ECAC Announces DI FBS Football Major Awards & All-ECAC Teams
DANBURY, Conn. - The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2017 Division I FBS Football Awards and All-ECAC Teams.
Penn State’s Saquon Barkley received Offensive Player of the Year while Avonte Maddox of the University of Pittsburgh claimed Defensive Player of the Year. Offensive Rookie of the Year goes to AJ Dillon from Boston College and Temple University’s Dan Archibong took Defensive Rookie of the Year. The 2017 DI FBS Coach of the Year is Geoff Collins from Temple.
Barkley recorded another stellar season for the Nittany Lions. He’s the second player in Big Ten history to receive three major awards: Graham-George Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year, Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year.He was named First-team All-Big Ten running back and return specialist. Barkley ranks No. 2 in the FBS and leads the Big Ten in all-purpose yards (179.50), ranks No. 4 nationally and leads the Big Ten in kickoff return touchdowns (2), ranks No. 10 in the FBS and leads the Big Ten in kickoff return average (28.4). His six Player of the Week honors in 2017 (four offensive, two special teams) are the most in a single season in Big Ten history. Barkley was selected as a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, Maxwell Award, Doak Walker Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.
Despite missing more than two games due to injury, Maddox earned Third Team All-ACC and was Pitt's most productive cover man, compiling 11 pass breakups and two interceptions. He also had three forced fumbles, ranking second in the ACC and 20th nationally in that category (0.30 per game). Maddox was also a highly effective blitzer, collecting four sacks. He had two in the fourth quarter of Pitt's 24-14 upset of Miami, including a strip-sack that iced the victory.
Dillon had an impressive freshman campaign for Boston College, culminating in his ACC Rookie of the Year accolade. He rushed for 890 yards this season against FBS teams with a winning record, fourth-most by any player in the country. He ranks second among all freshmen nationally in rushing with 1,432 yards and his 272 rushing yards were the sixth-highest single-game total nationally in 2017 and most by a true freshman. Dillon set new BC freshman rushing records for single-season rushing yards (1,239) and rushing attempts (245). He ranks 11th best in the ACC for rushing day and second most yards ever by a freshman and is only the second freshman in ACC history with two 200-yard games. Dillon was named Walter Camp Football Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week, ACC Rookie of the Week and Co-Offensive Back of the Week this season.
In his first season, Collins led the Temple Owls to its third consecutive bowl berth. His leadership helped the Owls close the season with a 3-1 record to earn bowl eligibility on the final day of the season.
Division I FBS Football Awards & All-ECAC Selections
Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year
Saquon Barkley - Penn State University, Jr., RB
Defensive Player of the Year
Avonte Maddox - University of Pittsburgh, Sr., DB
Offensive Rookie of the Year
AJ Dillon - Boston College, Fr., RB
Defensive Rookie of the Year Candidates:
Dan Archibong - Temple University, R-Fr., DL
Coach of the Year
Geoff Collins – Temple University
All-ECAC First Team
Trace McSorley - Penn State University, Jr., QB
AJ Dillon - Boston College, Fr., RB
Saquon Barkley - Penn State University, Jr., RB
Darnell Woolfolk – US Military Academy, Jr., RB
Andy Isabella - University of Massachusetts, Jr., WR
DJ Moore – University of Maryland, Jr., WR
Steve Ishmael - Syracuse University, Sr., WR
Mike Gesicki - Penn State University, Sr., TE
Sam Schmal - Boston College, Jr., OL
Cody Conway - Syracuse University, Jr., OL
Alex Officer - University of Pittsburgh, R-Sr., OL
Brian O'Neill - University of Pittsburgh, R-Jr., OL
Josh Boylan – US Military Academy, Sr., OL
Da'Sean Downey - University of Massachusetts, Sr., DL
Zach Allen - Boston College, Jr., DL
Sharif Finch – Temple University, Sr., DL
Jacob Martin – Temple University, Sr., DL
Ty Schwab - Boston College, Sr., LB
Parris Bennett - Syracuse University, Sr., LB
Jason Cabinda - Penn State University, Sr., LB
Oluwaseun Idowu - University of Pittsburgh, R-Jr., LB
Lukas Denis - Boston College, Jr., DB
Amani Oruwariye - Penn State University, Jr., DB
Avonte Maddox - University of Pittsburgh, Sr., DB
Delvon Randall – Temple University, So., DB
Cole Murphy - Syracuse University, Sr., K
Ryan Anderson - Rutgers University, R-Sr., P
Saquon Barkley - Penn State University, Jr., RS
All-ECAC Second Team
Adonis Jennings – Temple University, Sr., WR
Adam Breneman - University of Massachusetts, Gr., TE
Jack Driscoll - University of Massachusetts, So., OL
Matt Hennessy - Temple University, Fr., OL
Brian Carter - Temple University, Sr., OL
Cole Boozer - Temple University, Sr., OL
Matt Peart – University of Connecticut, R-So., OL
Harold Landry - Boston College, Sr., DL
Cole Ormsby - University of Connecticut, Sr., DL
Foley Fatukasi - University of Connecticut, Sr., DL
Bryton Barr - University of Massachusetts, Gr., LB
Jermaine Carter, Jr. – University of Maryland, Sr., LB
Micah Thomas - US Naval Academy, Sr., LB
D.J. Palmore - US Naval Academy, Sr., LB
Shaun Bardley – Temple University, So., LB
Alex Aukerman – US Military Academy, Sr., LB
Junior Joseph - University of Connecticut, Sr., LB
Isaiah Rodgers - University of Massachusetts, So., DB
Antoine Brooks – University of Maryland, So., DB
Will Harris - Boston College, Jr., DB
Marcus Allen 0 Penn State University, Sr., DB
Sean Chandler - Temple University, Sr., DB
Logan Laurent - University of Massachusetts, R-Sr., K
Ryan Winslow - University of Pittsburgh, Sr., P
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