KINGSTON, R.I. - The Rhode Island football team had four student-athletes earn All-New England honors from the New England Football Writers Association in linebacker A.J. Pena, fullback Tommy Smith, running back Malik Grant and offensive lineman Brock Bethea. 

Thirty-eight total players representing all 16 Division I football playing schools in New England were named to the team. New Hampshire led the way with five selections while the Rams, Harvard and Dartmouth had four picks each. Holy Cross, CCSU and UConn placed three players on the team. Checking in with two honorees each were Boston College, Merrimack and Yale. One player each was selected from Brown, Bryant, Maine, Sacred Heart, Stonehill and UMass.

The awards come on the heels of CAA Football recognition for each of the aforementioned players. Both Pena and Smith, listed as a member of special teams, made the league's First Team. Smith also made the Second Team as a fullback, where he was joined by Bethea. Grant was tabbed to the Third Team. 

Pena is currently second all time in career tackles for loss (42) and sacks (26.5) in the Rhody record book. A true junior, he has started all 13 games this season for the Rams and has forced the opposition to lose more than 100 yards with 20 TFLs and 12 sacks. His ability to get to the quarterback has helped the Rams to 33 sacks as a team, setting a new single-season record. Rhody is 25th in the country in that category in 20th in team tackles for loss (88). Pena made the team as a sophomore in 2023.

Smith has been a pleasant surprise out of the wildcat formation for URI, rushing for two touchdowns in his redshirt senior season. The 6-2 Maynard, Mass. native, who also lines up at wide receiver, has 26 catches for 407 yards. He is tied with teammate Moses Meus for the team lead with nine special teams tackles. 

A 2021 and 2022 All-New England honoree from Sacred Heart University, Grant exploded onto the scene in his first year with the Rams. During last weekend's game against Central Connecticut State, he broke Rhode Island's single-season rushing record by going for 223 yards on the ground, lifting his yearly total to 1,390. David Jamison (2001) previously held the mark with 1,302 yards. With 13 rushing touchdowns, he has tied the program's single-season record set a year ago by Ja'Den McKenzie and will have a chance to set a new mark this weekend. 

Much of Grant's success has come from the blocking by the offensive line, an effort that Bethea has spearheaded. In his second year as a starter for the Rams, Bethea owns a 24-game starting streak. Rhody's offensive line has the second-lowest sacks against in CAA Football (14) and has allowed the least sacks in a season with 10+ games since 2016 (12). 

Rhode Island's historic season will continue with a second-round FCS Playoffs matchup at No. 7 Mercer on Saturday, Dec. 7. Kickoff between the Bears and the 10th-seeded Rams is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+. 

The team will be honored at the New England Football Writers Captains and Award Banquet on Thursday, Dec. 12 at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center.