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University of Rhode Island

2025 Football Roster

Sal Annino
Nora Kelley
Michaela Benford
Connor Caldon
Connor Caldon
Connor Caldon
Connor Caldon
Connor Caldon
Connor Caldon

8 A.J. Pena

  • Position Linebacker
  • Height 6-2
  • Weight 243
  • Class Senior
  • Hometown Montclair, N.J.
  • High School Somerville

Biography

Career Honors & Awards

  • Associated Press First Team All-American (2024)
  • Stats Perform First Team All-American (2024)
  • FCS Football Central First Team All-American (2024)
  • Phil Steele First Team All-American (2024)
  • First Team All-CAA Football (2024)
  • Buck Buchanan Award Finalist (2024) 
  • New England Football Writers Association All-New England (2024)
  • Phil Steele All-CAA Football First Team (2024)
  • CAA Football Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 16, 2024)
  • All-CAA Football Third Team (2023)
  • New England Football Writers Association All-New England Team (2023)
  • Phil Steele All-CAA Football Second Team (2023)
  • Named the CAA Football Rookie of the Week (Sept. 12, 2022)

2024 (Junior)
  • Started all 14 games as an outside linebacker
  • Tallied 82 tackles with 22.5 TFLs, 12.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and two pass breakups 
  • Ranked in the nation’s top 10 in both tackles for loss (seventh) and sacks (10th)
  • Forced opposing offenses to lose over 100 yards (113)
  • Recorded at least 1.0 TFL in all but three games 
  • Made eight tackles to go along with 2.0 sacks, 2.5 TFLs and one fumble recovery during the win over Campbell (Sept. 14)
  • Earned CAA Football Defensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts
  • Had 2.0 sacks for seven yards on the road at LIU (Sept. 21)
  • Racked up eight tackles against Brown (Oct. 12)
  • Sacked the No. 19/24 New Hampshire quarterback twice for 20 yards and had one pass breakup (Oct. 19)
  • Recovered a fumble and added seven tackles against Monmouth (Nov. 2) 
  • Recorded 2.0 sacks for 16 yards against UAlbany to go along with seven tackles (Nov. 16)
  • Racked up seven tackles in the season finale at Mercer (Dec. 7) 
  • His 12.5 sacks were the seventh-most in Rhody’s single-season history, as were his 22.5 TFLs
  • Ended the year second all-time in both URI career sacks (27) and TFLs (44.5)
  • Finished the year with a 21-game starting streak
  • Served as a game captain once and the anchor bearer twice
2023 (Sophomore)
  • Appeared in each of Rhode Island’s 11 games, earning the start in all but two 
  • Finished 12th in the country during the regular season with 0.82 sacks per game
  • His 15.5 TFLs were good for 17th in the national standings
  • Made four solo tackles in the season opener at Georgia State (Aug. 31)
  • Recorded a 12-yard sack, a forced fumble, a pass breakup and five total tackles during the win over Stony Brook (Sept. 8)
  • Had 1.5 sacks for a loss of 12 yards as part of a six-tackle effort at Maine (Sept. 15)
  • Chipped in three tackles and combined for a TFL at No. 25 Villanova (Sept. 23)
  • Tallied a season-best nine tackles, three TFLs and two sacks during the win over Bryant (Sept. 30)
  • Made six tackles and recorded three TFLs, as well as a five-yard sack, during the win at Brown (Oct. 7)
  • Racked up eight tackles to go along with two TFLs and a sack during the game against Richmond (Oct. 14)
  • Also forced a fumble in the outing opposite the Spiders
  • Recorded his first career interception, which he returned for 28 yards, at UAlbany (Oct. 21)
  • Credited with seven tackles, three QB hurries and a six-yard sack in the win over No. 20 New Hampshire (Oct. 28)
  • Combined for a sack and had five total stops in the game against North Carolina A&T (Nov. 11)
  • Finished the year with three tackles and a three-yard sack at Towson (Nov. 18)
2022 (Freshman)
  • Appeared in all 11 games
  • Finished the season with 22 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and one blocked punt
  • Had three tackles and one tackle for loss against UAlbany (11/19)
  • Made one stop at New Hampshire (11/12)
  • Had two tackles against Maine (11/5)
  • Recorded three tackles at Monmouth (10/22)
  • Had one tackle and two quarterback hurries against Elon (10/15)
  • Made four stops against Brown (10/1)
  • Recorded one tackle at Pitt (9/24)
  • Had one tackle and one pass break up against Delaware (9/17)
  • Had six tackles and 3.5 sacks at Bryant, which earned him CAA Football Rookie of the Week honors. The 3.5 sacks tied for the second most in a game in program history (9/10)
  • Made his collegiate debut and had one quarterback hurry at Stony Brook (9/1)

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 45

    2022Freshman

    Linebacker
    6'2" 235 lbs
    45
  • 8

    2023Sophomore

    Linebacker
    6'2" 235 lbs
    8
  • 8

    2024Junior

    Linebacker
    6'2" 243 lbs
    8
  • 8

    2025Senior

    Linebacker
    6'2" 243 lbs
    8