WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- Ten players on Monmouth's football team were named either First or Second Team All-NEC, conference officials announced Tuesday afternoon.
MU had five players, all on offense, named to the First Team All-Northeast Conference including starting quarterback Brett Burke (Wall, N.J./Wall). Burke, in his first year as a starter, threw for a conference best 1,957 yards, while completing a school record 64.7 percent of his passes. The Wall, New Jersey native, threw for 10 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions.
Four of Burke's touchdown passes were to fifth-year senior Adam San Miguel (North Bergen, N.J./St. Peter's Prep), who earns his initial First Team All-NEC honor. The wideout had 49 receptions for 546 yards while climbing up to number one or two on most of MU's receiving records.
Two-time second team selection John Nalbone (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) earned First Team All-NEC Honors at tight end for the first time in his three-year career. The junior hauled in 22 catches for 252 yards and three scores, all bests among conference tight ends. Rounding out Monmouth's first team selections were offensive lineman Jonathan Dunn (Blackwood, N.J./Washington Township) and Nick LoCastro (Wenonah, N.J./Gateway Regional). Dunn, a fifth year senior, earns his second straight first team honor, while LoCastro makes his first appearance among the NEC elite. The guard-tackle tandem led the way on the left side for one of the conference's best backs in David Sinisi (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) while protecting Burke and the NEC's best passing attack.
Sinisi was one of the two backs to be named to the Second Team All-NEC, his second straight year on the team. The redshirt sophomore ran for 1,184 yards and an amazing 17 touchdowns. Sinisi also caught 29 passes for 293 yards, both highs for conference running backs, with two of those catches going for scores.
Blocking for Sinisi at right guard was sophomore Shawn Wright (Fort Washington, Md./DeMatha), who earns his first all-conference honor in his first year as a full-time starter. Three of Monmouth's defensive players earned Second Team All-Conference, led by preseason All-NEC selection Kevin Walsh (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape). Walsh led the Hawk defensive line with 39 total tackles, including 13 solo stops. Walsh was a menace in opposing team's backfields, registering 11 tackles for a loss. He also had two forced fumbles, two blocked kicks and an interception as a junior.
Two MU defensive backs, fifth year senior Derek Bischoff (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) and senior Ayo Falae (Newark, N.J./Barringer) earned their first all-conference nods. Bischoff led the team in tackles from the safety position, finishing with 57 total tackles and a pair of interceptions. Falae was second on the team in stops, earning 49 tackles including four and a half for a loss. The senior also had 11 pass breakups to go with his two interceptions on the season.
“I'm happy to see that our players were recognized for their individual performances,” said head coach Kevin Callahan. “It's a tribute to them to see that their hard work has paid off.”
The 10 players marked the second most ever by the Hawks, with last year's team and the 2004 squad having 11 players represented. Monmouth finished the season with a 4-6 record, including winning three of its last four games.
