12 Bulldogs named Phil Steele Preseason All-NEC

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Twelve members of the Bryant University football team were selected to the Phil Steele Preseason All-Northeast Conference team that was released on August 8.

Senior Vincent Nisivoccia (Nutley, N.J.) was listed three times and is one of five Bulldogs to earn first team honors. Bryant also had two listed on the second team and six selected to the third team.

Nisivoccia was picked as a first-team wide receiver and kick returner, and a third-team punt returner. This comes after a breakout 2018 season that saw Nisivoccia lead the Bulldogs with 691 receiving yards and 1,353 all-purpose yards. Nisivoccia caught 50 passes, including six for touchdowns, posted 496 return yards and averaged 4.8 yards per punt return (4 returns).

Junior offensive linemen Mike Andrejco (Wall, N.J.) was also a first-team selection on offense. He helped the Bulldogs average over 400 yards per offense and over 30 points per game last season.

Seniors Tomas Wright (St. Augustine, Fla.), Jesse Nemerowicz (Hudson, Mass.) and Eulogio Portugal (Rosedale, N.Y.) were all selected to the first-team defense. Wright set the Bryant single-season record with 12.5 sacks a season ago and is one of just four players in school history with 20+ career sacks. He enters his senior season with 21.5 sacks and five forced fumbles.

Nemerowicz has been one of Bryant's most productive defensive players over the course of his career. He enters his final season eighth all-time with 225 tackles, an average of 8.3 tackles per game. Nemerowicz enjoyed a career year with four sacks and 8.5 tackles for a loss last fall.

Portugal has appeared in all but three games over the course of his career and is Bryant's returning starter at strong safety. He posted 50 tackles and intercepted two passes last season.

Bryant's second-team selections include senior offensive linemen Andrew Jones (Kennett Square, Pa.) and senior linebacker Robert Brown (Palmetto Bay, Fla.). Jones has appeared in all 22 games the last two seasons and was a Phil Steele Second Team All-NEC selection last fall. Brown was a Phil Steele Third Team All-NEC selection a year ago after a breakout year saw him post 70 tackles, six TFLs, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, an interception, five pass breakups and a blocked punt.

Redshirt junior running back Alfred Dorbor (Pawtucket, R.I.), sophomore wide receiver David Zorrilla (Everett, Mass.), senior wide receiver Alex Rasmussen (Fallston, Md.), redshirt junior defensive lineman Fernando Casanova (Jacksonville, Fla.) and junior defensive back Andre Brackett (East Windsor, Conn.) were all third-team selections.

Dorbor rushed for 390 yards and a team-leading seven touchdowns on 86 carries last fall. That included a career-high 116 yards at Fordham. Zorrilla burst onto the scene with a 23-yard TD reception in his first-career game and finished the year with 16 catches for 146 yards. Rasmussen finished fourth on the team with 22 catches for 234 yards and a TD last year. His first-career TD grab proved to be the game-winner at Duquesne.

Casanova was a key part of Bryant's defensive line last fall, posting 19 tackles, 1.5 TFLs and two blocked kicks. Brackett posted 39 tackles, forced a fumble and led the Black and Gold with seven pass breakups.