SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The postseason accolades continue to flow in for the Bryant University football team. A week after five players earned All-Northeast Conference honors, three more have been named All-New England by the New England Football Writers as announced on Tuesday.
Junior running back Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.), senior tight end Matt Tracey (Littleton, Colo.) and senior offensive lineman Tony Edwards (Damascus, Md.) were selected to the All-New England team, giving the Bulldogs their most honorees since becoming a Division I program.
The nation's leading rusher, Brown is a repeat selection to the All-New England team. Named the NEC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-NEC at running back and return specialist, Brown's junior season was one of the best in Bulldogs history. He led the nation in rushing yards (1,815) and rushing yards per game (165.0), was named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List and set nine program records along the way. The Connecticut native led the NEC in both rushing categories, rushing touchdowns (19), points (134), all-purpose yards (2,500) and all-purpose yards per game (227.3). Brown rushed for a career-high 248 yards against Sacred Heart on Sept. 16 and added two more 200-yard games on the season, including a 243-yard performance against Saint Francis (PA) on Nov. 12. On his way to setting program records for touchdowns in a season and total career touchdowns, Brown compiled eight multi-touchdown games. Brown scored three times in four of those eight contests and was held without a touchdown on just one occasion.
A week after receiving his second all-conference nomination, Tracey is honored as the top tight end in New England. One of the best tight ends in program history, Tracey turned in a stellar senior campaign. This season, Tracey proved to be one of the best tight ends in the conference as he caught 40 passes for 500 yards and eight touchdowns. Along the way, he became the program leader in career touchdown receptions and just the second player to catch over 100 passes in a career. Tracey caught at least one pass in all 11 games, including a nine-catch, 97-yard, two-touchdown game against Robert Morris on Oct. 22 that helped Bryant defeat the Colonials on the road. He hauled in six passes for 70 yards in the season opener against Maine, three for 45 yards and two scores against Sacred Heart and five for 79 yards against Wagner. Tracey leaves Smithfield with 105 catches for 1,358 yards and 19 touchdowns.
The centerpiece of Bryant's offensive line, and a First Team All-NEC selection, Edwards became one of the most reliable and sturdiest centers in the conference and in New England over his career. He started all 11 games in his final season with the Black and Gold and has served as the starting center for the past two seasons. Under his watch, the Bulldogs averaged over 175 yards per game on the ground for the second-straight year. When Bryant didn't run the ball, Edwards played an important role in protecting his classmate Mike Croce (Waterbury, Conn.). Croce threw for 1,850 yards and 20 touchdowns, while the Bulldogs allowed just 20 sacks.
Bryant finished the season with a 5-3 record in conference play, the most league wins in program history.
