FULL RELEASE

MILWAUKEE, WI - The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference released the awards for the 2021 football season and Benedictine University had players all over the all-conference teams following an 8-2 season.

Deandre Holliday, Anthony Senerchia, Gannon Grider, Ahmad Washington and Tanner Mateus were named First Team All-NACC. Tyler Jarnagin, Michael Shine, Blake Davis, Jordan Wilkins and Holliday earned second team recognition. Chris Williams, Denzel Simmon, Gregory Hoard, Sami Ayash and Joel Nanni received honorable mention status.

Holliday posted one of the best seasons by a wide receiver in program history. The sophomore reeled in 74 passes for 1,134 yards to go with nine touchdowns. All three stats ranked among the top-10 in the conference along with yards per catch and yards per game. Holliday set the single game record for receiving yards by totaling 281 on 13 catches in a win over Concordia Chicago and racked up 519 yards in the final two games of the year.

Senerchia led Benedictine with 10 touchdown catches and was utilized as both a blocker and a receiver from the tight end position. The senior, in his first year as a starter, reeled in 44 passes for 555 yards and ranked fourth in the conference with 10 touchdown grabs.

Grider, who was a second team selection in 2019, anchored an offensive line that set the way for one of the top offenses in the nation. Benedictine averaged 516.1 yards per game and set numerous records during the year.

Washington was a staple on the defensive side, finishing second in the conference with 107 tackles. The number was second in the conference.

Mateus did not miss an extra point all season, setting the school record by converting on 53 tries. Mateus, who also received recognition in 2019 and has been listed on the watch list for the Mitchell Award as the best small college kicker, also booted six field goals to lead the conference.

Jarnagin led the nation in passing yards and notched the top single game total offense in the nation this year with 640 yards in the final game of the season. The senior, who took over as the starter at the end of his freshman season, was hidden behind another one of the top quarterbacks in the nation who was selected as the conference's offensive player of the year as the NACC boasted two of the top quarterbacks in the country. Jarnagin set conference and school records for passing yards while breaking the school mark for touchdown passes, completions and attempts while completing 63.1 percent of his passes. Jarnagin was recognized in 2019 by the conference.

Shine received his first honor as another key member of the offensive line. Davis blocked a pair of kicks and totaled 44 tackles with an interception and six pass break ups. Wilkins logged 49 tackles from the defensive line with two sacks and four tackles for loss. Holliday gathered his second recognition as a punter after averaging 34.8 yards per kick with a long of 59.

Ayash caught six touchdowns while grabbing 37 passes, third on the team. Hoard ran for 747 yards with 11 touchdowns as the starting running back. Simmon, Nanni and Williams finished 2-3-4 respectively on the team in tackles. Simmon and Williams both scored defensive touchdowns on an interception during the year.

The awards were voted on by the head coaches in the conference.