game out of reach.

The freshman running back joins elite company at Sacred Heart, becoming the latest Pioneer to earn the prestigious New England Football Writers' Gold Helmet Award. He follows in the footsteps of current teammate Jack Snyder and former standouts Malik Grant and RJ Noel, who each received the honor during their SHU careers. Snyder claimed the award earlier this season on September 28, after totaling 330 yards of offense and three touchdowns in SHU's 35–31 victory over Delaware State. Grant earned his Gold Helmet in 2021, rushing for 268 yards on 27 carries against Merrimack, while Noel was recognized in 2013 after compiling 300 yards of total offense to lead the Pioneers past Marist.

For the eleventh straight year, the Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation is the presenting sponsor for both the weekly and end-of-year Gold Helmet Awards presented to student-athletes from FBS, FCS, Division II, and Division III institutions throughout New England. The awards will be presented at the NEFW Captains and Awards Banquet on December 11, at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center.

For more information on the Gold Helmet Awards and the New England Football Writers Association, please visit www.newenglandfootballwriters.com, and for more information on the Grinold Chapter, please visit www.grinoldchapter.com.

2025 NEW ENGLAND FOOTBALL WRITERS ASSOCIATION
WEEKLY GRINOLD CHAPTER GOLD HELMET AWARD RECIPIENTS
 
                                                            Division I (FBS/FCS)                                     Division II/III
September 7 (Weeks 1 & 2)         Dylan Lonergan, Boston College                 Harrison Hensley, Coast Guard
September 14                                 AJ Duffy, New Haven                                     Israel Hiraldo, Post
September 21                                 Carlton Thai, Merrimack                              Sean Burns, Coast Guard
September 28                                 Jack Snyder, Sacred Heart                            Jay Kastantin, Assumption
October 5                                        Elias Archie, Brown                                        Matt Fitzsimons, Wesleyan
October 12                                      Mitchell Summers, Sacred Heart                Ryan Lynskey, Bates