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Somerset, NJ -- Two repeat winners - Albany senior running back Gary Jones (Ravena, NY/Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk (Hudson CC)) and Monmouth senior linebacker Joe Sentipal (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ/Hasbrouck Heights) - headline the major award categories in the annual NEC football postseason all-conference balloting conducted by the league’s head coaches. Jones was tabbed NEC Offensive Player of the Year, while Sentipal retained his status as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. Central Connecticut State freshman running back Cory Harge (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home) was selected NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year, Robert Morris freshman cornerback James Niklos (Columbus, OH/Hargrave Military Academy) corralled NEC Defensive Player of the Year honors and Monmouth’s Kevin Callahan was tabbed NEC Coach of the Year.

NEC co-champions Albany (four first team, five second team) and Monmouth (5/4) led the conference with nine total all-star selections. Stony Brook (4/3) and Wagner (3/4) landed seven all-NEC picks, followed by Central Connecticut State (3/3) and Sacred Heart (4/2) with six apiece. Robert Morris (1/4) earned five all-star nods, while St. Francis (PA) (1/0) had one recipient.

In just two years, Jones cemented his status as one of the greatest offensive forces in league history. In 2003, Jonesbroke his own NEC single-season rushing record with 1,524 yards, 15 better than his 1,509 yard campaign one year ago. He finished his career as Albany’s all-time leader in rushing yards (3,033) and all-purpose yards (3,639), while ranking third and fourth, respectively, in conference annals. Jones, who is currently sixth among I-AA rushing leaders at 138.5 ypg, ran for 100+ yards in 15 of the last 18 games, including an astounding 788 over his final four outings. With a league-leading 19 touchdowns this eason, the 2002 All-American also moved into second place on the NEC's all-time scoring list with 252 points. With Jones as its workhorse, Albany shattered its own NEC single-season rushing records with 3,215 yards and 292.3 ypg. The Great Danes have led the league in rushing in each of their five years in the conference, including the top-three single-season averages: 292.3 ypg in 2003, 252.3 ypg in 2002 and 215.2 ypg in 2000

One of the hardest hitting linebackers in recent vintage, Sentipal was the centerpiece of Monmouth’s stellar defensive unit. With Sentipal positioned at middle linebacker, the Hawks currently lead the nation in scoring defense (8.5 ppg), rushing defense (64.3 ppg) and total defense (244.3 ypg). Despite missing one game and battling a foot injury for much of the second half of the season, he led the NEC with 57 solo tackles, and ranked third in total stops (105), interceptions (three) and fumble recoveries (three) and fourth in tackles for loss (15.0). A three-time NEC Defensive Player of the Week, Sentipal began to earn acclaim on a national basis when he was added to the 16-player Buck Buchanan Award List in October, representing the top defensive players in all of Division I-AA. He ends his career as a three-time first team all-conference honoree.

Harge produced the most prolific numbers of any freshman runner in league history in 2003, when he established a new NEC single-season rushing record for freshman with 1,082 yards. Harge, who also became the first freshman in conference annals to crack the 1,000-yard milestone, ranked second in the NEC in rushing yardage, averaged 5.7 yards per carry and scored eight touchdowns for the Blue Devils. He led the conference with three NEC Rookie of the Week selections and tied the single-game conference record with 242 rushing yards against Stony Brook on November 8.

Niklos made an immediate impression for the Colonials when he earned the first NEC Rookie of the Week accolade of the 2003 campaign, and seemed to get better as the season wore on. Niklos led the league and established an NEC freshman record with six interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. He also ranked sixth in the conference with 11 passes defended. Currently, he is second in the nation with 0.67 pickoffs per game.