Football Places League-High Eight on NJAC First-Team

PITMAN, N.J. (11/20/09) - The Kean University football team had 14 players earn New Jersey Athletic Conference all-star honors, including a league-high eight on the first team, as voted on by the 10 head coaches and announced by the conference office on Friday morning.

For the second straight year, senior Jared Chunn headlined the honors earning NJAC Offensive Player of the Year accolades, and Kean placed five players on the NJAC first-team offense and three players on first-team defense.

In addition to Chunn at running back, tight end Alex Cade, fullback Sean Atkins and linemen Kareem Johnson and Shabazz Green were offensive first-team selections, while nose tackle Darryl Jackson (pictured left) , safety Jamahl Williams and cornerback Chris Lauda were first-team picks on defense.

Wide receiver Derric Harris, linebacker Kyle Maher, defensive end Darnell Butler and kicker Billy Daniels earned second-team honors for Kean. Quarterback Thomas D'Ambrisi and defensive end Ray Wegrzynek rounded out the selections with honorable mention accolades.

Under fourth-year Head Coach Dan Garrett, the Cougars were one win shy of capturing the NJAC title and earning the program's first-ever berth in the NCAA tournament, falling to Montclair State University in the final week of the regular season in a battle of the unbeatens in conference action.

Kean, who won a school record eight straight games in the middle of the season, earned its third trip to an ECAC Bowl Championship game in the last four years and will face Ursinus College on Saturday, November 21, for the ECAC Southeast Bowl Championship. The eight wins are currently tied for second most in program history and the Cougars can tie the single season wins record by capturing their third-ever ECAC title.

Chunn (Tinton Falls, N.J.) rushed for over 1,000 yards for the second straight year, as the two-time NJAC first-team all-star is the only player among all 85 of this year's all-conference selections to earn honors in each of the last four seasons. Chunn, who was also an honorable mention pick as a freshman and sophomore in 2006 and 2007, has been chosen to play in the inaugural Division III North South Senior Classic in Salem, Va., on December 5th.

After earning second-team honors a year ago, Atkins (Perth Amboy, N.J.) was named a first-team all-star this season as he is tied for team-high honors with four touchdown receptions. During the season, Atkins has made 14 receptions for 145 yards and has been the lead blocker for Chunn over the last two years.

Cade (Galloway, N.J.) led the Cougars with 465 yards receiving, also tying for team-high honors with 31 receptions and four touchdown catches. A NJAC honorable mention selection last season, Cade (pictured right) had a career-high 126 receiving yards in Kean's victory over Western Connecticut State University in the team's NJAC opener.

Green (Summit, N.J.) and Johnson (Pemberton, N.J.) anchored the left side of the offensive line for the Cougars, as Kean led the NJAC in sacks allowed (5) and ranked second in rushing offense (177.9 yards per game). The two have started on the offensive line over the last two seasons when Kean has only allowed 10 sacks over the last 21 games. Green (pictured left) also earned ESPN The Magazine Academic District 2 second-team honors this season.

A three-time NJAC all-star, Jackson (Red Bank, N.J.) is at the center of a Cougar defensive unit that is second in the NJAC in scoring defense (13.3), total defense (245.6) and sacks (30). This season, the senior has made 39 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for a loss (-25 yards) and 3.0 sacks (-23 yards), while his four pass break-ups at the line are tied for second on the team. A three-year starter, Jackson has played in every game throughout his career and has been selected to participate in a pair of all-star games at the end of the season, the Tazon Bowl (formerly the Aztec Bowl) and the East Coast Bowl.

Lauda (Staten Island, N.Y.) and Williams (Passaic, N.J.) have combined to make nine interceptions and 15 pass break-ups this season, as Kean ranks third in the conference in interceptions as a team.

A three-time all-NJAC pick, Lauda (pictured right) has four interceptions and a team-high 12 pass break-ups, while ranking second in the conference in passes defended (16). The junior returned one interception for a touchdown this season, giving him 11 career interceptions, with four returned for a touchdown. Williams is tied for the conference lead with five interceptions and leads the team with 64 tackles, including three for a loss of 12 yards and two sacks for a 10-yard loss. A two-time all-NJAC honoree, Williams earned honorable mention honors as a rookie last season for the Cougars.

Harris (Freehold, N.J.) is tied for the team lead with 31 receptions, as he has 359 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions. A senior, Harris is also second on the team in all-purpose yards (594) and is second with five total touchdowns scored this season.

Butler (Rahway, N.J.) earns all-NJAC honors for the first time in his career, as the senior has started every game on the defensive line over the last two seasons. This year, Butler (pictured left) has made 37 tackles, including four and a half for a loss of 21 yards, while making one pass break-up and one fumble recovery.

Maher (Red Bank, N.J.) has been a three-year starter at linebacker since transferring to Kean in 2007. The senior is currently fourth on the team with 49 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for a loss of 20 yards, and has made two pass break-ups. Maher joined Green in earning ESPN The Magazine District 2 honors, picking up first-team accolades to also make him eligible for Academic All-American honors.

Daniels (Ridgefield, N.J.) made the all-conference team for the first time in his career after converting a school-record 12 field goals (12-of-16) and 29-of-33 extra points this season. The sophomore kicked the biggest field goal of his career in the Cougars' 23-20 double overtime victory over Rowan University when he booted the game-winning 26-yard field goal. He also had a career-long 43-yard field goal in the win over Morrisville State University.

The 2008 NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Year, D'Ambrisi (Eatontown, N.J.) garners honorable mention honors after completing 123-of-233 passes for 1,619 yards and 15 touchdowns. D'Ambrisi also rushed for at least 40 yards in four conference games, including a career-best 64 yards rushing in the win over SUNY Cortland.

Wegryznek (Linden, N.J.) (pictured right) rounds out the Cougar starting defensive line earning all-conference honors, as the sophomore made 29 tackles and ranked third on the team with 8.0 tackles for a loss (-29 yards), while also adding three pass break-ups at the line.