The FCS football season is fast approaching, so we’re going inside each conference race. With defending champ Duquesne leading the way, here’s our 2024 NEC football preview.
There’s a different look with Northeast Conference football this season, but nothing is changing with the gritty, hard-nosed style of play and tight games.
Last year, six of the conference games were decided by three points, and 13 had a final difference of seven-or-fewer points. Duquesne won two of its first three NEC games by three points en route to the championship and an FCS playoff bid.
The changed look in the standings comes with the arrival of Mercyhurst, which has moved up from the Division II level, the return of Robert Morris after its departure in 2020, and Merrimack and Sacred Heart leaving as FCS independents this season.
2024 NEC Football Preview
Predicted Order of Finish
*-FCS Playoff Qualifier
1. *Duquesne (7-5, 6-1) – The defending champion Dukes have been a part of six NEC championships and nine conference crowns under 20th-year coach Jerry Schmitt. Quarterback Darius Perrantes (2,324 passing yards, 21 touchdown passes, 18 interceptions) threw for an FCS-high 17.7 yards per completion last season and has targets in wide receiver Tedy Afful and Stonehill transfer tight end Noah Canty. Taj Butts will be the featured running back. The defense gave up too many points in losses, and seeks improvement behind linebacker Gianni Rizzo (68 tackles, 10 tackles for loss).
2. Robert Morris (4-7, 2-4 Big South-OVC) – The Dukes’ return to the NEC has attracted transfer Tyvon Edmonds Jr., the conference’s 2023 rushing leader at Merrimack. The Stats Perform Preseason Third Team All-American combining with WR Noah Robinson (70 receptions, 846 yards, 6 TDs) will put pressure on defenses and allow QB Anthony Chiccitt to be even stronger after a breakout season. Safety Dee Pierce (57) and LB Jamar Shegog (51) ranked second and third on the team, respectively, in tackles. The Colonials and Duquesne will renew a backyard rivalry that was last played in 2019.
3. Saint Francis (4-6, 4-3) – Coach Chris Villarrial must love that the Red Flash have strength in the trenches with offensive lineman Mason Imbt (a converted tight end) and defensive linemen Eddie Bierals and Gavin Thomas. The key will come at the skills positions, including QB Nick Whitfield Jr. replacing Cole Doyle (34 TD passes the last two seasons). Linebacker Mercury Swaim collected 48 tackles as a redshirt freshman.
4. Stonehill (5-5, 4-3) – The Skyhawks won three of their final four NEC games to finish in a four-way tie for second place in just their second season in the conference. Taking the next step got harder when All-NEC RB Jermaine Corbett made a transfer to Merrimack. The offense still boasts Ashur Carraha, who is entering his third season as the starting QB. Defensive back Jordan Irvine was named to the All-NEC preseason team.
5. LIU (4-7, 4-3) – With back-to-back 4-3 records in the NEC, LIU has asserted itself quite nicely. However, third-year coach Ron Cooper’s Sharks will be hard-pressed to replace graduated TE Owen Glascoe and transfer DE Eric O’Neill. Quarterback Chris Howell, who has an unorthodox, lefty throwing style, will target all-purpose standout Michael Love. Will Lynch has been the All-NEC first-team punter two years running. Gulp, the road schedule includes TCU and 2023 CAA Football tri-champions UAlbany and Villanova.
6. Central Connecticut State (3-8, 1-6) – There’s potential for a jump in the standings due to returning starters, especially RB Elijah Howard (1,155 yards and six TDs from scrimmage) and safety Kimal Clark, the NEC’s preseason defensive player of the year. Like that pair, 6-foot-7, 330-pound offensive lineman Isaiah DeLoatch, LB Jayden Anderson and place-kicker Jack Barnum were named to the All-NEC preseason team. Former QB Brady Olson has transferred in as well.
7. Wagner (4-7, 3-4) – Wagner had more wins last season than in their 2019-22 campaigns combined. Center Brady Anderson and Brady Anderson are veterans up front, and their return aides QB Damien Mazil as the Seahawks seek to get the ball to WR Jaylen Bonelli, the NEC’s 2023 offensive rookie of the year. Lanky defensive end Jorel Liverpool (10 TFLs, three sacks) is yet another in a recent line of Wagner pass rushers.
Mercyhurst (2-9 Division II) – Just 8-27 on the Division II level this decade, the NEC’s new western-most program (Erie, Pennsylvania) faces a learning curve. Third-year coach Ryan Riemedio’s team is playing only four NEC programs, so it’s ineligible for the 2024 title. The NEC competition will quickly get to know lefty QB Adam Urena (2,651 passing yards and 23 TD passes last season) and WR Cameron Barmore (16 career TD catches), but the Lakers surrendered 456 yards and 42 points per game a year ago.
How the Conference Predicted the Race
Five Players to Know
Eddie Bierals, DE, Saint Francis – The returning All-NEC first-team selection commands double teams due to his ability to power into opposing backfields.
Jaylen Bonelli, WR, Wagner – As a rookie, Bonelli had a pair of 100-yard performances while reeling in 40 catches for 627 yards and four TDs.
Kimal Clark, DB, Central Connecticut State (Buck Buchanan Award preseason nominee) – The hard-hitting safety ranked second in the conference high in tackles (89) and had the most solo stops (53).
Tyvon Edmonds Jr., Robert Morris (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – In his third and final season at Merrimack, Edmonds led the NEC in carries (279), rushing yards (1,247) and TD runs (10).
Darius Perrantes, QB, Duquesne (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – While Perrantes has to cut down on interceptions, he’s passed for 4,483 yards and 44 TDs in his career.
Five Must-See Matchups
1. Duquesne at Saint Francis (Oct. 12) – The two most-recent NEC champions square off in a must-have game. The Dukes won 38-35 last season and used to dominate the series, but SFU has captured four of the last nine meetings.
2. Robert Morris at Duquesne (Nov. 9)
3. Saint Francis at Robert Morris (Oct. 12)
4. Central Connecticut State at Saint Francis (Sept. 14)
5. LIU at Duquesne (Oct. 5)
Fast Fact
In the competitive NEC, seven different programs have represented the conference in the FCS playoffs since it gained an automatic bid in 2010 – with Wagner (2012) and Duquesne (2018) posting first-round wins. Among playoff-eligible programs (not Stonehill and Mercyhurst), LIU is the only current NEC program yet to appear in the playoffs.
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