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NEC Offensive Player of the Week: Taj Butts, Duquesne
NEC Defensive Player of the Week: Antonio Epps, Duquesne
NEC Special Teams Player of the Week: Michael Berarducci, Duquesne
NEC Rookie of the Week: Nicholas Romero, Wagner

Previous NEC Releases: Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1 | Preseason Poll Release 

NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Taj Butts, Duquesne
Running Back, Redshirt-Senior, 5-11, 205 lbs., St. Louis, MO/De Smet (Missouri)
Week 12 Stats: 254 rushing yards, 14 rushes, 3 rushing touchdowns, 18.1 yard per rush
Butts delivered one of the NEC’s most explosive outings in recent history, and the timing could not have been better for Duquesne. The veteran powered the Dukes’ offense to a 38-33 win in a back-and-forth slugfest against Central Connecticut, which entered the contest with a perfect 5-0 mark against NEC foes. With the win, Duquesne remains in the race for a share of the NEC regular season title and the league’s AQ to the NCAA FCS Playoffs. A native of St. Louis, Butts racked up a career-high 254 rushing yards — the seventh most by an FCS running back this year — and three rushing touchdowns on just 14 carries for an exceptional 18.1 yard-per-rush average. He found the end zone on runs of 29, 57 and 59 yards to become the first Duke to eclipse the 250-rushing yard mark since 2003 and the first player in the conference this year to register multiple 50-yard runs in the same game this season. In addition, he compiled the most rushing yards by an NEC player since Central Connecticut’s Elijah Howard ran for 257 vs. Delaware State on Dec. 7, 2023. Butts’ 59-yard run with 3:19 left to play ultimately sealed the win just two plays after the Blue Devils took a lead. On the season, Butts has four rushing scores and 546 rushing yards. He joins quarterback Tyler Riddell and fellow linemate Ness Davis as NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Offensive Player of the Week honorees from Duquesne. Butts' performance also garnered him national recognition, as he was pegged the Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week.

NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Antonio Epps, Duquesne
Defensive Back, Redshirt-Senior, 5-10, 195 lbs., Liberty Borough, PA/South Allegheny
Week 12 Stats: 12 tackles (9 solo), 1 interception, 4 interception return yards, 1 pass breakup
Epps had a career day in a huge game that kept Duquesne in contention for a share of the league’s regular season title and the NEC’s AQ to the NCAA FCS Playoffs. The Liberty Borough, PA native recorded a career-high 12 tackles, including nine solo stops, but those marks were overshadowed by his end-of-game heroics that sealed the Dukes’ 38-33 win over then-undefeated Central Connecticut. With 36 seconds left, the redshirt senior defensive back recorded an end-zone interception on the potential go-ahead score to hold off a Blue Devis’ squad that scored on each of their previous two drives. The pick was the second of Epps’ career. In addition, his 12 stops were tied for the most by a Duke in a game this season. This is the first career weekly award for Epps, a 2024 All-NEC first teamer, and the third NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Defensive Player of the Week award for Duquesne this season.

NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Michael Berarducci, Duquesne
Punter, Redshirt-Senior, 5-10, 200 lbs., Allison Park, PA/St. Augustine
Week 12 Stats: 6 punts, 304 punt yards (67-yard long), 50.7 yards per punt, 4 inside-20, 4 50+ yard punts
Berarducci turned in one of the top punting performances in the NEC this season in Duquesne’s pivotal 38-33 win over then-undefeated Central Connecticut on Saturday. On six punts, the redshirt senior averaged 50.7 yards per boot to consistently flip field position in the back-and-forth slugfest. Included in his afternoon was a 67-yard blast — a punt that is tied for the fifth-longest in Duquesne history and is currently the fifth-longest in the NEC this season. Placing four punts inside the 20-yard line, Berarducci also delivered three punts over 60 yards with each of his four attempts going for more than 50 yards. With nine punts 50-yarders this season, the Allison Park, PA native tops the league’s charts with 42.5 yards per punt this season. He is the second Duke this season to garner the award, joining kick returner Joel Kpassou.

NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Nicholas Romero, Wagner
Kicker, Freshman, 5-9, 165 lbs., Pembroke Pines, FL/St. Thomas Aquinas
Week 12 Stats: 2-2 FG (40, 41 yards), 2-2 PAT
Romero became the second first-year player to repeat as NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Rookie of the Week this season, joining Duquesne’s Ryan Petras. The true freshman contributed eight points to Wagner’s count on Saturday as the Seahawks defeated visiting Stonehill by a 20-14 final for their fourth-straight win. That rally marks the program’s longest since winning six-in-a-row in a banner-raising 2012 campaign. In addition, with the win, Wagner remains in contention for a share of the 2025 NEC regular season title. Converting on the extra point on Jordan Johnson’s pick-6, the first score of the game, Romero pushed the Seahawks’ lead to 10-0 before the end of the opening quarter with a 40-yard field goal. Later in the game, he pushed the advantage to 13 with a 41-yarder eight seconds into the final period. The Pembroke Pines, FL has been on point as of late, going a perfect 20-for-20 in his last kick attempts with eight successful field goals and 12 PAT conversions. On the season, he ranks third in the FCS in field goal percentage (.923) while his 12 made field goals and 1.1 field goal per game average are both good for first in the NEC.


