Five Football Blue Devils Earn All-NEC

Five Central Connecticut football players earned postseason honors from the Northeast Conference on Wednesday afternoon, highlighted by seniors Rob Hollomon (RB) and Chris Abner (DB) being named First Team All-NEC.

Seniors Josh Alaeze (LB) and Tyrell Holmes (WR) as well as junior Tyler Hurd (OL) earned Second Team All-NEC honors for the Blue Devils (3-9, 1-5 NEC).

Hollomon, a Preseason All-America and Walter Payton Watch List selection, earns his second consecutive All-NEC honor at running back after capping his record setting career with a third consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season.

Hollomon finished the year with 1,116 rushing yards on 228 attempts.  He scored eight total touchdowns and accumulated 1,828 all-purpose yards while playing in 11 games.  During the season he became CCSU's all-time leader in career rushing yards and finished with a career total of 3,672 yards.

Abner led the CCSU defense this season with 109 total tackles, 30 more than any other Blue Devil.  Abner recorded a team-high 43 solo stops and averaged 9.1 tackles per game.  Abner also had half a sack and two tackles for a loss.  In coverage, Abner recorded a pair of interceptions and was credited with four pass break-ups.

Abner was also a key component of the Blue Devils' special teams where he helped the team block seven kicks, including three in which he personally blocked the kick.

Holmes earns his second All-NEC honor as a wide receiver after transitioning from defensive back before last season.  Holmes caught a team-high 54 passes for 754 yards.  He hauled in five touchdowns and averaged 14.0 yards per reception.  Holmes finished his career with 96 receptions, which ranks among the top-10 on CCSU's all-time list.

Alaeze moved from defensive end, where he was an All-NEC selection last season, to outside linebacker in 2014.  Alaeze continued his production as he finished the season with 43 tackles, including 19 solo stops.  Alaeze was often in opposing backfields as he was credited with nine tackles for a loss, which dropped the opposition for a total loss of 66 yards.  He also had 2.5 sacks and broke up a pair of passes on the season.

Hurd earn All-NEC honors after being tapped by the leagues coaches in the preseason.  Hurd has helped lead the way for the CCSU offense from his tackle spot for the last three seasons.  This year he helped the Blue Devils to 4,191 yards of total offense, including 1,908 rushing yards.

Hollomon, Alaeze, Holmes and Hurd were all selected as Preseason All-NEC in August by the conference's coaches.