KINGSTON, R.I. - The Rhode Island Football team had 12 total players honored by CAA Football in its release of postseason accolades on Tuesday afternoon, highlighted by a pair of First Team selections in wide receiver Kahtero Summers and left tackle Lorenzo Thompson.

Cornerback Syeed Gibbs earned a league superlative, picking up the title of Rookie Defensive Player of the Year. Linebacker Evan Stewart represented URI on the Second Team, while punt returner Gabe Sloat, linebacker A.J. Pena, defensive lineman Westley Neal, Jr. and safety Brent Jackson were tabbed to the Third Team.

Quarterback Kasim Hill, center Sebastian Delasoudas, running back Ja'Den McKenzie and wide receiver Marquis Buchanan each received an honorable mention nod. 

Thompson and Delasoudas were key parts of an offensive line that allowed McKenzie to break a nearly 70-year-old record when he rushed for 13 touchdowns in 2023. The Rams' offense ran the ball for 133.3 yards per game, with McKenzie averaging 6.58 yards per carry - good for 10th in the country. Behind its line, URI was also 10th in the nation in passing offense (284.8 yds. per game). Delasoudas started 36 consecutive games at center, while Thompson started 37. 

Summers became the eighth player in program history to record 1,000 receiving yards when he finished his final campaign with 1,027. He was sixth in the country in the effort and his 93.4 yards per game were good for seventh. He tallied six touchdowns and averaged 18.34 yards per reception. Buchanan was also an integral part of Rhode Island's passing attack, totaling 638 receiving yards in his rookie season. The Rhode Island native caught four touchdown passes and surpassed 100 yards in three separate outings. Summers had four 100+ yard games. 

A member of the Jerry Rice Award Watch List, Gibbs started 10 games for Rhode Island in his rookie campaign. He had the second-most interceptions of any player in the conference with three and contributed as many pass breakups. Gibbs' 52.0 tackles were fifth-most among the Rhody defense and he tallied three TFLs. 

For the second time in three years, Stewart led the team in tackles as he finished the year with 86, 44 of which were solo stops. The New Jersey native completed his career with a 17-game starting streak, and surpassed 100 career solo tackles during the season-opener at Georgia State (Aug. 31). Stewart was credited with 5.5 TFLs and came up with one three-yard sack. He also had five pass breakups, four QB hurries and one forced fumble. 

Sloat had a breakout year as a punt returner, racking up 175 yards in 21 carries. His average of 8.3 yards per carry ranks 25th in the country and second in the league. The Rhode Island native's longest return was for 41 yards. The Rams also leaned on Sloat in the run game, where he gained 225 yards and found pay dirt twice. 

A true sophomore, Pena proved to be nearly impossible for opposing teams to contain, as he ranked within the top five of CAA Football in sacks (9.0, fourth) and tackles for loss (15.5, fifth). His average of 0.82 sacks per game ranks 12th in the country, while his effort in TFLs is good enough for 17th. Pena had 59.0 total tackles to go along with six QB hurries, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and an interception. His 14.5 career sacks rank ninth in Rhode Island's program history and he needs just five more tackles for loss to crack into that top 10.

One of the leaders on the defensive line, Neal tallied 5.0 TFLs for 16 yards and one nine-yard sack. He had 25 total stops and added four QB hurries in 10 games. 

Jackson made an immediate impact in his first year in Kingston, having joined the Rams after transferring from Bucknell. He started all 11 of the team's games at safety and finished with 74 tackles, the second-most on the defense. Jackson also broke up three passes, recovered a fumble and picked off a pass. He had 2.0 TFLs and was part of a defensive effort that allowed the fourth-lowest passing touchdowns in CAA Football. 

At the end of his seven-year career, Hill stands as the program's career leader in yards of total offense with 8,863 yards, a testament to the impact that he had on the Rams. The quarterback threw for the second-most yards in the country in 2023 (3,074) and was fourth in passing yards per game (279.5). He was 10th in the country in total offense (284.5) and 11th in passing yards per completion (13.91). With 418.1 yards per game, the Rams finished the year 21st in the nation in total offense.

McKenzie rushed for 855 total yards in 2023, the sixth-most of any player in CAA Football. His 13 rushing touchdowns, in addition to their standing in the URI record book, were second-most in the league. The West Chester transfer had five 100+ yard games, recording three-straight to end the season. Nine of McKenzie's touchdowns were scored in the final three games of the year. 

