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NEC Offensive Player of the Week: Carson Haggard, Robert Morris
NEC Defensive Player of the Week: Wayne Coleman, Central Connecticut
NEC Special Teams Player of the Week: Gabriel Wiggins, Central Connecticut
NEC Rookie of the Week: Gabriel Wiggins, Central Connecticut
Previous NEC Releases: September 28 |
September 21 |
September 14 |
September 7 |
August 31 |
Preseason Poll Release |
Streaming/TV Package Release
NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Carson Haggard, Robert Morris
Sophomore, Quarterback, 6-0, 195 lbs., Miami, FL/Gulliver Prep (Abilene Christian)
Week 5 Stats: 20-28 completions, 71.4 passing completion percentage, 296 passing yards, 4 passing touchdowns, 1 interception, go-ahead touchdown following a 72-yard drive with 1:25 left in regulation
Haggard’s clutch — and career — performance against visiting Norfolk State on Saturday piloted the sophomore quarterback to his second NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Offensive Player of the Week honor in as many weeks. Throwing for a career-high 296 yards and four touchdowns, the Floridian, who completed a season-best 71.4 percent of his passes, led the Colonials to the thrilling 33-31 victory over the Spartans with a late game-winning touchdown pass. Throwing for two touchdowns in the opening quarter, Haggard helped put Robert Morris up by a 27-10 count with 11:34 left in the third with his second strike of the game to redshirt sophomore Jaqai Carter, a 22-yard pass that capped a seven-play, 71-yard drive. He then went on to stop the bleeding on a 21-0 Spartans’ run that put the visitors up by a 31-27 count by delivering a 10-yard strike to Carter with 1:25 remaining. During that game-clinching run, which featured five plays over a 1:56 stretch, Haggard accounted for 63 of the Colonials’ 72 yards, all of which came through the air. Surpassing 1,000 passing yards on the season following Saturday’s big outing, Haggard leads the circuit with 12 touchdown passes and a 144.0 passing efficiency, while his 213.6 yards per game and 1,068 total yards are both good for second in the conference. He is the first Colonial to earn NEC Offensive Player of the Week in consecutive weeks since Myles Russ did so in the 2010 campaign.
NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Wayne Coleman, Central Connecticut
Defensive Lineman, Senior, 6-1, 245 lbs., Mount Vernon, NY/Archbishop Stepniac
Week 5 Stats: 8 tackles (2 solo), 1.5 tackles-for-loss (7 yards), 1.0 sack (6 yards), 2 quarterback hurries
A product of Mount Vernon, NY, Coleman anchored a Central Connecticut defense that delivered a dominant effort in the Blue Devils’ league opener, a commanding 45-14 win over visiting Wagner on Saturday. The veteran defensive lineman registered career-best numbers with eight tackles, two quarterback hurries, 1.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.0 sack for the two-time defending league champion, which limited the Seahawks to 45 rushing yards and just one offensive score. His lone sack of the contest pushed the Seahawks back six yards to force a 3rd and 16 on Wagner’s own 28-yard line in the second quarter. Following an incomplete pass, Wagner was forced to punt, and on the ensuing drive, the Blue Devils stretched their advantage to 35-7 on a touchdown from rookie wideout Gabriel Wiggins. Coleman enters the week ranked eighth in the NEC in tackles-for-loss per game (0.88) and seventh in sacks per game (0.50).
NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Gabriel Wiggins, Central Connecticut
Running Back, Freshman, 5-11, 190 lbs., Washington, D.C./Phelps ACE
Week 5 Stats: 2 kickoff returns, 117 kickoff return yards, returned opening kickoff 97 yards for a TD
Wiggins set the tone for Central Connecticut in the Blue Devils’ home and league opener against Wagner on Saturday. The first-year running back and Washington, D.C. native returned the game’s opening kickoff nearly the entire length of the field, covering 97 yards untouched to the end zone to help give Central Connecticut an early 7-0 lead in an eventual 45-14 triumph. On the afternoon, Wiggins compiled 117 yards on two kickoff returns. In four games this season, he has accumulated 256 kickoff return yards to rank second on the circuit, while his 28.4 yards per kickoff return marks the best average in the league. In addition, Wiggins is the only NEC player this season to return a kickoff for a touchdown. He is the first Blue Devil this season to take home NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Special Teams Player of the Week accolades.
NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Gabriel Wiggins, Central Connecticut
Running Back, Freshman, 5-11, 190 lbs., Washington, D.C./Phelps ACE
Week 5 Stats: 2 receptions, 48 receiving yards, 1 touchdown reception, 2 kickoff returns, 117 kickoff return yards, returned opening kickoff 97 yards for a TD
Wiggins became the first player in the conference this season to be named both the NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Rookie of the Week and the NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Special Teams Player of the Week on the same day, and he is also the first baller this year to take home multiple awards from the league on the same day. The first-year running back had a sensational outing in Central Connecticut’s convincing 45-14 home- and league-opening win against Wagner on Saturday. Compiling 117 yards on a pair of kickoff returns, including a 97-yard return for a touchdown on the game’s opening kickoff, Wiggins added 48 receiving yards and a touchdown reception on a pair of receptions for the two-time defending league champions in their 31-point win. The Washington, D.C. native’s second score of the game came with 9:48 left in the second quarter on an 18-yard catch from fifth-year quarterback Brett Griffis that made it a commanding 35-7 advantage for the home team. With Wiggins’ recent honor, his second of the season, Central Connecticut has had an NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Rookie of the Week recipient in four of six weeks this season.
#NECFB PRIME PERFORMERS (Week Five)
Wayne Coleman, CCSU (DL, Sr)
Coleman posted season-best totals in tackles (8), tackles-for-loss (1.5) and quarterback hurries (2) to lead defending league champion Central Connecticut to a 45-14 win over visiting Wagner in its NEC debut. His lone sack of the game pushed the Seahawks back six yards to force a 3rd and 16 on Wagner’s own 28-yard line in the second quarter. Coleman was also named the NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Defensive Player of the Week.
Brett Griffis, CCSU (QB, 5th-Yr)
Completing 10-of-16 passes for 180 yards while adding 62 rushing yards on nine carries, Griffis accounted for the Blue Devils’ final four touchdowns in Saturday’s 45-14 league-opening win over Wagner. Recording three through the air and one on the ground against the Seahawks, the fifth-year quarterback has had a hand in 10 touchdowns (8 TD passes, 2 TD rushes) for Central Connecticut this season.
Adrian Bowers, CSU (LB, Gr)
Bowers had a game at No. 4 Tarleton State on Saturday. Leading all NEC defenders last week with 13 tackles, including four solo stops, the graduate linebacker’s lone tackle-for-loss came on a 4th and goal on the Cougars’ one-yard line that prevented the Texans from scoring on their opening drive.
Kymari Gray, CSU (WR, 5th-Yr)
Gray caught seven balls for a game-high 130 yards in Chicago State’s game at No. 4 Tarleton State on Saturday. The fifth-year wide receiver registered his league-leading fifth touchdown catch in the defeat after he hauled in a 38-yard pass from rookie quarterback Ashton Pannell in the fourth quarter.
Braydon Beckwith, MU (DB, Jr)
Beckwith posted eight solo and three assisted stops to lead all tacklers in Mercyhurst’s NEC debut at LIU on Saturday. Adding 2.0 tackles-for-loss to push the Sharks back a total of 10 yards, the junior defensive back also had two forced fumbles.
Alex Gevaudan, MU (QB, Jr)
In Mercyhurst’s NEC debut at LIU, Gevaudan, a junior signal caller, threw for 237 yards and a trio of touchdowns after he completed 25-of-36 passes. He helped fuel a late Lakers’ comeback bid with consecutive 8-yard touchdown passes inside the final 8:49 in the 27-24 defeat.
