Ewing, NJ (12/14/07) – With the release of the 2007 D3Football.com East Region Team, The College’s New Jersey’s senior defensive tackle, Joe King (Mountainside, NJ/Gov. Livingston) and head football coach Eric Hamilton have both been honored. King was named D3football.com 2007 East Region Defensive Player of the Year, while Hamilton was named East Region Coach of the Year in the site’s annual regional awards.
The teams, selected in balloting by East Region sports information directors and D3football.com staff, were chosen from 173 nominations by Division III member schools. A total of 75 players were chosen.
King recorded 28 tackles for loss and 15 sacks while breaking up seven passes for the Lions, who held opponents to 70.5 rushing yards per game. He was also named the 2007 NJAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Hamilton led TCNJ, which was picked seventh in the NJAC preseason coaches’ poll, to an 8-2 regular season record and a first-round NCAA playoff win as the 2007 Lions went 9-3. He was also named the NJAC’s 2007 Coach of the Year and was also a finalist for the AFCA Region I Coach of the Year. He is currently one of five finalists for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year.
Also earning acclaim on the 2007 D3football.com All-East Team from TCNJ were senior punter Jeff Struble (Toms River, NJ/Manchester Township), senior offensive tackle Robert Keyes (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central), and senior cornerback Andrew Larkin (Hamilton Square, NJ/Notre Dame).
For more information please contact D3football.com publisher Pat Coleman at (703) 868-4364 or by e-mail at [email protected].
D3football.com 2007 All-East Region Team
Offensive Player of the Year: Jason Boltus, QB, Hartwick
Defensive Player of the Year: Joe King, DT, The College of New Jersey
Coach of the Year: Eric Hamilton, The College of New Jersey
First Team Offense
Pos. Name, Cl. College Hometown
QB Jason Boltus, Jr., Hartwick Baldwinsville, N.Y.
RB Vinson Hendrix, So., Alfred Rochester, N.Y.
RB Matt Bielecki, Sr., Rochester Burnt Hills, N.Y.
WR Jack Phelan, Jr., Hartwick Slingerlands, N.Y.
WR Brendan McGowan, Sr., RPI Mesa, Ariz.
T Brennan Fortune, Sr., St. John Fisher Avon, N.Y.
G Michael Robinson, Sr., Trinity (CT) Drexel Hill, Pa.
C Matt Krueger, Sr., Coast Guard Waterboro, Maine
G Nick Hartmann, Sr., Coast Guard Slidell, Hawaii
T Cuyler Groth, Jr., Brockport St. LaFayette, N.Y.
TE Mike Butler, Sr., Worcester Polytech Athol, Mass.
K Matthew Mintz, Sr., SUNY Cortland Lawrence, N.Y.
RET Jason Chier, Jr., Ithaca Binghamton, N.Y.
Second Team Offense
Pos. Name, Cl. College Hometown
QB Tanner Kelly, So., Albright Clearfield, Pa.
RB Jamie Donovan, Sr., Ithaca Washington, D.C.
RB J.T. Harold, Jr., Mass-Dartmouth North Andover, Mass.
WR James Wright, Sr., Hobart Olean, N.Y.
WR Felix Borukhov, Sr., Curry Newton, Mass.
T Dan Kyle, Sr., Rochester Rochester, N.Y.
G Chris Gray, Jr., Ithaca Delmar, N.Y.
C Joe Lesnau, Jr., Brockport State West Monroe, N.Y.
G Mike Farrington, Sr., Montclair State Fairview, N.J.
T Robert Keyes, Sr., TCNJ Flemington, N.J.
TE Brian Weverbergh, Jr., Ithaca Westport, Conn.
K Chris Reynolds, Sr., Alfred Pittsford, N.Y.
RET Tim Acker, So., RPI Arlington, Wash.
Third Team Offense
Pos. Name, Cl. College Hometown
QB Paul Keeley, Sr., Alfred Caledonia, N.Y.
