11 named to Phil Steele Preseason All-NEC team

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Eleven members of the Bryant University football team were named to Phil Steele's 2020 Preseason All-NEC Team, announced on Friday by the publication. 

 

Senior Andre Brackett highlighted the list, earning first team honors as defensive back and a return specialist, and second team honors as a punt returner and at the all-purpose position. Senior Luke Samperi joined Brackett on the first team specialists unit. 

 

Bryant's second team selections included junior quarterback Kory Curtis, graduate student wide receiver Hunter Hill, senior offensive lineman Mike Andrejco, sophomore defensive lineman Jack Daly and junior linebacker Joe Andreessen. Junior running back Daniel Adeboboye, sophomore wide receiver Anthony Frederick, senior offensive lineman Finn Littlefield and junior linebacker Ryan Saddler were all selected to the third team. 

 

Brackett enters the year as one of the league's premier corners after posting 58 tackles and three interceptions last fall. He also shined in the return game, averaging 31.5 yards per return, including a 95-yard return score against Long Island. 

 

Samperi was an All-NEC selection last fall after tying the single-season record for field goals with 11. He finished the year 11-of-14, including a perfect 8-for-8 from inside 40 yards. Samperi was also just the second kicker in school history to make a field goal from 50+ yards. 

 

Curtis enters his second season with the Black and Gold this fall. He earned the starting job in week three of the season and finished the year 174-of-301 for 1,700 yards and seven touchdowns. Curtis set the Bryant single-game record for passing yards when he threw for 394 yards against Brown. 

 

Hill also shined in his first year with the Black and Gold, finishing with 44 catches for 432 yards and a team-leading four touchdowns. He also carried the ball 17 times for 81 yards and a score. Hill was Curtis' favorite target against Brown, making eight catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns. 

 

Andrejco picks up his second preseason honor of the week after he was named to the NEC's preseason all-league team. He has started all but one game over the last two seasons for the Black and Gold. 

 

Daly excelled in the second half of the season for the Bulldogs last fall, posting 19 tackles over the final seven games of the season. He finished with 1.5 sacks, 4.5 TFLs and a forced fumble. Daly helped clinch Bryant's win over Merrimack with a pair of sacks on the final drive of the game. 

 

Andreessen was limited to just four games in 2019 due to a lower body injury. He had an explosive start to the season, posting 22 tackles in the first three games. Andreessen had his best game against Fordham, posting seven tackles, 2.0 sacks and 3.0 TFLs. 

 

Adeboboye enters the 2020 season as Bryant's top running back. The Toronto native led the Black and Gold in rushing last year with 605 yards and five touchdowns on 138 carries. Adeboboye rushed for a career-high 145 yards against Long Island on national TV and ended his season with touchdowns in each of the final two games. 

 

Frederick enjoyed one of the best seasons for a rookie wide receiver in program history in 2019, finishing with 32 catches for a team-leading 451 yards and one touchdown. Both his receptions and yards as a rookie are second to only Jordan Harris in 2010. Frederick had at least one catch in all 11 games he played in and had multiple catches in all but one. He hauled in seven passes for 119 yards against Brown.

 

Littlefield served as one of Bryant's captains last season and started all 12 games on the offensive line. He's appeared in all 23 games the last two seasons and is a two-time NEC Commissioner's Honor Roll selection. 

 

Saddler is expected to step into the void left by the graduation of Jesse Nemerowicz and Robert Brown. The Florida native appeared in 10 games last year, finishing with 17 tackles. He had his best game of the year against nationally-ranked Central Connecticut, posting five tackles and a TFL.