Lincoln University's Jordan Harris named First Team All-NEC

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Bryant University sophomore wide receiver Jordan Harris headshot

SMITHFIELD, RI (11/29/2011)(readMedia)--  SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University football team's final season of reclassification was its most successful one, and several players responsible for that success were honored by the Northeast Conference in its annual postseason awards announced on Thursday.

Leading the way was junior running back Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.), who was named the Offensive Player of the Year following a record-breaking season. Brown also earned First Team All-NEC honors at running back and return specialist, and was joined on the first team by seniors Tony Edwards (Damascus, Md.) and Matt Tracey (Littleton, Colo.) and sophomore Jordan Harris (Lincoln University, Pa.). Sophomore Jeremy Woodson (Houston, Texas) earned Second Team All-NEC honors at the defensive back position.

In just his second season in Smithfield, Harris became one of the biggest receiving threats in the conference, and rewrote the Bryant record book on the way to earning first team honors. He led the conference and set a program record in receiving yards with 959, and paced league receivers in yards per game (87.2) and yards per catch (22.8). The yards per catch mark was good enough for second in the country. Harris closed the season by catching a touchdown pass in each of the final eight games, setting a program record for TD receptions in a season with nine. He put together the greatest receiving game in program history against Albany on Nov. 5. Harris caught 10 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns, smashing the previous program record for reception yards in a single game. Following that week, Harris was named The Sports Network/Fathead.com Co-National Player of the Week and NEC Offensive Player of the Week. The Pennsylvania native needs just 190 receiving yards to break the career program record.

A first team selection at running back as a sophomore, 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 two-time NEC Special Teams Player of the Week, Brown was recognized as the top returner in the conference. He returned a punt 53 yards for a touchdown against Sacred Heart in week three and then returned three kicks for 104 yards vs. Monmouth on Oct. 15. Brown averaged 25.9 yards per return and would have led the conference but he did not qualify because teams kicked away from him the final three weeks of the season.

One of the best tight ends in program history, Tracey turned in a stellar senior campaign on his way to earning his second all-conference nod. The Colorado native was a First Team All-NEC selection in 2009. 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, Edwards became one of the most reliable and sturdiest centers in the conference. 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.

Emerging as one of the Bulldogs starting corner backs in his second season, Woodson earns his first postseason honor. A native of Houston, Texas, Woodson finished the season with 57 tackles and two interceptions. Both picks came against Duquesne on Oct. 1 and nearly helped the Bulldogs upset the Dukes on the road. The first interception stalled the Dukes inside Bryant territory and his second set up a one-yard touchdown run that put Bryant on top, 21-17. Doubling as the Bulldogs punt and kick returner, Woodson averaged 24.1 yards per return. Against Saint Francis (PA) on Nov. 12, he returned five kicks for 163 yards on his way to NEC Special Teams Player of the Week laurels.

The five all-conference selections are the most the Bulldogs have earned since joining the Northeast Conference in 2008. Bryant finished the season with a 5-3 record in conference play, the most league wins in program history.