RB Ryan McCoach, Sr., Montclair State Rockaway, N.J.
RB Jeff Mack, Sr., Plymouth State Milford, N.H.
WR Jimmy Smith, Jr., St. John Fisher Oneida, N.Y.
TE Bill Margetich, Sr., Lycoming Glenolden, Pa.
T Anthony Morello, Jr., Union Riverside, Conn.
G Jasmin Ibric, Jr., RPI New York, N.Y.
C John Mihalko, Sr., Trinity (CT) Shelton, Conn.
G Tim LaRose, Jr., St. Lawrence Weedsport, N.Y.
T Brandon Wagner, Sr., Lebanon Valley Mifflintown, Pa.
TE Chris Harmon, Sr., St. John Fisher Caledonia, N.Y.
K David Lieberman, Sr., Coast Guard Virginia Beach, Va.
RET Tim Bloniasz, Jr., Curry Leicester, Mass.
First Team Defense
Pos. Name, Cl. College Hometown
DE Ryan Yaple, Sr., Lycoming Stillwater, Pa.
DT Joe King, Sr., TCNJ Mountainside, N.J.
DT Don Miller, Sr., Alfred LeRoy, N.Y.
DE Ben Nagle, Jr., Cortland State Rochester, N.Y.
LB Kyle Follweiler, Sr., Wilkes Slatington, Pa.
LB Tore Alaimo, Sr., King\’s Pittston Township, Pa.
LB Erik Woodring, Sr., Middlebury Cos Cob, Conn.
CB Orlando Brown, Sr., Widener Wilmington, Del.
S Tim Bloniasz, Jr., Curry Leicester, Mass.
S Matt Christ, Jr., Albright Birdsboro, Pa.
CB Steve Stepnick, Sr., St. John Fisher Marilla, N.Y.
P Jesse Harms, Sr., Coast Guard St. Petersburg, Fla.
Second Team Defense
Pos. Name, Cl. College Hometown
DE Kevin Marchant, Sr., Western Connecticut East Lyme, Conn.
DT Tom Pinto, Sr., Curry Plymouth, Mass.
DT Travis Albanesius, Sr., Delaware Valley Green Lane, Pa.
DE Dan Pollock, Jr., St. John Fisher Fulton, N.Y.
LB John Pursell, Sr., Delaware Valley Middletown, Del.
LB Jay Fiedling, Jr., Westfield State Methuen, Mass.
LB Justin Hager, Jr., Hobart Salamanca, N.Y.
CB James Alexander, Sr., Hobart Beverly, Mass.
S Ryan Terlecki, Sr., Ithaca Fairless Hills, Pa.
S Kelvin Bellamy, Sr., Rowan Trenton, N.J.
CB Andy Rape, Sr., Rochester Zelienople, Pa.
P Jeff Struble, Sr., TCNJ Toms River, N.J.
Third Team Defense
Pos. Name, Cl. College Hometown
DE Dale Buck, Sr., Brockport State Oakfield, N.Y.
DT Derrell Sapp, Sr., Montclair State Long Branch, N.J.
DT Phil Byers, Sr., Ithaca Rochester, N.Y.
DE Randy Tosh, Sr., Rowan Columbia, N.J.
LB Matt Scalice, Jr., Ithaca Tonawanda, N.Y.
LB Cornell Hunt, Jr., Montclair State North Brunswick, N.J.
LB Anthony Casale, Sr., RPI Troy, N.Y.
CB Andrew Larkin, Sr., TCNJ Hamilton, N.J.
S Tom Tassinari, So., Tufts Andover, Mass.
S Russell DeStefano, Sr., Lebanon Valley Conshohocken, Pa.
CB Tim Acker, So., RPI Arlington, Wash.
P Ricky Tatar, Jr., St. John Fisher Rochester, N.Y.
