Seven Eagles Collect All-ECAC Accolades

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced the 2017 Division I FBS football major awards and All-ECAC selections. Seven Boston College players were named to the All-ECAC teams, led by AJ Dillon, the ECAC Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Dillon was also named All-ECAC first team along with senior linebacker Ty Schwab, junior offensive lineman Sam Schmal, junior defensive end Zach Allen and junior defensive back Lukas Denis.

Junior defensive back Will Harris and senior defensive end Harold Landry were named to the All-ECAC second team.

Dillon, who was also named the ACC Rookie of the Year, had one of the finest rookie seasons by any ACC freshman running back in conference history. The New London, Conn., native has rushed for 1,432 yards, the second-most by any freshman in ACC history. Dillon is second among all freshmen nationally in rushing and 15^th overall.

He set a new BC freshman rushing record with 1,432 yards and is tied for sixth in BC single-season history in rushing. He is just the second freshman in ACC history with two 200-yard games.

Schwab collected All-ACC and All-ECAC honors for the first time in his career after leading the Eagles with 101 tackles in 2017. The Florida native has played the best football of his career as a senior, totaling 8.5 tackles-for-loss and four sacks to go along with two interceptions and a forced fumble this season. Schwab has made 31 starts over his four-year career and played in 47 games for the Eagles, with 179 career tackles.

In his first year as a starter at free safety, Denis put together a strong season to earn All-ACC honors in addition to the All-ECAC accolades for the first time. The Everett, Mass., native is tied for the national lead with seven interceptions, which is for fourth in Boston College single-season history. Denis is tied for 11^th nationally with 16 passes defended in 2017 and ranks third on the team with 80 tackles.

Allen is second among all defensive linemen nationally with 93 tackles en route to being named to the All-ECAC first-team. The Connecticut native has been one of the most disruptive players in the country in 2017, totaling a team-best 14.5 tackles-for-loss and tying for the team-lead with five sacks. Allen ranks second on the team with 93 tackles and totaled 40 tackles against nationally-ranked Clemson, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech and NC State in 2017.

Landry collected All-ECAC second-team accolades after an injury-riddled senior campaign. The North Carolina product played in eight games before an ankle injury forced him to miss the final four games of the regular season. Landry is tied for the team lead with five sacks and ranks second in BC career history with 26.0 sacks.

Schmal garnered All-ECAC first-team for the first time as part of one of the top offensive lines in the ACC. The Georgia native played in all 12 games with 11 starts at left guard. BC scored 40+ points five times this season, the most since 2007 (five games).

Harris was an All-ECAC second-team performer after a sensational junior campaign. The Georgia native is fourth on the team with 74 tackles and led the team with four fumble recoveries. Harris had 5.5 TFLs, one interception and returned a fumble for a touchdown in the win at Syracuse.

Boston College will play in its fourth bowl game in five years under head coach Steve Addazio in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Iowa. Kickoff is set for 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 27. Ticket are available for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl online at www.bceagles.com.

Division I FBS Football Major Awards & All-ECAC Teams

Offensive Player of the Year
Saquon Barkley - Penn State University, Jr., RB

Defensive Player of the Year
Avonte Maddox - University of Pittsburgh, Sr., DB

Offensive Rookie of the Year
AJ Dillon - Boston College, Fr., RB

Defensive Rookie of the Year Candidates:
Dan Archibong - Temple University, R-Fr., DL

Coach of the Year
Geoff Collins – Temple University

All-ECAC First Team
Trace McSorley - Penn State University, Jr., QB
AJ Dillon - Boston College, Fr., RB
Saquon Barkley - Penn State University, Jr., RB
Darnell Woolfolk – US Military Academy, Jr., RB
Andy Isabella - University of Massachusetts, Jr., WR
DJ Moore – University of Maryland, Jr., WR
Steve Ishmael - Syracuse University, Sr., WR
Mike Gesicki - Penn State University, Sr., TE
Sam Schmal - Boston College, Jr., OL
Cody Conway - Syracuse University, Jr., OL
Alex Officer - University of Pittsburgh, R-Sr., OL
Brian O'Neill - University of Pittsburgh, R-Jr., OL
Josh Boylan – US Military Academy, Sr., OL
Da'Sean Downey - University of Massachusetts, Sr., DL
Zach Allen - Boston College, Jr., DL
Sharif Finch – Temple University, Sr., DL
Jacob Martin – Temple University, Sr., DL
Ty Schwab - Boston College, Sr., LB
Parris Bennett - Syracuse University, Sr., LB
Jason Cabinda - Penn State University, Sr., LB
Oluwaseun Idowu - University of Pittsburgh, R-Jr., LB
Lukas Denis - Boston College, Jr., DB
Amani Oruwariye - Penn State University, Jr., DB
Avonte Maddox - University of Pittsburgh, Sr., DB
Delvon Randall – Temple University, So., DB
Cole Murphy - Syracuse University, Sr., K
Ryan Anderson - Rutgers University, R-Sr., P
Saquon Barkley - Penn State University, Jr., RS

All-ECAC Second Team
Adonis Jennings – Temple University, Sr., WR
Adam Breneman - University of Massachusetts, Gr., TE
Jack Driscoll - University of Massachusetts, So., OL
Matt Hennessy - Temple University, Fr., OL
Brian Carter - Temple University, Sr., OL
Cole Boozer - Temple University, Sr., OL
Matt Peart – University of Connecticut, R-So., OL
Harold Landry - Boston College, Sr., DL
Cole Ormsby - University of Connecticut, Sr., DL
Foley Fatukasi - University of Connecticut, Sr., DL
Bryton Barr - University of Massachusetts, Gr., LB
Jermaine Carter, Jr. – University of Maryland, Sr., LB
Micah Thomas - US Naval Academy, Sr., LB
D.J. Palmore - US Naval Academy, Sr., LB
Shaun Bardley – Temple University, So., LB
Alex Aukerman – US Military Academy, Sr., LB
Junior Joseph - University of Connecticut, Sr., LB
Isaiah Rodgers - University of Massachusetts, So., DB
Antoine Brooks – University of Maryland, So., DB
Will Harris - Boston College, Jr., DB
Marcus Allen - Penn State University, Sr., DB
Sean Chandler - Temple University, Sr., DB
Logan Laurent - University of Massachusetts, R-Sr., K
Ryan Winslow - University of Pittsburgh, Sr., P

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Players Mentioned

Zach Allen

Zach Allen

Lukas Denis

AJ Dillon

Will Harris

Harold Landry

Harold Landry

Sam Schmal

Sam Schmal

Ty Schwab

Ty Schwab

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