#NECFB PRIME PERFORMERS (Week 12)

Elijah Howard, CCSU (RB, Sr)
The league’s top rusher tacked on another 100-yard performance in Central Connecticut’s first defeat of the NEC slate, a 38-33 setback at Duquesne on Saturday. The senior, who ran for 108 yards and a touchdown, leads the conference with 915 rushing yards and 91.5 rushing yards per game, while his nine touchdown runs are good for second on the circuit. 
 
Brady Olson, CCSU (QB, Sr)
Olson’s 423 yards through the air at Duquesne were the 15th-most by an FCS quarterback this season, and the most by an NEC signal caller since Sacred Heart’s Kevin Duke recorded 429 against Bryant on Nov. 4, 2017. The grad student threw for four touchdowns for the second time this season to keep the Blue Devils within striking reach in a thrilling 38-33 defeat on Saturday.
 
Taj Butts, DUQ (RB, R-Sr)
Butts powered Duquesne’s offense to a pivotal 38-33 win over then-undefeated Central Connecticut on Saturday after he delivered one of the most impressive outings by an NEC running back in recent years. Averaging 18.1 yards per rush on just 14 carries, the redshirt senior racked up 254 yards — the most by an NEC player since 2023 — and delivered the deciding score just two plays after the Blue Devils pulled ahead with his third touchdown run with 3:19 left to play. Butts was also named the NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Offensive Player of the Week.
 
Antonio Epps, DUQ (DB, R-Sr)
Epps sealed what was arguably Duquesne’s biggest win of the season on Saturday when he came away with an end-zone interception and prevented a Central Connecticut go-ahead score with 36 seconds left to play. The redshirt senior defensive back’s second career pick capped a dominant day that featured 12 tackles. Epps also took home NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Defensive Player of the Week distinction.
 
Tyler Riddell, DUQ (QB, Gr)
For the fifth time this season, Riddell threw for three-or-more touchdowns on Saturday as his strikes of 32, 37 and four yards kept Duquesne’s hopes of an NEC title alive with a 38-33 win over then-undefeated Central Connecticut. The Floridian had an efficient outing, completing 14-of-22 passes for 182 yards through the air.
 
Scoop Gardner, Jr., LIU (DT, So)
Gardner contributed four tackles, one sack, a forced fumble and a career-high 3.5 tackles-for-loss to an LIU defense that has held each of its past three opponents to 11 points or fewer on Saturday. The sophomore defensive tackle pushed the Red Flash back a total of 21 yards in the 10-3 victory.
 
Marshall Washington, Jr., LIU (DB, So)
Washington’s first career pick-6 — a 36-yard return — broke a 3-3 tie at Saint Francis and propelled LIU to its fourth win in the past five games. The sophomore defensive back, who has a pair of interceptions on the season, added four tackles against the Red Flash. 
 
Brian Trobel, MU (RB, Sr)
Trobel helped keep Mercyhurst in contention for a share of the NEC regular season title on Saturday. Racking up a career-high 150 rushing yards on 16 carries, he found the end zone twice inside the final 4:16 of the third quarter to break open a 6-6 deadlock and propel the Lakers to the 27-13 home win.
 
Geno Calgaro, SFU (LB, So)
The league’s leading tackler put up big numbers once again, delivering 14 tackles in a tough defensive battle that kept LIU without an offensive touchdown on Saturday. Coming one stop shy of his career high while posting a personal-best 12 solo tackles, the sophomore linebacker added 1.5 tackles-for-loss and one quarterback hurry in the 10-3 setback. 
 
Sidoine Djimbou, STO (S, Jr)
In Stonehill’s single-possession defeat at Wagner on Saturday, Djimbou recorded a game- and career-high 12 tackles. With eight solo stops, the safety and Maryland product added three pass breakups, also a career-best mark for the junior.
 
Andre Hines, Jr., WC (RB, Gr)
For the first time in his career, Hines strung together back-to-back 100-yard rushing games to lead Wagner to its fourth-straight win on Saturday. The graduate running back racked up a season-best 139 yards on 26 carries and helped give the Seahawks a 10-point cushion in the eventual 20-14 victory with a nine-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
 
Jordan Johnson, WC (LB, Sr)
Johnson opened the scoring with a pick-6 — the first of his career— to help Wagner go up 10-0 in a wire-to-wire, 20-14 win over visiting Stonehill on Saturday. The senior linebacker added three tackles and 0.5 tackles-for-loss in the Skyhawks fourth-straight triumph.

