Four Named To All-NEC Preseason Football Team
Manson, Spicer, Washington and Williams tabbed by league's head coaches.
The Northeast Conference hosted its annual kickoff to football season at MetLife Stadium. Amongst the media day festivities was the unveiling of the preseason NEC Coaches Poll and NEC Football Preseason Team.
The Blue Devils had four selections to the preseason team, two on each side of the ball. Reis Spicer (Cicero, NY) offensive line, and Isiah Williams (Germantown, MD), wide receiver, were selected to the offense, while defensive lineman Shayne Manson (Windsor, CT) and linebacker Luquay Washington (Waldorf, MD) earned spots on the defensive side of the ball.
The leagues head coaches predicted the Blue Devils to place in sixth place, with Stonehill. Defending champion Saint Francis earned five first-place votes to be tabbed as the preseason favorite for 2023. Merrimack earned two first-place votes to be tabbed second, while Duquesne, one top vote, and Sacred Heart are predicted to finish third. LIU earned the other first-place vote to be tabbed fifth and Wagner was predicted to place eighth.
Spicer is coming off an All-NEC Second Team selection in 2022 and was also named Second-Team All-NEC by Phil Steele. He returns to anchor an offensive line that led the way for the 2022 NEC rushing champion to post the seventh-best single-season rushing effort in program history. Spicer has played in 23 games over the course of his career, with 21 appearances the past two seasons.
Manson, playing his final season of eligibility, has taken the field 21 times for the Blue Devils in his career. During 2022, he made a career-high 16 stops, eight of which were TFLS. He also recorded five sacks last fall and broke up two passes.
Washington has played 30 games for the Blue Devils and enters his final campaign with 79 career tackles. He had a career-high 39 tackles in 2021 and recorded 28 stops last fall. He posted six TFL, a season-best in 2022 doubling his career total in that category. He also returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown at Saint Francis.
Williams has made 20 career appearances for the CCSU offense, including all 11 games a season ago. He caught 22 passes last fall for 212 yards and a touchdown. He enters the season with 45 career receptions and averaging 10.1 yards per catch.
The Blue Devils begin the 2023 campaign under first-year head coach Adam Lechtenberg on September 6th at home versus AIC. That game, under the lights on Arute Field, is the first of five home games on the slate.
Ticket information for the 2023 CCSU Football season will be available shortly.
