Football celebrates 2019 at annual Awards Banquet
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University football team celebrated the 2019 season on Saturday night with its annual Football Awards Banquet in the Multipurpose Athletic Center.
Bryant finished the year with a 4-8 overall record and a 3-4 mark in the Northeast Conference. The Bulldogs won four of their final seven games, including each of its last two against Duquesne and Wagner.
Bulldog Award – Jesse Nemerowicz
Nemerowicz wrapped up a historic career in 2019, posting 95 tackles, two sacks, 6.0 TFLs and an interception. He became Bryant's all-time leading tackler during the season, becoming the first player in school history to record 300+ career tackles. Nemerowicz will leave Bryant as one of the greatest defensive players in school history.
Offensive Player of the Year – Andrew Jones and Daniel Adeboboye
Jones finished his career by serving as the starting center in each of the last 34 games. He helped the Black and Gold post six games of 100+ rushing yards.
Adeboboye was Bryant's top running back in 2019, rushing for 605 yards and five touchdowns on 138 carries. He averaged 67.2 yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry. Adeboboye posted his first-career 100-yard game against Long Island, rushing for 145 yards and a TD on 20 carries.
Defensive Player of the Year – Robert Brown
Brown put together one of the best defensive seasons in program history this fall, becoming just the third different player to post 100+ tackles in a single season. He finished the year with 108, tied for second in a single season, 1.0 sack, 7.5 TFLs, 3 FFs and 1 INT. Brown finished the season with five games of 10+ tackles and made 58 tackles over the final four weeks. He finished with 227 career tackles.
Offensive Lineman of the Year – Kyle Mann
Mann started each of the final 34 games of his career at right guard for the Black and Gold. He helped the Black and Gold post six games of 100+ rushing yards.
Defensive Lineman of the Year – Tomas Wright
Wright wrapped up a magical career in 2019, finishing with a career-high 71 tackles, 9.0 sacks and 16.5 TFLs. Wright led all NEC defensive lineman in tackles and became Bryant's all-time leader in career sacks. He will graduate with 30.5 sacks, becoming just the third player in NEC history to post 30+ career sacks. Wright had three games in which he posted multiple sacks.
Special Teams Player of the Year – Luke Samperi
Samperi enjoyed an outstanding season, tying the single-season program record with 11 field goals. He finished the year 11-of-14 in field goals and 20-of-22 in PATs on the year, leading the Black and Gold with 53 points. Samperi became just the second kicker in school history to kick a 50-yard field goal, made multiple field goals three times and was a perfect 6-for-6 from inside 40.
Playmaker of the Year Award – Andre Brackett
Brackett was one of the most explosive players on the field for the Black and Gold this year. He posted the two longest plays of the year, a 95-yard kick return for a score and a 50-yard interception return. Brackett finished the year with 56 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, three interceptions and six pass breakups. He made a career-high 15 tackles against Duquesne, the most by a defensive back in school history. Brackett also averaged 31.5 yards per kick return.
Grit Award – Ricardo Martinez
Martinez earns the first Grit Award after earning his way into the starting lineup. He became one of Bryant's starting safeties by season end, finishing the year with 38 tackles. Martinez posted 28 tackles over the final three weeks, including 14 against Duquesne.
Most Improved Players of the Year – Harrison Easton and Jack Agnew
Easton started the year as a backup QB but ended the year as one of Bryant's top running backs. He rushed for 232 yards and two TDs on 62 carries. Easton posted a season-high 76 yards on 17 carries against Sacred Heart.
Agnew became one of the Bryant's starting defenders during the season, finishing with 49 tackles, 2.0 TFLs and a forced fumble. He collected a season-high seven tackles against Duquesne.
Scout Team Player of the Year – Jack Cusson and Chidi Nna
Given to the individuals that have done everything they can throughout the week to help the team, these two players were outstanding role models for their fellow teammates. They were instrumental in preparing the Bulldogs for Saturday's opponent.
Character Award – Eulogio Portugal, Richard Ukele and Hayden Panagos
These two seniors exemplified everything that it means to be a Bulldog. They were leaders on and off the field, in the classroom and in the community. They were looked at as leaders and had all the values of a Bryant University student.
Portugal was one of Bryant's team captains and finished the year with 50 tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception. Ukele posted 34 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 3.0 TFLs and provided the deciding score with an interception return for a TD against Wagner. Panagos posted eight catches for 89 yards.
Academic Awards – Gavin Rowley, Andrew Schultz, Hayden Panagos
Awarded to those players that excel in the classroom and on the football field, the academic awards were given to the student-athletes that represented all that it means to be exactly that. Rowley owns a 3.90 GPA, Panagos has a 3.73 and Schultz owns a 3.57.
Captains Awards – Robert Brown, Eulogio Portugal, Alex Rasmussen, Vincent Nisivoccia, Finn Littlefield
Bryant's chosen leaders on and off the field, these two were the backbone of Bryant's football team this year. They were leaders in every sense of the word.