NJAC All-Conference Team
PITMAN, NJ – Thirteen Rowan University football players were selected to the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) All-Conference Football Team.
Quarterback Frank Wilczynski (sr. Pine Hill, NJ/Overbrook), superback Ryan Leafey (sr. Westville, NJ/Deptford) and offensive tackle Ken Siano (sr. Port Reading, NJ/Woodbridge) were named to the first team offense. Linebacker Andrew Yezzi (sr. Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Reg.), cornerback Malcolm Dock (sr. Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg) and safety Mike Barone (sr. Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) were chosen to the first team defense.
The Profs on the second team offense included center Tommy Menendez (sr. Westwood, NJ/Westwood Reg.) and guard Josh Weiss (sr. Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro). Defensive end Matt Hoffman (jr. Burlington, NJ/Burlington Twp.) and linebacker Kevin Taylor (sr. Westwood, NJ/Westwood Reg.) were second team defense selections. Safety Steve Wall (sr. Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) earned second team special teams honors as a punt returner. Tight end Kevin DelleDonne (so. Summit, NJ/Summit) and linebacker Jerome Gordon (jr. Pemberton, NJ/Pemberton Twp.) earned All-Conference honorable mention.
Wilczynski led Rowan with 1,456 yards passing and 11 touchdowns with 117 completions in 207 attempts. He was also the Profs top rusher with 793 yards and 15 touchdowns on 91 carries. Wilczynski is first in the NJAC in scoring (10.0), second in rushing (88.1) and total offense (249.9), fourth in pass efficiency (128.3), seventh in passing yards per game (161.8) and ninth in all-purpose yards (88.1). He collected NJAC Player of the Week honors (Oct. 10). Wilczynski was an All-Conference second team offense selection in 2008.
Leafey compiled 676 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 123 attempts. He added seven receptions for 103 yards and one touchdown. In the conference, he is seventh in rushing (67.6), 13th in all-purpose yards (77.9) and 17th in total offense (67.6). He is tied for 11th in scoring (5.4). This is Leafey’s first All-Conference honor.
Siano, Menendez and Weiss anchored an offense line that only allowed eight sacks this season, which is second in the NJAC. Rowan is first in scoring (38.9) and rushing (239.5) and second in total offense (408.7). In 2008, Siano received All-Conference first team offense honors, Weiss was named to the second team and Menendez earned honorable mention.
Yezzi led the team with 78 tackles (32 solo, 46 assisted) and 18.0 tackles for a loss (-78 yards). He was second with 5.5 sacks (-47 yards) and three interceptions. In the conference, Yezzi is second in tackles for a loss (18.0) and forced fumbles (3). He ranks fifth in tackles (8.7), seventh in sacks (5.5), ninth in interceptions (3) and 11th in passes defended (0.78). Yezzi was named the NJAC Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 14). He was chosen to the All-Conference first team defense in 2008 and was selected to the second team in 2007.
Dock finished the season with 16 tackles (10 solo, six assisted), two tackles for a loss (-9 yards), one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Barone had 33 tackles (16 solo, 17 assisted), six pass breakups, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one tackle for a loss (-4 yards). He is tied for fourth in the conference in interceptions (4) and passes defended (1.0). Barone earned NJAC Defensive Player of the Week honors (Oct. 3). Dock and Barone were part of a secondary that ranks first in the NJAC in pass defense (127.1), pass defense efficiency (81.8) and interceptions (16). This is Dock’s first All-Conference honor, while Barone was named to the second team defense last season.
Hoffman registered 42 tackles (20 solo, 22 assisted), 12.0 tackles for a loss (-49 yards), 6.5 sacks (-37 yards) and blocked one punt. In the conference, he is sixth in sacks (6.5) and ninth in tackles for a loss (12.0). Last year, Hoffman earned All-Conference honorable mention.
Taylor was third on the team with 47 tackles (23 solo, 24 assisted). He also posted three tackles for a loss (-11 yards), one sack (-4 yards), two pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Taylor is sixth in the NJAC in forced fumbles (2) and 25th in tackles (5.9). This is his second straight season on the All-Conference second team defense.
Wall is making his second consecutive appearance on the All-Conference second team. He racked up 254 yards on 30 punt returns. His 8.5 punt return average ranks third in the conference.
DelleDonne was Rowan’s leading receiver with 250 yards and three touchdowns on 20 receptions. He is 27th in the NJAC with 27.8 receiving yards per game. Gordon was second on the squad with 48 tackles (25 solo, 23 assisted). He contributed with 6.5 tackles for a loss (-28 yards), one sack (-10 yards), three forced fumbles, one blocked kick and one interception. He is tied for third in the conference in forced fumbles (3). This is the first All-Conference selection for DelleDonne and Gordon.
Rowan ended the season with a 7-3 overall record and a 6-3 NJAC mark.