Wadley Collects NEC Major Award; Eight All-Conference Honors Overall

SOMERSET, N.J. – The Merrimack College football team saw seven players earn Northeast Conference All-Conference honors. Versatile offensive threat Donovan Wadley won NEC Offensive Player of the Year for his numbers throughout the season.  

Four Warriors earned placement on the First Team All-NEC list, including Wadley who was selected as a wide receiver, as well as a return specialist. Junior running back Tyvon Edmonds Jr., senior and junior offensive linemen Antonio Derry and Nick Reimer also made the list. Three Warriors were also named to the Second Team All-NEC list, including sophomore offensive lineman Joey Trainor, junior defensive lineman Chiebuka Aduaka, and junior defensive back Tre Jordan III.  

The Warriors finished the season in their second straight NEC Championship game.
 
Offensive Player of the Year & All-NEC First Team (Wide Receiver and Return Specialist): Donovan Wadley
Wadley had a breakout season for the Warriors. The Newark, N.J. native was a threat in the rushing, receiving, and kick return game the entire season. Wadley rushed for 216 yards and three touchdowns this season, including 102 yards in the Merrimack victory over Sacred Heart. The Jersey product had 26 receptions on the season for 471 yards and five touchdowns. As a constant downfield threat, Wadley had multiple touchdowns on two separate occasions. As a return specialist, Wadley had three kick returns for touchdowns, which ranked him in the top three nationally. He had 17 returns for a total of 645 yards.       
 
All-NEC First Team: Tyvon Edmonds Jr.  
Edmonds Jr. had an unbelievable season running the ball for the Warriors. The White Plains, Md native rushed the ball 279 times for 1,247 yards and 10 touchdowns. Edmonds Jr. rushed for over 100-yards five times, and for over 200-yards once. He had multiple touchdowns on three different occasions. He ranked first in the league in rushing yards and touchdowns. He also ranked in the top five nationally in rushing yards.
 
All-NEC First Team: Antonio Derry
For the second straight season Derry has been named to the All-NEC Frist Team. Derry, a senior offensive lineman from Baltimore, Maryland, was excellent this season helping the team in block for the running and passing game which excelled for the Warriors in the 11 games he played. He helped the Merrimack running backs rush for 186 yards per game. In the pass game, Derry helped block for two Warrior quarterbacks 1302 and 10 touchdowns.
 
All-NEC First Team: Nick Reimer
Reimer earns his first appearance on the All-NEC First Team. The six-foot-six offensive lineman was a cog in the middle the Warrior line all season long. He helped Edmonds Jr. rush for 1,247 yards and 10 touchdowns as well as block in the passing game for both Gavin McCusker and Malaki Anthony.
 
All-NEC Second Team: Joey Trainor
Trainor earns his first nod on the All-NEC Second Team after the 2023 season. A sophomore from Washington D.C., Trainor helped the Warrior offensive line the entire season. He started in all 11 games for Merrimack. Trainor has made an immediate impact on the field for the Warriors. Merrimack ranked first in the conference in rushing touchdowns and second in rushing yards per game.  
 
All-NEC Second Team: Chiebuka Aduaka
Aduaka was a force on the defensive side of the ball for the Warriors all season. The Edgewood, Md native had an outrageous 10 tackles for a loss for a total off 44 yards. He had a total of five sacks, including three against Saint Francis (PA). Aduaka had a total of 20 tackles on the year.
 
All-NEC Second Team: Tre Jordan III
Jordan III was the lone defensive back to get selected to an all-conference team for the Warriors. Also from Edgewood Md, Jordan III had three interceptions on the season. He also had 20 tackles, including two and a half for a loss. Jordan III had one forced fumble for the Warriors in the 2023 season.