CAA Football Weekly Awards - Oct. 14
Rob Washburn
RICHMOND, Va. (October 14, 2024) – CAA Football has announced its weekly award winners for Week 7 of the 2024 season. Delaware graduate wide receiver Phil Lutz was selected as the Offensive Player of the Week, while New Hampshire senior defensive end Josiah Silver received Defensive Player of the Week accolades. Rhode Island senior linebacker Gabe Salomons was chosen as the Special Teams Player of the Week and Bryant freshman linebacker Cole Nilles was named the Rookie of the Week.
CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week
Phil Lutz, Gr., WR, Delaware (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex)
Lutz made five receptions for 133 yards (26.6 ypr), including a record-setting 56-yard TD catch, in Delaware’s 44-21 win over Maine. It was the third 100+-yard receiving effort of the season for Lutz, who set a UD program record by catching a TD pass for a sixth straight game. He ranks 2
nd in the CAA with 547 receiving yards and 8 TD’s.
CAA Football Defensive Player of the Week
Josiah Silver, Sr., DE, New Hampshire (Hampton, Va./Phoebus)
Silver recorded seven tackles, including a career-high tying 4.0 sacks and 5.0 TFL’s, in UNH’s 17-10 road win at Elon. The four sacks are tied for the most in FCS this season and were part of a nine-sack outing by the Wildcats’ defense, which held EU to 231 total yards and no points over the final three quarters. He’s tied for the FCS lead with 7.5 sacks.
CAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Gabe Salomons, Sr., LB, Rhode Island (West Hartford, Conn./Hall)
Salomons blocked a game-tying 37-yard field goal attempt with 8:44 to go to help secure Rhode Island’s 31-21 victory over Brown. The Rams were able to drive 80 yards for a TD on the ensuing possession. Along with the blocked kick, Salomons recorded six tackles, 2.0 TFL’s and a half-sack, including a key stop on a 4
th-and-1 play.
CAA Football Rookie of the Week
Cole Nilles, Fr., LB, Bryant (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph’s Prep)
Nilles contributed a career-high 13 tackles, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry in Bryant’s 17-10 setback to UAlbany. He led a Bulldogs’ defense that limited UAlbany to 341 yards and forced two turnovers. Nilles has made 21 stops over the past two games and leads Bryant with 39 tackles and 5.0 TFL’s.