Monmouth's Nelson, URI's Pena Receive Top Honors As CAA Football Announces 2025 Postseason Awards
Rob Washburn
2025 All-CAA Press Release (pdf)
RICHMOND, Va. (November 25, 2025) – Monmouth sophomore running back
Rodney Nelson received Offensive Player of the Year honors and Rhode Island senior linebacker
A.J. Pena earned Defensive Player of the Year accolades as the 2025 CAA Football postseason awards were announced on Tuesday.
Other major award recipients included Rhode Island’s
Jim Fleming as CAA Coach of the Year, Villanova sophomore running back/kick returner
Ja’briel Mace as Special Teams Player of the Year, Elon freshman quarterback
Landen Clark and Towson freshman quarterback
Andrew Indorf as Co-Offensive Rookies of the Year and Monmouth freshman defensive end
Lamont Lester, Jr. as Defensive Rookie of the Year. CAA Football’s all-conference awards were voted on by the league’s head coaches.
Nelson led the CAA and ranked second in FCS in rushing, piling up 1,802 yards and 18 touchdowns for one of the nation's most prolific offenses. The sophomore ran for 100 or more yards in nine of his 12 games and topped the 200-yard mark three times. He added 30 receptions for 229 yards and a TD to lead the country in all-purpose yardage (2,031). Nelson’s 1,802 rushing yards are the second-most in Monmouth history and ranks as the fifth-highest total ever in the CAA.
Pena capped a record-setting career with a stellar senior season. The Rams’ linebacker recorded 61 total tackles and led the CAA and ranked sixth in FCS with 17.5 tackles for loss. His 9.5 sacks were tied for second in the conference, and he added 11 quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. Pena helped the Rams lead the CAA and rank in the top 20 nationally in total defense (312.4 ypg) and scoring defense (19.2 ppg). He holds URI records for career sacks (36.5) and tackles for loss (62).
Fleming guided Rhode Island to its second straight CAA Football title with an 8-0 record, which marked the Rams’ first unbeaten season in conference play and outright conference championship since 1985. URI went 10-2 overall, tying the program record for regular season victories, and closed the year on a six-game winning streak. The Rams earned the No. 9 overall seed in the NCAA FCS playoffs and are ranked No. 8 in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll.
Mace ranks second in the nation with 32.9-yard kickoff return average. He was one of five FCS players to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in 2025, going 100 yards vs. William & Mary on Sept. 27 and 97 yards against Elon on Oct. 11. The sophomore also excelled at running back, rushing for 600 yards and eight touchdowns on just 70 carries (8.6 ypc) and adding two receiving touchdowns.
Clark made an impact as a passer and runner, ranking fourth in the CAA and 24
th in FCS in total offense (244.6 ypg). The freshman completed 155-of-277 passes for 2,321 yards and 18 touchdowns and was Elon’s second-leading rusher with 614 yards and 11 TD’s. The 29 total TD’s are the second-most in program history and he ranks 18
th nationally in points responsible for (14.7 ppg).
Indorf completed 187-of-314 passes for 2,344 yards and 16 touchdowns with only four interceptions and added 108 yards on the ground. The true freshman’s 16 passing TD’s were the most for a Tigers’ quarterback since 2019. He threw for 200 or more yards four times and fired multiple touchdown passes in four contests.
Lester contributed 37 tackles, a team-high 11.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. The 9.5 sacks were tied for second in the CAA and 11
th nationally. He was involved in at least one sack in nine of 12 games. Lester added a team-best 10 quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.