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King capped his stellar athletic career having also earned the NJAC’s Defensive Player of the Year award. His final game was shortened by an injury, but not before he managed to add his final career sack. King was extended an invitation to compete in the 2007 AFCA’s Aztec Bowl, but had to decline the invitation due to the injury suffered in his final game. King earned NJAC Defensive Player of the Week honors three times in 2007 as well as capturing ECAC Defensive Player of the Week honors once. He caps his stellar athletic career having excelled on the gridiron. On the 2007 season, he finished the year with 71 tackles with a team and league leading 28 tackles for a loss (-173 yards), while also adding 15 sacks (-125 yards). On his career, King racked up 148 career tackles with 56.5 tackles for a loss (-337 yards), while adding 34.5 sacks (-269 yards), with 14 pass break ups, four blocks and four fumbles in 39 games played. As of November 27, he was ranked fifth in Division III in sacks per game (1.3), while ranking third as well in tackles for a loss (2.3).
Keyes, a 2007 NJAC All-Star First Team player on offense, helped the Lions with his outstanding play as a 12-game starter. He is a one-time defensive lineman and earned a spot as a starter last year at tackle and was a two-year starter for the Lions. He helped the team average 313.2 ypg, while adding 15 touchdowns in the air and 16 rushing scores. He was part of an offensive line that helped the Lion quarterbacks set a school record for most passes completed & attempted in ’07. Has also directed an offensive-line that yielded only 28 sacks all season.
Struble, a 2007 NJAC All-Star First Team punter, was the NJAC\’s punting leader as he finished the season having averaged 39.4 yards per punt on 68 punts for 2,681 yards. He added 17 punts inside the opponent\’s 20 yard line. Against Mount Union, he had a 74-yard punt to add his name to the Lions’ post-season record book, while adding 387 punting yards in the game, also a TCNJ post-season mark. The 74-yard punt was not only a season best for the senior, but a career best boot. As a first-year defensive back, he also contributed 25 tackles with three interceptions for 62 return yards and three pass breakups. The former quarterback also has 2,438 career passing yards to his credit as well. As of November 27, Struble is ranked 35th in Division III in punting with a 39.4 ypp average. As a punter, his career numbers include 96 punts for 2,778 yards, good enough for a 28.9 ypp average.
Larkin was amongst the players cited for academic and athletic excellence, earning national second team honors on the 2007 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America College Division Team. Larkin becomes TCNJ’s 48th CoSIDA Academic All-American and the third Lion football player to be cited since the program was started. A 2007 team co-captain for the Lions was also named to the 2007 NJAC All-Star First Team for his efforts as a defensive back. A starter in 12 games on the season, he helped TCNJ earn the NJAC’s automatic bid to the 2007 NCAA Championships, where the Lions advanced to the second round before falling to top ranked and two-time defending NCAA Division III Champions, Mount Union College. For the year, TCNJ went 9-3 and set a school mark for most consecutive wins at eight.
Over the course of the 2007 season, Larkin added several big plays this fall for the Lions with his athletic ability. He returned an interception against Buffalo State in the third quarter 91 yards for a TD. That marked his second interception return for a touchdown this fall. The 91 yard return for a score was just eight yards shy of tying TCNJ\’s school record for an interception return for a TD, which stands at 99 yards and was set in 1975 by Don Covin against Glassboro State. He also had an 82-yard interception return in the Lions’ 10-7 road win over then No. 17 ranked Rowan. He also added an interception in the waning minutes of the third quarter against RPI in the first round of the 2007 NCAA’s as TCNJ posted a 17-14 road win. On the year, Larkin finished with 65 tackles with a team-leading seven interceptions for 179 yards with six pass breakups. Those seven interceptions were tops in the NJAC, while his 0.58 per game average was second. He was also third in the league with his 13 passes defended. He ranks in a tie for 35th in Division III with 0.6 interceptions per game as of November 27. On his career, Larkin played in 32 games for the Lions and racked up has 170 career tackles with 16 career pass breakups and 11 career interceptions for 252 return yards.