2023 CAA Football Postseason Awards
2023 Offensive Player of the Year: Jaden Shirden, Monmouth
2023 Defensive Player of the Year: Dylan Kelly, UAlbany
2023 Coach of the Year: Greg Gattuso, UAlbany
2023 Special Teams Player of the Year: Dylan Laube, New Hampshire
2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year: Griffin Woodell, UAlbany
2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year: Syeed Gibbs, Rhode Island
2023 Chuck Boone Leadership and Excellence Award: Max Brosmer, New Hampshire

First Team - Offense
Max Brosmer, New Hampshire, QB, Jr., Roswell, Ga.
Dylan Laube, New Hampshire, RB, Sr., Westhampton, N.Y.
Jaden Shirden, Monmouth, RB, Jr., West Haven, Conn.
Johncarlos Miller II, Elon, FB/HB, So., Greensboro, N.C.
Dymere Miller, Monmouth, WR, Sr., Coatesville, Pa.
Rayjoun Pringle, Villanova, WR, Gr., Woodbridge, Va.
Kahtero Summers, Rhode Island, WR, Gr., Coatesville, Pa.
Carter Runyon, Towson, TE, Jr., Fairfax, Va.
Ryan Coll, Richmond, OL, Sr., Gainesville, Va.
Michael Corbi, Villanova, OL, Gr., Annapolis, Md.
Mike Edwards, Campbell, OL, Gr., Hope Mills, N.C.
Charles Grant, William & Mary, OL, Jr., Portsmouth, Va.
Lorenzo Thompson, Rhode Island, OL, Sr., Syracuse, N.Y.
Caden Bonoffski, William & Mary, PK, Sr., Huntersville, N.C.
Taymon Cooke, North Carolina A&T, KR, Sr., Bluefield, Va.
Dylan Laube, New Hampshire, PR, Sr., Westhampton, N.Y.

First Team - Defense
Anton Juncaj, UAlbany, DL, Sr., Port Jervis, N.Y.
Nate Lynn, William & Mary, DL, Sr., Charlotte, N.C.
Marvin Pearson, Elon, DL, Sr., Asheville, N.C.
AJ Simon, UAlbany, DL, Sr., Tobyhanna, Pa.
Dylan Kelly, UAlbany, LB, Sr., Amhurst, N.Y.
John Pius, William & Mary, LB, Jr., Arlington, Va.
Jackson Taylor, Delaware, LB, Gr., Glenside, Pa.
Tristan Wheeler, Richmond, LB, Sr., Bethlehem, Pa.
Aamir Hall, UAlbany, CB, Jr., Baltimore, Md.
Ryan Poole, William & Mary, CB, Sr., Annapolis, Md.
Caleb Curtain, Elon, S, So., Greensboro, N.C.
Larry Walker, Jr., UAlbany, S, Sr., Aliquippa, Pa.
Aaron Trusler, Richmond, P, Sr., Melbourne, Australia
Jabril Hayes, Richmond, SPEC, Jr., Stephens City, Va.

Second Team - Offense
Reese Poffenbarger, UAlbany, QB, So., Middletown, Md.
Jalen Jackson, Villanova, RB, Gr., Richmond, Va.
Marcus Yarns, Delaware, RB, Sr., Salisbury, Md.
Sone Ntoh, Monmouth, FB/HB, Gr., Macungle, Pa.
Nick DeGennaro, Richmond, WR, Jr., Old Bridge, N.J.
Brevin Easton, UAlbany, WR, Sr., Severn, Md.
Julian Hicks, UAlbany, WR, Gr., Cleveland, Ohio
Kyle Lepkowski, New Hampshire, TE, Sr., Adamstown, Md.
Greg Anderson, Monmouth, OL, Gr., Carlstadt, N.J.
Ozzie Hutchinson, UAlbany, OL, Sr., Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Brandon Hardy, Hampton, OL, Sr., Vanceboro, N.C.
Osho Omoyeni, New Hampshire, OL, Sr., Lowell, Mass.
Tairiq Stewart, North Carolina A&T, OL, Gr., Cleveland, Ohio
Keegan Vaughan, Towson, PK, Jr., Richmond, Va.
Dylan Laube, New Hampshire, KR, Sr., Westhampton, N.Y.
Jourdan Townsend, Delaware, PR, Gr., Farrell, Pa.