2025 CAA Football First Team Offense
|
| Player, School |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
| Devin Farrell, Rhode Island |
QB |
Jr. |
Stockbridge, Ga. |
| Roland Dempster, Stony Brook |
RB |
Gr. |
Staten Island, N.Y. |
| Rodney Nelson, Monmouth |
RB |
So. |
Owings Mills, Md. |
| Peyton Strickland, New Hampshire |
FB/HB |
Jr. |
Goffstown, N.H. |
| Marquis Buchanan, Rhode Island |
WR |
Jr. |
Providence, R.I. |
| Josh Derry, Monmouth |
WR |
Jr. |
Towson, Md. |
| Isaiah Fuhrmann, Elon |
WR |
So. |
Norfolk, Va. |
| Connor Finer, Rhode Island |
TE |
Sr. |
New Port Richey, Fla. |
| Temi Ajirotutu, Villanova |
OL |
Gr. |
Queens, N.Y. |
| JT Cornelius, Monmouth |
OL |
Gr. |
Toms River, N.J. |
| Ryan McKenna, William & Mary |
OL |
Gr. |
Doylestown, Pa. |
| Tolu Olajide, New Hampshire |
OL |
Gr. |
Lawrenceville, N.J. |
| Stephane Voltaire, Villanova |
OL |
Sr. |
Randolph, Mass. |
| Nick Reed, New Hampshire |
PK |
So. |
Harrison, N.Y. |
| Ja’briel Mace, Villanova |
KR |
So. |
Somers Point, N.J. |
| Elijah Kennedy, North Carolina A&T |
PR |
Jr. |
High Point, N.C. |
2025 CAA Football First Team Defense
|
| Player, School |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
| Kahmari Brown, Elon |
DL |
So. |
Jacksonville, N.C. |
| Dyshier Clary, Stony Brook |
DL |
Gr. |
East Camden, N.J. |
| Balansama Kamara, UAlbany |
DL |
Jr. |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
| Lamont Lester, Jr., Monmouth |
DL |
Fr. |
Jersey City, N.J. |
| Michael Otty, Bryant |
DL |
Gr. |
Brooklyn, N.Y. |
| Luke Banbury, William & Mary |
LB |
Gr. |
Pittsburgh, Pa. |
| Shane Hartzell, Villanova |
LB |
Sr. |
Perkasie, Pa. |
| A.J. Pena, Rhode Island |
LB |
Sr. |
Montclair, N.J. |
| Christian Thomas, Maine |
LB |
Gr. |
Norristown, Pa. |
| Jalen Jones, William & Mary |
CB |
Sr. |
Chesapeake, Va. |
| Ayinde Johnson, Rhode Island |
CB |
Sr. |
Danbury, Conn. |
| Jaeden Jones, Monmouth |
S |
So. |
Colonia, N.J. |
| Xavier Terry, Towson |
S |
Gr. |
Washington, D.C. |
| Jeff Yurk, Elon |
P |
Sr. |
Southern Pines, N.C. |
| Stephon Hicks, William & Mary |
SPEC |
So. |
Chester, Va. |
| 2025 Offensive Player of the Year: Rodney Nelson, Monmouth |
| 2025 Defensive Player of the Year: A.J. Pena, Rhode Island |
| 2025 Coach of the Year: Jim Fleming, Rhode Island |
| 2025 Special Teams Player of the Year: Ja’briel Mace, Villanova |
| 2025 Co-Offensive Rookies of the Year: Landen Clark, Elon and Andrew Indorf, Towson |
| 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year: Lamont Lester, Jr., Monmouth |
|
2025 CAA Football Second Team Offense
|
| Player, School |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
| Derek Robertson, Monmouth |
QB |
Gr. |
Hartsdale, N.Y. |
| Elijah Elliott, Bryant |
RB |
Gr. |
Portland, Ore. |
| Antwain Litttleton, Jr., Rhode Island |
RB |
Sr. |
Greenbelt, Md. |
| Dylan Magazu, Elon |
FB/HB |
So. |
Newtown, Conn. |
| Luke Colella, Villanova |
WR |
Gr. |
Wexford, Pa. |
| Greg Gaines III, Rhode Island |
WR |
Jr. |
Tampa, Fla. |
| TJ Speight, Monmouth |
WR |
Sr. |
Fort Meade, Md. |
| Carter Moses, UAlbany |
TE |
Jr. |
Wilmington, N.C. |
| Tre Alexander, Rhode Island |
OL |
Jr. |
Tampa, Fla. |
| Brock Bethea, Rhode Island |
OL |
Sr. |
Pinson, Ala. |
| Tim Hogan, Elon |
OL |
Jr. |
Raleigh, N.C. |
| Anthony Iliano, Maine |
OL |
So. |
Cleveland, Ohio |
| Kadin Lynch, William & Mary |
OL |
Jr. |
Weaverville, N.C. |
| Andrew Brown, North Carolina A&T |
PK |
Sr. |
Lexington, N.C. |
| Keylijah Williams, Bryant |
KR |
Jr. |
Naples, Fla. |
| Scott Woods, Maine |
PR |
5th |
Lorton, Va. |
2025 CAA Football Second Team Defense
|
| Player, School |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
| Justice Akinmoladun, New Hampshire |
DL |
Gr. |
Grandview, Mo. |
| Josiah Graham, Monmouth |
DL |
Jr. |
Newport News, Va. |
| Marquis Hood, North Carolina A&T |
DL |
Jr. |
Decatur, Ga. |
| Obinna Nwobodo, Villanova |
DL |
Gr. |
Wilmington, Del. |
