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Bridgewater, NJ — Seventeen former NEC all-stars — including nine players that pocketed All-NEC First Team distinction in 2024 and a trio of major award winners — are projected to have All-NEC-worthy campaigns once again in 2025. 
 
Central Connecticut — last season’s co-champ, recipient of the NEC’s AQ to the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs and the squad that is favored to win-it-all again in 2025 — had a slew of student-athletes land on the Preseason All-NEC Team. 
 
The Blue Devils led the way with eight selections, one more than 2024 NEC co-champion Duquesne, which was picked to finish second in the league’s annual Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Dukes were followed by Empire State squads LIU and Wagner, which had five and four preseason picks, respectively. 
 
Robert Morris and Saint Francis U each produced multiple Preseason All-NEC members with two apiece, while Stonehill had one student-athlete make the cut for the 29-member squad.
 
The Blue Devils led the charge with four offensive players on the Preseason All-NEC Team, two of which have NEC Offensive Player of the Year inked on their respective résumés. In addition to veteran running back Elijah Howard (Knoxville, TN/Baylor School (Virginia Tech), who was pegged the league’s top offensive player in 2024, graduate wide receiver Donovan Wadley (Newark, NJ/Weequahic (Merrimack)), the 2023 NEC Offensive Player of the Year, makes his NEC return and Central Connecticut debut this upcoming season after spending the first three years of his career at Merrimack.
 
Howard ran to a unanimous Preseason All-NEC nod after he led the league with eight rushing scores in 2024, while Wadley flashed his versatility as a triple threat wideout/kick returner by racking up the FCS’s most kickoff return touchdowns (3) and yards per kickoff return (37.9) in 2023, his most recent season in the NEC. 
 
Two of the five offensive linemen on the Preseason All-NEC Team hailed from a Central Connecticut unit that ranked fourth in the FCS after allowing just nine sacks during the 13-game slate. All-NEC first teamer Isaiah DeLoatch (Shelton, CT/Shelton) joined linemate Precious Ekeh (Elmont, NY/Elmont Memorial) on the list. 
 
Coming off an All-NEC Second Team campaign that saw him log the second-most kick return yards, CCSU graduate student Jadon Turner (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit (Stony Brook)) was unanimously selected to the Preseason All-NEC Team as the return specialist.
 
In addition, Duquesne veteran wide receiver Joey Isabella (Knoxville, TN/Baylor School (Virginia Tech)) joined Howard and Turner as a unanimous Preseason All-NEC pick.
 
Filling the quarterback slot on the Preseason All-NEC Team was LIU redshirt junior Ethan Greenwood (Baldwin, NY/Kellenberg (The Citadel)). Throwing for six touchdowns, the Sharks’ signal caller, who piloted his team to wins in four of their final six outings, had even more weapons in his arsenal as he rushed for five scores and caught for two more. Greenwood’s rushing game — which featured 913 total yards for an average of 76.1 per contest — was the third-best among FCS quarterbacks last season.
 
Both Greenwood and Wadley were also recognized as Stats Perform Preseason All-Americans last month. 
 
Highlighting the list of defensive players was Central Connecticut redshirt sophomore defensive back Christopher Jean (Rochester, NY/Rochester). The Rochester, NY native wreaked havoc for a team that forced the second-most miscues in the FCS a year ago with 16 picks, 13 fumbles forced and 16 fumble recoveries. Jean hit his stride at the end of the season, a stretch that saw the Blue Devils reel off four-straight wins to earn the league’s AQ to the FCS Playoffs and in the process, he earned himself NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors after combining for one forced fumble, a pair of fumble recoveries, 11 tackles and three picks in those games.
 
Defensively, the Dukes landed a league-leading four standouts on the Preseason All-NEC Team. All four of those selections were placed on all-conference squads at season’s end in 2024, including graduate defensive lineman A.J. Ackerman (Elizabeth, PA/Elizabeth Forward), junior defensive lineman Jack Dunkley (Penndel, PA/Neshaminy) and redshirt senior defensive back Antonio Epps (Liberty Borough, PA/South Allegheny), who each walked away with First Team recognition.
  
About The Northeast Conference
Now entering its 45th season, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of ten institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States including New York (#1), Chicago (#3), Boston (#9). Hartford/New Haven (#32) and Syracuse (#88). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 25 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 16 different NCAA Championships. NEC full member institutions include Central Connecticut, Chicago State, FDU, Le Moyne, LIU, Mercyhurst, New Haven, Saint Francis U, Stonehill and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website (www.northeastconference.org) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, all @NECsports.