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Seven from football named to Phil Steele All-NEC team

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Seven members of the Bryant University football team were named to the 2019 Phil Steele All-Northeast Conference team on Wednesday.

Senior defensive end Tomas Wright (St. Augustine, Fla.) and senior punter Gavin Rowley (Hampstead, Md.) were selected to the first team. Senior linebacker Jesse Nemerowicz (Hudson, Mass.), senior linebacker Robert Brown (Palmetto Bay, Fla.), junior defensive back Andre Brackett (East Windsor, Conn.) and junior kicker Luke Samperi (Beverly, Mass.) were named to the second team. Senior long snapper James Picerelli (Warren, R.I.) was named to the third team.

Wright garners first-team honors for the second-straight season after posting 71 tackles, 9.0 sacks, 16.5 TFLs and five forced fumbles on the year. He led all NEC defensive lineman in tackles and became Bryant's all-time leader in sacks with 30.5. Wright posted multiple sacks in three games and is one of just three players in NEC history to post 30+ sacks in a career.

Rowley enjoyed a record-breaking year as Bryant's punter, setting single-season records for punts (74) and yards (3,110). He led all NEC punters in average (42.0) and only 25 of his 74 punts were returned by the opposition. Rowley finished his career second all-time with 7,058 punting yards and is the only kicker in program history to earn multiple All-NEC honors.

Nemerowicz wrapped up a historic career in 2019, posting more than 90 tackles for the second time. He finished the season with 95 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 6.0 TFLs and also returned an interception for a touchdown against Sacred Heart. Nemerowicz posted 10+ tackles in five games on his way to becoming Bryant's all-time leader in career tackles with 320. He is the only player in school history to record 300+ tackles in a career.

After a breakout junior year, Brown put together one of the best seasons by a defensive player in program history this fall. His 108 tackles were the second-most in a single season in program history and he became just the third different player to post 100+ tackles in a season. Brown added a sack, 7.5 TFLs, three forced fumbles and an interception to his standout senior season. He posted 58 tackles over the final four weeks of the season, including a single-game record-tying 16 against Duquesne.

Brackett cemented himself as one of the elite corners in the NEC this fall, posting 56 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, a forced fumble, three interceptions and six pass breakups. He was also a difference-maker on special teams, returning eight kicks for 252 yards and a touchdown. Brackett posted the two longest plays by a Bulldog on the year with a 95-yard kick return touchdown and a 50-yard interception return.

Samperi enjoyed one of the best seasons for a kicker in program history, tying the single-season record for field goals (11). He finished the year 11-of-14 in field goals and 20-of-22 in PATs to lead the Black and Gold with 53 points. Samperi made eight-straight field goals at one point and became just the second kicker in school history to hit a 50+-yard field goal when he hit from 50 against Duquesne.

Picerelli gives the Bulldogs a trio of special teams honorees. Bryant's snapper on punts and PATs/FGs, Picerelli was instrumental in Bryant's kicking game. He completed the season without a single bad snap and his two kickers both earned All-NEC honors.