| Brodie Carroll, Elon |
LB |
So. |
Gainesville, Va. |
| Rohan Davy, Rhode Island |
LB |
So. |
Briggs Chaney, Md. |
| Anthony Ferrelli, Stony Brook |
LB |
Jr. |
Carlsbad, Calif. |
| Harold O’Neal, III, Hampton |
LB |
Gr. |
Baltimore, Md. |
| Ishmel Atkins, Elon |
CB |
Jr. |
Greensboro, N.C. |
| Myles Brodie, Towson |
CB |
Gr. |
Hyattsville, Md. |
| DJ James-Hamilton, Elon |
S |
Jr. |
Charlotte, N.C. |
| Christian Sapp, Villanova |
S |
Sr. |
East Stroudsburg, Pa. |
| Devin Vaught, Maine |
S |
So. |
Charlotte, N.C. |
| Bryce LaFollette, Towson |
P |
Jr. |
Chesapeake Beach, Md. |
| Chris Gales, UAlbany |
SPEC |
Sr. |
Cleveland, Ohio |
2025 CAA Football Third Team Offense
|
| Player, School |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
| Tyler Hughes, William & Mary |
QB |
Jr. |
Marietta, Ga. |
| Matt Vezza, New Hampshire |
QB |
So. |
Elmhurst, Ill. |
| David Avit, Villanova |
RB |
So. |
Frederick, Md. |
| Sincere Baines, Maine |
RB |
Jr. |
Fayetteville, N.C. |
| Sean McElwain, William & Mary |
FB/HB |
Jr. |
Glen Allen, Va. |
| Caleb Burke, New Hampshire |
WR |
Sr. |
Johnstown, Pa. |
| John Dunmore, Towson |
WR |
Gr. |
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. |
| Jayce Freeman, Stony Brook |
WR |
Jr. |
Salisbury, Md. |
| Scott Woods, Maine |
WR |
5th |
Lorton, Va. |
| Jackson Blee, William & Mary |
TE |
So. |
Belmont, N.C. |
| Jon Fagley, Bryant |
OL |
Sr. |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
| Chris Moreno, Monmouth |
OL |
So. |
Newark, N.J. |
| Korion Sharpe, North Carolina A&T |
OL |
Sr. |
Charlotte, N.C. |
| Christian Smith, Rhode Island |
OL |
Gr. |
Rumson, N.J. |
| Dan Volpe, Towson |
OL |
Sr. |
Colts Neck, N.J. |
| Luke Barnes, Elon |
PK |
So. |
Greensboro, N.C. |
| Elijah Kennedy, North Carolina A&T |
KR |
Jr. |
High Point, N.C. |
| Trayjen Llanas-Wilcox, Campbell |
PR |
Jr. |
Cameron, Texas |
| Braden Reed, Villanova |
PR |
Fr. |
Pottstown, Pa. |
2025 CAA Football Third Team Defense
|
| Player, School |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
| Justin Krueger, William & Mary |
DL |
Fr. |
Marietta, Ga. |
| Case Mankins, Rhode Island |
DL |
Jr. |
North Attleboro, Mass. |
| Jordan Mcallister, New Hampshire |
DL |
So. |
South Orange, N.J. |
| Elias Sherman, Maine |
DL |
So. |
Tulsa, Okla. |
| Darren Burton, New Hampshire |
LB |
Jr. |
Newark, N.J. |
| Asher Cunningham, Elon |
LB |
So. |
Asheville, N.C. |
| Moses Meus, Rhode Island |
LB |
So. |
Pawtucket, R.I. |
| Brandon Perkins, Bryant |
LB |
Sr. |
Williamstown, N.J. |
| Zahmir Dawud, Villanova |
CB |
So. |
North Brunswick, N.J. |
| Aaron Harris, North Carolina A&T |
CB |
Gr. |
Elizabeth City, N.C. |
| Tony Hart, Elon |
S |
So. |
Baltimore, Md. |
| Will Hicks, Hampton |
S |
So. |
New Orleans, La. |
| Carter Boyd, William & Mary |
P |
Fr. |
Charlottesville, Va. |
| Jaeden Jones, Monmouth |
SPEC |
So. |
Colonia, N.J. |
HONORABLE MENTION:
Pat McQuaide, QB, Villanova;
Carter Peevy, QB, Maine;
Myles Thomason, RB, New Hampshire;
Jimmyl Williams, RB, Elon;
Steven Mahar, FB/HB, UAlbany;
Jaceon Doss, WR, Towson;
Randall King, WR, Campbell;
Chase Wilson, WR, New Hampshire;
Deven Thompson, WR, William & Mary;
Jack Neri, TE, Monmouth;
Omari Allen, OL, Hampton;
Thomas Buxton, OL, Rhode Island;
Kyle Fay, OL, Villanova;
Shalik Hubbard, OL, Monmouth;
Freddie Pelling, OL, Campbell;
Garth White, PK, Rhode Island;
Caden Williams, PK, Towson;
Trevin Ewing, KR, Maine;
Jayce Freeman, KR, Stony Brook;
DJ James-Hamilton, PR, Elon;
Tim Alderman, DL, North Carolina A&T;
Jake Louro, DL, Elon;
Korede Sogbesan, DL, Hampton;
Dillon Dunathan, LB, UAlbany;
Lonnie Rice, LB, Bryant;
Alfred Thomas, LB, Towson;
Izzy Clark-White, CB, Monmouth;
Jamaree Gibson, CB, Maine;
Miles McGoy, CB, Stony Brook;
Vincent Nwachi, CB, Maine;
Andre DePina-Gray, S, Rhode Island;
Anthony Hawkins, S, Villanova;
Duncan Moreland, S, New Hampshire;
Brett Starling, P, Hampton;
Jevean Brown, SPEC, Elon