  
AROUND THE NEC IN 8 SENTENCES

CENTRAL CONNECTICUT: Despite suffering their first loss against a conference foe on Saturday at Duquesne, the Blue Devils can win the league title outright and secure the NEC’s AQ to the NCAA FCS Playoffs with a win vs. Mercyhurst.

DUQUESNE: With Saturday's win over visiting Central Connecticut — their eighth-straight against an NEC foe at Rooney Field — the Dukes remain in contention for a share of the league’s regular season title and can clinch the NEC's AQ to the FCS Playoffs with a win at Robert Morris and a Blue Devils' loss to Mercyhurst.

LIU: LIU has held each of its past five opponents — all NEC foes — to 16 points or fewer and has gone 4-1 during that stretch.

MERCYHURST: In its first season carrying a full NEC slate, Mercyhurst remains in contention of winning a share of the regular-season title and can turn the trick with a win at Central Connecticut on Saturday. 

NEW HAVEN: Combining for nine touchdown catches with five and four, respectively, senior Kevonne Wilder (71.7 receiving yards per game) and classmate Joshua Tracey (55.9) are first and third, respectively, in receiving yards per game.

ROBERT MORRIS: Running for his fifth touchdown against Mercyhurst on Saturday, junior Ethan Shine has averaged 104.3 rushing yards per game in his past four outings.

SAINT FRANCIS: Each of the Red Flash’s past four defeats — all against NEC foes —have been decided by 10 points or fewer.

STONEHILL: Stonehill held Wagner to 56 receiving yards in Saturday’s 20-14 defeat.

WAGNER: A win on Saturday at LIU coupled with a Central Connecticut loss to Mercyhurst would secure a share of the NEC’s regular season title for the first time since 2014, and the third time in program history.


2025 NEC FOOTBALL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS:

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sept. 1: AJ Duffy (New Haven)
Sept. 8: Luca Stanzani (LIU)
Sept. 15: AJ Duffy (New Haven)
Sept. 22: Elijah Howard (Central Connecticut)
Sept. 29: Tyler Riddell (Duquesne)
Oct. 6: Brady Olson (Central Connecticut)
Oct. 13: Brian Trobel (Mercyhurst)
Oct. 20: Ness Davis (Duquesne)
Oct. 27: Luca Stanzani (LIU)
Nov. 3: Ethan Shine (Robert Morris)
Nov. 10: Elijah Howard (Central Connecticut) & AJ Duffy (New Haven)
Nov. 17: Taj Butts (Duquesne)
Nov. 24: 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sept. 1: Geno Calgaro (Saint Francis)
Sept. 8: Rafael Fasolino (LIU)
Sept. 15: Christopher Jean (Central Connecticut) & Liam Godwin (New Haven)
Sept. 22: Christopher Jean (Central Connecticut)
Sept. 29: Charles Battaglia (Stonehill)
Oct. 6: Tyson Meiguez (Duquesne)
Oct. 13: Malachi Wright (Central Connecticut)
Oct. 20: Avery Morris (Duquesne)
Oct. 27: Trey Watkins (LIU)
Nov. 3: Jack Stoll (Central Connecticut)
Nov. 10: Trey Watkins (LIU)
Nov. 17: Antonio Epps (Duquesne)
Nov. 24: 

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sept. 1: Will Lynch (LIU) & Jayson Jenkins (Robert Morris)
Sept. 8: Jayson Jenkins (Robert Morris)
Sept. 15: Brayden Hall (Central Connecticut)
Sept. 22: Logan Chenette (Stonehill)
Sept. 29: Jadon Turner (Central Connecticut)
Oct. 6: Jack Hennessey (Central Connecticut)
Oct. 13: Joel Kpassou (Duquesne)
Oct. 20: Matt Clark (Duquesne)
Oct. 27: Domenic Scalese (Stonehill)
Nov. 3: Nicholas Romero (Wagner)
Nov. 10: Mac Plummer (Saint Francis)
Nov. 17: Michael Berarducci (Duquesne)
Nov. 24: 

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Sept. 1: Jack Hennessey (Central Connecticut)
Sept. 8: Jameir Gamble (Mercyhurst)
Sept. 15: Naquan Johnson (LIU)
Sept. 22: Alim Parks, Jr. (Wagner)
Sept. 29: DJ Maultsby (Saint Francis)
Oct. 6: Ryan Petras (Duquesne)
Oct. 13: Ryan Petras (Duquesne)
Oct. 20: Zach Bonini (Central Connecticut)
Oct. 27: Jayden Simpson (LIU)
Nov. 3: Nicholas Romero (Wagner)
Nov. 10: Jaqai Carter (Robert Morris)
Nov. 17: Nicholas Romero (Wagner)
Nov. 24: