WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ- Monmouth University's football program finished the season ranked 10^th in two of the three end-of-season polls and had the distinction of being the top-ranked private school.
 
The Hawks, who won their second consecutive Big South Title this spring, ranked 10^th in both the American Football Coaches Association Poll (AFCA) and the Athlon Sports Poll while finishing 11^th in the STATS Perform Media Poll. In all three polls the Hawks were the only private school as state schools dominated the top nine or 10 spots.
 
"After this unpredictable spring season, Monmouth was one of just four private universities to be ranked in the top 20 in all three FCS polls – and the only one ranked in the top-10," said Monmouth University President Dr. Patrick Leahy. "For an institution of our medium size and relatively young history, we can compete on a national level. That says a lot about our winning culture."
 
The Hawks won all three of their regular season games in the shorted spring 2021 season, clinching their second consecutive Big South title. Monmouth drew the fourth seeded Sam Houston Bearkats and had an opportunity to upset the eventual national champions in the final minute of the contest.
 
Monmouth Head Coach Kevin Callahan, who won his fifth conference coach of the year honor, finished 10^th in the voting for the Eddie Robinson Award (Top FCS Coach). Callahan's 166 wins is sixth among active FCS coaches and is one of three head coaches with 150+ wins at one institution (second most wins all at one institution).
 
The Hawks claimed two NCAA statistical champions in Juwon Farri (scoring) and the team on defense for most sacks (4.50 per game). Farri, the Big South Offensive Player of the Year, was a consensus Second Team All-America selection and was top-3 nationally in a number of rushing statistics. Freshman quarterback Tony Muskett earned Big South Offensive Freshman of the Year en route to a fifth-place finish for the Jerry Rice Award (FCS Freshman of the Year). The Hawks had a record 17 players earn spots on the All-Big South teams.
 
Callahan, beginning his 29^th season at the helm of the Blue & White will have 10 starters on both sides of the ball returning for the fall 2021 campaign.  The Hawks recently announced the 2021 schedule which features five home games including contests against Princeton, Holy Cross and Gardner-Webb among others. Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at MonmouthHawks.com
 
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