Frederick Borkey, NHVN (LB, Jr)
Borkey made nine stops, eight of which were solo, in New Haven’s tilt at No. 11 Austin Peay on Saturday. Adding 1.0 tackle-for-loss, the junior linebacker also had a fumble recovery on the Chargers’ one-yard line that prevented a potential Governors’ score.
Niko Boyce, NHVN (QB, So)
In his first start, Boyce threw for 227 yards and a pair of touchdowns after completing 25-of-39 passes at Austin Peay on Saturday. The sophomore quarterback connected with sophomore wide receiver Tommy Troy for touchdowns on two occasions against the 11th-ranked team in the nation.
Jaqai Carter, RMU (WR, R-So)
Carter was quarterback Carson Haggard’s most targeted receiver in Saturday’s thrilling 33-31 home win over Norfolk State on Saturday. Hauling in nine passes for a career-high 171 yards, the most by an NEC receiver in a game this season, the redshirt sophomore wide receiver caught a career-best three touchdowns, including the game-winning score with 1:25 remaining in regulation.
Amanuel Dickson, RMU (LB, Jr)
Dickson recorded a game-high 11 tackles, including seven solo stops, in Robert Morris’ thrilling 33-31 non-conference win over Norfolk State in Moon Township, PA on Saturday. The junior linebacker also contributed one pass breakup on the afternoon.
Carson Haggard, RMU (QB, So)
Haggard steered Robert Morris down field for a 72-yard, five-play drive that was capped by the go-ahead score, a 10-yard pass to redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jaqai Carter, with 1:25 left to play against Norfolk State. The sophomore quarterback threw for a career-high 296 yards and four touchdowns with 20 completions and a 71.4 passing completion percentage in the 33-31 home victory. Haggard also took home NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Shamar Williams, WAG (DB, Sr)
Williams posted a game-best 10 tackles — all solo — in Wagner’s game at Central Connecticut on Saturday. Posting double figures in stops for the second-straight outing, the senior defensive back added one pass breakup.
#NECFB SLATE ROUTES (AROUND THE LEAGUE IN 9 SENTENCES):
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT: Defeating Wagner, 45-14, Central Connecticut extended its home winning streak against NEC opponents to eight games, a rally that began with a 38-20 win over Mercyhurst on Oct. 12, 2024.
CHICAGO STATE: Grad student Kymari Gray became the first NEC receiver to eclipse the century mark in receiving yards in multiple games after catching for 130 at Tarleton State and 111 vs. Kentucky Christian.
DUQUESNE: Hosting LIU in its first NEC game of 2026 this Saturday, the Dukes look to make it four-straight wins in conference openers in a rally that dates back to the 2023 campaign.
LIU: Defeating Mercyhurst on Saturday, LIU opened NEC play with a victory for the first time since the abbreviated 2020-21 season, when it beat Bryant by a 24-19 final on March 7.
MERCYHURST: Mercyhurst has a bye for Week 6 before the Lakers return to action on October 17 looking to pick up their first NEC win of the season against Central Connecticut.
NEW HAVEN: Two of the league’s top four tacklers hail from New Haven in junior linebacker Frederick Borkey (8.6 tackles per game) and senior linemate Ricky Encarnacion (8.6).
ROBERT MORRIS: Senior corner back Tahseen Howard put Robert Morris in the spotlight twhen his 100-yard return on a missed Norfolk State field goal landed the No. 8 spot on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top-10.
STONEHILL: Stonehill comes off a bye week and returns to the gridiron for its final non-conference game of the 2026 campaign, a road tilt at Sacred Heart on Saturday.
WAGNER: Junior defensive back Julio Tatis is the only FCS player this season with multiple pick-6s this season as he has turned the trick in each of the Seahawks’ two league games vs. Robert Morris and CCSU.
#NECFB EXTRA POINTS: