Bryant Football celebrates 2021 season

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- The Bryant University football team celebrated its 2021 season and its senior class during its annual banquet on Saturday night in Bello. 

Bryant finished the 2021 season 7-4 overall and 5-2 in the Northeast Conference. It marked the first time since 2014 that Bryant had won as many as seven games and the 5-2 finish in the NEC is its best in program history. In addition, Bryant had nine players earn All-NEC honors, including one that earned NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year laurels. The Black and Gold also finished 4-0 at home, their first perfect home record as a Division I program. 

Ryan Saddler took home the Bulldog Award, the top honor in the program.  After battling an injury all spring, Saddler returned to the field this fall and was determined to win. He posted 91.0 tackles, seventh-most in a single season, 1.0 sack, 6.0 TFLs, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He was twice named the NEC Defensive Player of the Week, earned First Team All-NEC honors and was named to the All-New England team.

Zevi Eckhaus took home Offensive Player of the Year honors following a record-setting season that saw him finish fourth in the FCS Jerry Rice Award voting. Eckhaus posted a 7-3 record as a starter and threw for nearly 2,400 yards, 21 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Named the NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year, First Team All-NEC and a finalist for the FCS Jerry Rice Award, Eckhaus had four 300-yard passing games and had multiple TD passes in each of the final eight games of the year.

Joe Andreessen was named the Defensive Player of the Year after another stellar season in the middle of Bryant's defense.  After missing the final two games of the spring, Andreessen came back with a vengeance. He finished with 80 tackles, 8.0 TFLs and a league-high three interceptions on his way to a second-straight All-NEC First Team nod. He had 7.0 plus tackles in seven of 11 games and intercepted two passes at Wagner.

2021 Award Winners
Academic Awards: Colin Elliott, David McCain, Brandan Coward
Scout Team Players of the Year: Jack O'Connell, John Bruder, Bailey Lash
Grit Awards: Darnel Shillingford, Landon Ruggieri
Most Improved: Kenny Dyson Jr., Anthony Frederick
Character Awards: Ricardo Martinez, Fabrice Mukendi, Connor Payne, Andre Brackett
Special Teams Player of the Year: Macklin Kortebein
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Jack Daly
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Mike Andrejco
Playmaker of the Year: David Zorrilla
Defensive Player of the Year: Joe Andreessen
Offensive Player of the Year: Zevi Eckhaus
Bulldog Award: Ryan Saddler