WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- Monmouth's David Sinisi (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove), Kevin Walsh (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape) and Jose Gumbs (Queens, N.Y./Hebron Academy) all earned major Northeast Conference end of season awards, while a total of nine Hawks were named to all conference teams, league officials announced on Monday.
Sinisi, the 2006 NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year, took home 2008 NEC Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,674 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior. The Cedar Grove native finished tied for first in the country in scoring while breaking every Monmouth single-season and career rushing record. Sinisi ran for 100+ yards in nine out of 11 contests in 2008 en route to winning conference player of the week three times. His 152.8 yards per game ranked second in the NCAA (FCS level), while his 286 carries was fourth most in the nation. Sinisi set the NEC career scoring record in the 10th game of the season and now has 55 career touchdowns, 52 of which came on the ground. The team co-captain is just the third MU player to earn the award.
Walsh, a senior defensive tackle, became the fourth Monmouth player to earn NEC Defensive Player of the Year after wrapping up his final season with impressive numbers. The Mt. Laurel, N.J., native finished with 38 total tackles, including 12 tackles for a loss, despite missing two games due to injury. Walsh, who earned defensive player of the week three times, finished with six sacks, which was second in the league. The captain also menaced offenses with three pass breakups, seven quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Gumbs was named NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year after punishing opposing players from his safety position. The redshirt freshman led the Hawks in tackles with 60, despite missing the Albany game with an injury. Forty three of his tackles were of the solo variety, with four dropping players for a loss. He also was credited with five pass breakups and a fumble recovery on the season. Gumbs, who was not a rookie of the week honoree all season, is the first Hawk to earn defensive rookie of the year honors and just the third MU player to be named as the conference's top rookie.
Sinisi and Walsh headlined a total of nine Monmouth players to earn Northeast Conference honors. Sinisi represented one of the two running backs on the First Team All-Conference, with tight end John Nalbone (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence), offensive linemen Nick LoCastro (Wenonah, N.J./Gateway Regional), Shawn Wright (Fort Washington, Md./DeMatha Catholic) and Kevin Sterling (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) joining him on the first team. Walsh was the lone Hawk defender on the first team. Fifth-year senior Fred Weingart (New Egypt, N.J./New Egypt) was the First Team All-NEC selection for place kicker.
Nalbone earned his second consecutive First Team All-NEC award after pacing the Hawks in receptions, receiving yardage and touchdowns caught with 42, 491 and five, respectively. The accomplished run blocker was a second team selection as a freshman and sophomore, giving him four all-league awards in four seasons. The fifth-year senior ended his career with 101 catches for 1,079 yards and nine touchdowns, all school records for tight ends. LoCastro earned his second first team nod, while Wright, a junior, was named First Team All-NEC for the first time after his second team selection in 2007. Sterling, a first time all-conference player, combined with the other MU lineman to lead one of the nation's best rushing attacks. In addition, the Hawks allowed just nine sacks in 11 games, which tied for eighth best in the NCAA. Weingart led the NEC's place kickers in scoring with 5.2 points per game, which was also seventh in the conference. The fifth-year senior connected on a league high eight field goals, with a long of 44 yards. Weingart's 72.7 field goal percentage was tops in the conference among kickers with at least 10 field goal attempts. His 204 career points is the fifth most in MU history and the highest of any Monmouth kicker.
Quarterback Brett Burke (Wall, N.J./Wall), an all-conference selection last season, was named Second Team All-Conference along with defensive back Ayo Falae (Newark, N.J./Barringer). Burke had a solid season, completing 64.6 percent of his passes while throwing 12 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions. The fifth-year senior threw for 1,743 yards in 2008 and ended his career among the top five in six separate MU passing records. Falae ended his career with 48 tackles, which was third on the Hawks. The two-time Second Team All-NEC selection registered six pass breakups and 35 solo tackles as a fifth-year senior.
MU's nine players on all-league teams was second only to conference champion Albany, who had 13 selections. Robert Morris wideout James O'Quinn was NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year, while Great Dane head man Bob Ford earned coach of the year honors.
Monmouth finished the 2008 season with a 7-4 record, losing to a pair of Colonial Athletic Association teams by a total of seven points. MU's only conference loss was to eventual league champion Albany.