Second Team - Defense
Jesus Gibbs, Towson, DL, Gr., Dumfries, Va.
Chase McGowan, Delaware, DL, Gr., Stafford, Va.
Dylan Ruiz, New Hampshire, DL, Jr., Orlando, Fla.
Josiah Silver, New Hampshire, DL, Jr., Hampton, Va.
Brandon Bell, Villanova, LB, Sr., Basking Ridge, N.J.
Ori Jean-Charles, UAlbany, LB, Gr., Spring Valley, N.Y.
Evan Stewart, Rhode Island, LB, Sr., Sparta, N.J.
Qwahsin Townsel, Hampton, LB, Gr., Egg Harbor, N.J.
Robert Javier, Towson, CB, Gr., Bronx, N.Y.
Isas Waxter, Villanova, CB, Sr., Newark, N.J.
Aaron Banks, Richmond, S, Gr., Stephens City, Va.
Ty Trinh, Villanova, S, Sr., Owings Mills, Md.
Tyler Pastula, UAlbany, P, Sr., Easton, Pa.
TD Ayo-Durojaiye, Villanova, SPEC, Gr., Damascus, Md.

Third Team - Offense
Connor Watkins, Villanova, QB, Gr., Williamsport, Pa,
Elijah Burris, Hampton, RB, Jr., Gastonia, N.C.
Jalen Hampton, Elon, RB, So., Frederick, Md.
Rohan Jones, Maine, FB/HB, So., Montreal, Quebec
Anthony Johnson, Stony Brook, WR, Fr., Burlington, N.J.
Logan Tomlinson, New Hampshire, WR, Gr., Manchester, Conn.
Jourdan Townsend, Delaware, WR, Gr., Farrell, Pa.
Braden Brose, Delaware, TE, Gr., Irwin, Pa.
Temi Ajirotutu, Villanova, OL, Sr., Queens, N.Y.
Fintan Brose, Delaware, OL, Sr., Irwin, Pa.
Will Marotta, UAlbany, OL, Sr., Collegeville, Pa.
Tyler McLellan, Campbell, OL, Gr., North Charleston, S.C.
Matt O'Neill, New Hampshire, OL, Sr., Weymouth, Mass.
Tyler Williams, Monmouth, OL, Gr., Pine Bush, N.Y.
John Opalko, UAlbany, PK, Jr., Springdale, Pa.
D'Ago Hunter, Towson, KR, Gr., Culpeper, Va.
Gabe Sloat, Rhode Island, PR, Jr., North Kingstown, R.I.

Third Team - Defense
Jeremiah Grant, Richmond, DL, Jr., South Orange, N.J.
Marlem Louis, Richmond, DL, Sr., Venice, Fla.
Westley Neal, Jr., Rhode Island, DL, Jr., Miami, Fla.
Jake Reichwein, Villanova, DL, Gr., Doylestown, Pa.
Kevin Jarrell, William & Mary, LB, Sr., Charlottesville, Va.
A.J. Pena, Rhode Island, LB, So., Branchburg, N.J.
CJ Tillman, Campbell, LB, Jr., Rockingham, N.C.
BJ Turner, North Carolina A&T, LB, Gr., Greensboro, N.C.
Jaidyn Denis, Elon, CB, Jr., Charlotte, N.C.
Karon Prunty, North Carolina A&T, CB, Jr., Portsmouth, Va.
Ty Davis, Delaware, S, Jr., Mount Laurel, N.J.
Brent Jackson, Rhode Island, S, Gr., Denton, Texas
Ryan Kost, Delaware, P, Gr., Newtown, Conn.
Charles Briscoe III, New Hampshire, SPEC, Sr., Bowie, Md.

Honorable Mention
Kasim Hill, QB, Rhode Island; Derek Robertson, QB, Maine; Malachi Imoh, RB, William & Mary; Ja'Den McKenzie, RB, Rhode Island; Ian Renninger, FB/HB, UAlbany; Chandler Brayboy, WR, Elon; Marquis Buchanan, WR, Rhode Island; VJ Wilkins, WR/KR, Campbell; Sebastian Delasoudas, OL, Rhode Island; Kevin Jones, OL, Maine; Ryan McKenna, OL, William & Mary; Ralph Paige, OL, Towson; Antonio Colclough, DL, Monmouth; Dion Crews-Harris, DL, Towson; Jake Brown, LB, Monmouth; Shane Hartzell, LB, Villanova; Aidan Kaler, LB, Stony Brook; Ryan Toscano, LB, New Hampshire; Tyron Herring, CB, Delaware; Eddie Morales III, CB, Monmouth; Marcus Barnes, S, William & Mary; Joe Eichman, S, New Hampshire; Bo Sanders, S, Elon; Malcolm Spencer, S, William & Mary; Tyrese Wright, S, Monmouth; Josh Cupitt, P, Towson; Nate Fondacaro, P, Villanova; Bobby Cleary, LS, Campbell