Eckhaus named Big South-OVC Offensive Player of the Year, ten named to All-Conference Teams

BRENTWOOD, TENN. - Zevi Eckhaus of the Bryant University football team was named the Big South-OVC Offensive Player of the Year.

Eckhaus, Ahmad Assad, and Kenny Dyson Jr. were named to the First-Team All-Conference.

Matthew Prochaska, Anthony Frederick, Konor Lathrop, Jamichael Watts. Michael Otty and Lake Ellis were all selected to the Second-Team All-conference.

Darnel Shillingford made the All-Academic team.

Eckhaus enjoyed a great season, tallying 2,907 yards and 28 TDs, which ties the program season record for passing TDs. During this season, he became the all-time leader in career passing TDs (75), total offense (9,287), and completions with 724. 

Eckhaus tallied 1,895 yards, 315 ypg, and 22 TDs in conference play with only three INTs. He finished the last four games, posting 300 ypg, and at least four TDs in each game.

Assad started every game for the Bulldogs and helped lead an O-line that produced 116 rushing yards per game and 4,223 yards of total offense.

Dyson cemented himself as one of the best pass rushers to wear a Bryant jersey. He finished the season with nine sacks (career-high), 36 TKLs (career-high), 10,5 TFL, two FFs, an INT, and four pbrup. His 25.5 career sacks are tied with Thomas Costigan for third all-time in program history. He also ends his career eight all-time in tackles for loss (35).

Prochaska had a career year recording 801 yards, which is the seventh-best season in program history. He caught four TDs and averaged 72.8 ypg. He had 485 yards in conference play (second-most in the league). Prochaska also had seven catches of 30+ yards.

Frederick made the second team as both a wide receiver and a returner. As a wideout, Frederick tallied 473 yards and six TDs. He registered 642 yards as a returner. For his career, he became the third player in program history to surpass 2,000 career yards and only the second player to reach the 2,000-yard mark, along with 20 rec TDs.

Lathrop caught a career-high six TDs this season. This season, the tight-end room accounted for 32% of passing TDs for the Bulldogs.

Watts makes his second consecutive second-team. As he started 10 of 11 games this year and was an integral part of the Bulldog's rushing offense and pass protection.

Otty had a breakout season this year, posting career-highs in sacks (seven), TKLS (27), TFLs (12), fumble recoveries (two), and forced fumbles with one. Otty had either a sack or TFL in nine of eleven games played.

Ellis had a career-high three interceptions and tied his career-high of eight pass breakups. He started all eight games and was fifth on the team in tackles with 49, also a career-high. Ellis had three straight INTs against URI, Robert Morris, and EIU.

Shillingford was named to the All-Academic team. Shillingford posted 34 TKLS, two sacks, four TFLs, and two fumble recoveries on the field. He has been working to get his MBA in the classroom and has a 3.7 GPA.