Covitz named NEC Defensive Player of the Year; 8 earn All-NEC

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior defensive end Jeff Covitz (Reading, Mass.) became the first Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year in Bryant University football history and a program-record seven others earned All-NEC honors, the league announced on Wednesday.

Covitz becomes the fourth major award winner in program history, following in the footsteps of NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year Max Machado and NEC Offensive Player of the Year's Jordan Brown and Jordan Harris. The eight total All-NEC honors are a program record.

Covitz was also a first team honoree and was joined by junior wide receiver Chad Ward (Delray Beach, Fla.), junior offensive lineman Abe M'Bodj (North Beach, Md.) and sophomore offensive lineman George Smith (Thomaston, Conn.). Sophomore quarterback Dalton Easton (Miami, Fla.), junior running back Ricardo McCray (Middletown, R.I.), senior defensive end Maduka Nwanekezi (Milton, Mass.) and senior safety Sebastian Amedee (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) all earned second team honors.

One of the greatest defensive players in program and league history, Covitz wrapped up a remarkable career in 2014 by earning All-NEC honors for the third-straight year. He finished the season with 59 tackles, eight sacks and a league-leading and program-record 23 tackles for a loss. Along the way, Covitz became the NECs all-time leader in sacks, finishing his career with 29.5. He finishes his four-year career with 191 tackles and a program-record 66 tackles for a loss.

Ward enjoyed a breakout junior season as the Black and Gold's top wideout. He set career-highs with 46 catches, 667 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions. Ward hauled in game-winning scores against Stony Brook and Maine, two of Bryant's biggest wins in program history. He caught eight passes for a career-high 123 yards against the Black Bears and registered back-to-back 100-yard games against Saint Francis U. (121) and Robert Morris (111).

M'Bodj and Smith teamed up on the right side of the offensive line to help the Bulldogs develop one of the best running games in the league. Running behind the two, the Bulldogs averaged 179.9 yards per game on the ground and eclipsed the 300-yard rushing mark in back-to-back outings against Robert Morris and Central Connecticut.

In his first year as a Bulldog, Easton emerged as the starting QB during camp and went on to have an outstanding season. He finished the year completing 156-of-191 passes for 2,007 yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Easton completed 60 percent of his passes for 301 yards and a touchdown against Maine and then enjoyed one of the greatest games for a QB in school history against Saint Francis U. He was 16-of-22 for 283 yards and a single-game record five touchdowns against the Red Flash. He wrapped up the season with 321 yards and three scores against Wagner.

McCray emerged as one of the most dynamic offensive players in the league this past fall. He carried the ball 147 times for 814 yards and 10 touchdowns, and also finished second on the team with 30 receptions for 366 yards and four touchdowns. McCray scored a pair of touchdowns at Liberty before rushing for 142 yards and three touchdowns against Bucknell. His yardage included a program-best 96-yard TD run. McCray went on to post three-straight 100-yard games, including a career-high 243 yards and three touchdowns on just 12 carries against Central Connecticut.

Nwanekezi put the finishing touches on an outstanding career this past fall. Teaming up with Covitz to create one of the best defensive lines in the country, Nwanekezi had 43 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 15 tackles for a loss. He picked up 2.5 sacks against Merrimack and 2.0 sacks against Saint Francis U., finishing his career with 19. Nwanekezi finished second in program history with 46 tackles for a loss.

A four-year member of Bryant's secondary, Amedee played in and started every game for the third-straight season this fall. He finished fourth on the team with 50 tackles and added four tackles for a loss and two interceptions. His first interception of the season helped the Bulldogs hold on to defeat Stony Brook in week one. Amedee also collected a season-high eight tackes in the game against the Seawolves. He finished his career with 139 tackles and five interceptions.