ECAC Announces 2016 Division III South Football All-Stars
DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2016 Division III South Football All-Star teams and award recipients.
Carnegie Mellon University junior running back Sam Benger was named the Offensive Player of the Year, while Bethany College senior linebacker Donavan Hayden was awarded Defensive Player of the Year. Stevenson University Head Coach Ed Hottle garnered the Coach of the Year honor.
Benger earned the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Offensive Player of the Year honor for the second time in as many seasons and also was a First Team All-University Athletic Association (UAA) selection. Benger ended the season ranked second in the nation in rushing touchdowns (26), average points per game (15.5), total points scored (170) and total touchdowns (28). He also ranked third in Division III for rushing yards with 1,703. With one more season to play, Benger already owns the Tartans’ career rushing record (4,333). The Massachusetts native was also honored with recognition on the 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-America Division III Football Team.

Hayden was awarded the PAC Defensive Player of the Year honor after leading the conference with 142 total tackles. The senior’s total tackles ranked him tied for second in Division III while his 82 solo stops were good enough to rank third. Hayden also posted a league-best 20 tackles for a loss which placed him in the top-10 nationally. Hayden became Bethany’s all-time leader in career tackles in 2016 with 361 in just three seasons.
Hottle was named Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Coach of the Year after leading the Mustangs to a 9-1 regular-season record and an 8-1 mark in conference play. Hottle, who is the only head coach in the six-year history of the program, guided Stevenson to its first-ever MAC Championship and NCAA appearance in 2016 and helped place 17 student-athletes on All-MAC teams at season’s end.
2016 ECAC Division III South Football All-Star Team
Offensive Player of the Year
Sam Benger, Jr., Carnegie Mellon University
Defensive Player of the Year
Donavan Hayden, Sr., Bethany College
Coach of the Year
Ed Hottle, Stevenson University
First Team Offense
Nick Palladino, Sr., Muhlenberg College
Nick Savant, Jr., Muhlenberg College
Sam Benger, Jr., Carnegie Mellon University
Connor Canonico, Sr., Salisbury University
Jesse Zubik, Jr., Washington & Jefferson College
Kirby Breault, Sr., Juniata College
Nick Lamb, Sr., Muhlenberg College
Brandon Martuccio, Sr., Washington & Jefferson College
Riley Cannon, Sr., Salisbury University
John McKeever, Sr., Albright College
Domenick Mattia, Sr., Muhlenberg College
Willie Britt, Sr., Muhlenberg College
First Team Defense
Ryan Snedeker, Sr., Washington & Jefferson College
William Sewell, Sr., Frostburg State University
Brian Khoury, Sr., Carnegie Mellon University
Joe Granahan, So., Franklin & Marshall College
Donavan Hayden, Sr., Bethany College
Darin Hungerford, Jr., Kean University
Edward Delia, Sr., Moravian College
CJ Armstrong, Jr., Westminster College
David Coleman, Sr., Kean University
Billy Lewis, Sr., Stevenson University
Austin Tennessee, Sr., Stevenson University
John Feaster, Sr., Muhlenberg College
First Team Special Teams
Gabe Renna, Sr., Carnegie Mellon University
Tyler Kohman, Jr., Carnegie Mellon University
Kyle Dickerson, So., Albright College
Second Team Offense
Dan Williams, Jr., Stevenson University
Ryan Kolb, Sr., Salisbury University
Devonte Williams, Sr., Stevenson University
Wiley Martin, So., U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Vinny Williams, Sr., Albright College
Preston Addo, Jr., Stevenson University
Bryant Weller, Sr., Lebanon Valley College
Jake Townsend, Jr., Frostburg State University
Parker Johnson, Sr., U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Bryn Kaufman, Sr., Westminster College
Jonni Cassano, Sr., Albright College
Second Team Defense
Niles Scott, Jr., Frostburg State University
Rich Kuhn, Sr., Albright College
Michael Hogan, Sr., Muhlenberg College
John Snyder, Sr., Moravian College
Ashton Leschke, So., Stevenson University
Mike Luby, Sr., Muhlenberg College
Mac Quinn, Sr., Westminster College
Ryan Brenner, Sr., Rowan University
O’Shea Anderson, Jr., Washington & Jefferson College
Patrick Keyes, Sr., U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Todd Jeter, Jr., Westminster College
Brendan Daly, Sr., Franklin & Marshall College
Special Teams Second Team
Kevin Goetz, So., Albright College
Sean Rowland, So., Salisbury University
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In the 77 years since its inception, the ECAC has emerged as the nation's largest Conference, ranging in location from Maine to Georgia, and westerly to Missouri. In 2015-16, the ECAC hosted nearly 100 championships in men's and women's sports as the sponsors of over 5,800 varsity teams and 111,000 student-athletes. For more information, visit www.ecacsports.com.
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