East Rutherford, NJ – Four members of the Wagner College football team earned spots on the Preseason All-NEC team, the Northeast Conference (NEC) announced on Wednesday as part of the annual NEC Social Media Day at MetLife Stadium.
Head coach
Tom Masella, senior
Luke Jakubauskas, and junior
Brady Anderson represented the Seahawk football program and answered questions from multiple media outlets. The on-air portion of the event was carried by ESPN3 and NEC Front Row.
Anderson, sophomore
Jaylen Bonelli, junior
Jorel Liverpool, and sophomore
Zachary Ricci all earned spots on the Preseason All-NEC team.
Entering his third year on Grymes Hill, Anderson returns after earning a spot on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team in 2023. Anderson started all 11 games a year ago and was integral in the Seahawks' run game that produced two 600-yard rushers for the first time since 2016.
Wagner's most decorated returning player, Bonelli was named a freshman All-American by FCS Football Central in 2023 and became the second Seahawk ever to win NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year, joining all-time great quarterback Nick Doscher, who won the award in 2009. Last season, Bonelli led Wagner with 40 receptions for 627 yards and four touchdowns throughout the season and picked up a league-leading four NEC Rookie of the Week honors, leading all freshmen in the circuit in every major receiving category.
Named a Second Team All-NEC selection by Phil Steele in 2023, Liverpool appeared in all 11 games a season ago. The New York City native accounted for 41 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three sacks in 2023.
The final Seahawk on the Preseason All-NEC team, Ricci finished the 2023 season with 20 total tackles and two interceptions, including a pick six in Wagner's victory against Stonehill.
Reigning champion Duquesne was tabbed the favorite to repeat as NEC champs at season's end ahead of Saint Francis U, Robert Morris, and LIU, with the Red Flash and Sharks receiving one first place vote each. Stonehill, Wagner, and CCSU rounded out the annual poll.
The Seahawks will open the 2024 season against Virginia University of Lynchburg at Hameline Field on August 31.
Following two road games at Lehigh (9/7) and Delaware State (9/14), the Seahawks will open up NEC play against Robert Morris at home on September 21, as the Colonials return to the conference as an associate member in 2024.
The first FBS contest of the year will take place on September 28, as the Seahawks travel to FAU for the third-ever meeting between the two teams. After a road game at Stonehill on October 5, the Seahawks will play consecutive home games against Columbia (10/12) and Saint Francis U (10/19).
Wagner will wrap up the month of October at UMass (10/26) before traveling to CCSU (11/2). Following the bye week, Wagner will play at Duquesne (11/16) before wrapping up the 2024 regular season against LIU at home on November 23.
Wagner will play two FBS opponents for the seventh time in program history in 2024. In 2015, the Seahawks played at Rice and at BYU while in 2016 the Green & White traveled to UMass and Boston College. In 2019, Wagner faced UConn and Florida Atlantic. During the 2021 fall season, Wagner took on Buffalo and Temple. In 2022, Wagner faced off against Rutgers and Syracuse before taking on Navy and Rutgers in 2023.
