CAA Champion Rhody Rams Featuring Three First Team All Conference Players

The Rhode Island football team had 13 total players honored by CAA Football in its release of postseason awards on Tuesday afternoon, highlighted by First Team selections in defensive lineman Westley Neal, Jr., linebacker A.J. Pena and special teams player Tommy Smith.

In total, 11 Rams grabbed a program-best 12 all-conference spots with two additional players earning Honorable Mention. Rhode Island had previously earned nine all-conference spots in the 1995 and 2022 seasons.

Both Neal, Jr. and Pena moved up after Third Team All-Conference seasons a year ago. For Smith, who also landed on the Second Team as a fullback, the recognition is the first of his career. Wide receiver Marquis Buchanan, offensive lineman Brock Bethea and defensive back Fredrick Mallay landed spots on the Second Team to join Smith. On the Third Team, URI was represented by quarterback Devin Farrell, running back Malik Grant, offensive lineman Tre Alexander, linebacker Cole Brockwell and safety Emmanuel Gomes. Both defensive lineman Carson Primrose and linebacker Devin Hightower garnered Honorable Mention.

A four-year starter for the Rams, Neal, Jr. absorbs a lot of attention from the offensive line which has allowed the defense to accumulate a league-best 83 tackles for loss. The team captain has 33 tackles, 4.5 TFLs and 2.0 sacks to his credit, as well as a pass breakup. Neal, Jr. also made headlines when he blocked what would have been the game-tying field goal in the team’s 20-17 win over UAlbany (Nov. 16). As a defense, Rhody has given up just 1,425 rushing yards, the second least in the league. The Rams are first in the conference by allowing just 3.3 yards per carry.

In this third year at URI, Pena has already solidified himself as one of the best defensive players in program history. He is second all-time in both career TFLs (39.5) and career sacks (24.5) and has started all 12 of the team’s games this season. Pena leads the conference in tackles for loss (18.0), an effort that’s good for 10th in the country, and has the third-most sacks in CAA Football (10.5, ninth nationally). The Montclair, N.J. native has 70 tackles with five QB hurries, two pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. He was named CAA Football Defensive Player of the Week after Rhody’s rout of Campbell (Sept. 14), during which he had eight tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks and a fumble recovery.

Smith lines up regularly as a half back, fullback, tight end and wide receiver as one fo the Rams’ most versatile offensive weapons. He leads Rhode Island with nine special teams tackles and is part of a unit that is third in the league in punt return defense and fourth in kickoff return defense. He scored a rushing touchdown during the win at No. 19/24 New Hampshire (Oct. 19) and his lone other carry this season was good for a first down against Bryant (Nov. 23). Smith has continuously demonstrated his ability to move the chains as 18 of his 24 catches have been for a first down. He has recorded 350 receiving yards with two touchdown catches.

An honorable mention pick from a season ago, Buchanan has started every game for the Rams in his redshirt sophomore season and leads the team with 981 receiving yards. His 66 catches are 10th-most in URI’s single-season history and he is closing in on becoming the program’s eighth player to reach 1,000 receiving yards. He has topped 100 yards in three different games this season and comes in at third in CAA Football and 15th in the country with his overall yardage. Buchanan has seven touchdown grabs and needs just one more to crack Rhode Island’s top 10.

Both Bethea and Alexander have played key roles on an offensive line that is second in the conference in sacks allowed (1.08) and 11th in the country. Bethea has started 23 consecutive games for the Rams primarily at left tackle, while Alexander has been the starting center in all but one of the team’s contests in 2024. With their help, running back Malik Grant has tied the single-season record for rushing touchdowns (13) and for the first time in program history, Rhode Island is on the cusp of having both a 1,000 rusher (Grant) and a 1,000 receiver (Buchanan).

Known for his ability to fly around the field, Mallay has started six games for URI in his final season and is tied for eighth all time in career passes defended with 20. Credited with 64 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, five pass breakups, one interception, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble, the majority of Mallay’s production has come while he has been forced to wear a club on his right hand due to an injury a few weeks ago. He was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Week after a strong performance at No. 19/24 New Hampshire, where he had eight tackles, 1.0 TFL, one forced fumble and one interception (Oc. 19). The Providence, R.I. also made waves when he recovered a fumble for a touchdown during the win over Monmouth (Nov. 2). As a unit, Rhode Island is eighth in the country in defensive touchdowns (three).

Before suffering an injury, Farrell had started nine games for the Rams and showed obvious progression on a weekly basis. The redshirt sophomore broke onto the scene when he led a game-winning drive with 1:47 on the clock that lifted his team to victory over Holy Cross (Aug. 31) and earned him CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week honors. Farrell threw for 1,670 yards with 11 touchdowns while running the ball for 302 yards with five scores of his own. He still ranks 16th in the country, third in the league, in passing yards per completion (13.47).

Grant has been a prolific player for the Rams in his graduate season. Since joining Rhode Island Football on the heels of a successful career at Sacred Heart, the Bronx, N.Y. native has run the ball for a team-high 1,167 yards, the seventh-most in the program’s single-season history, on 230 carries. He has the third-most rushing yards in the league and sits just outside the national top 10 at 12th. His 13 rushing scores tie the program record set just a year ago by Ja’Den McKenzie and his 14 total touchdowns are good for 16th in FCS Football. Grant has topped 100 yards in six different games, running the ball for a season-best 204 in the win at Bryant (Nov. 23).

A force in the middle of the Rhody defense, Brockwell has started all 12 games this season and leads the team with 93 tackles. That effort, which includes 45 solo stops, is good for eighth in the league. The Westport, Conn. product has 8.5 TFLs for 12 yards along with 2.5 sacks and is credited with both a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Brockwell and the defense have made numerous goal line stands this season, helping the team have the fourth-best red zone defense in the league. He has made 10+ tackles in two different games this year, finishing with a career-high 14 at LIU (Sept. 21).

Another Rhode Island native (Woonsocket), Gomes has started every game in his redshirt senior season and leads the secondary with 68 total tackles (fourth on the team). His 52 solo stops are the most of any Rhody player and he also has 1.0 TFL, four pass breakups and an interception under his belt. The safety had 10 tackles during the victory against Maine (Oct. 26) and defended three passes in the rout of UAlbany (Nov. 16).

Primrose and Hightower have started a combined 23 games for URI this season. On the defensive line, Primrose has racked up 36 tackles and 4.0 sacks for 30 yards, as well as one pass breakup and one QB hurry. An inside linebacker, Hightower is 18th in the conference in total tackles (81) and has 9.0 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, three pass breakups, two QB hurries, an interception and a fumble recovery. The fumble recovery was returned for a touchdown at Delaware back on Nov. 9.

The Rams are gearing up for their first FCS Playoffs appearance since 1985, having earned an at-large bid to the 2024 postseason. Rhode Island captured the 2024 CAA Football title and will look to continue its winning momentum on Saturday, Nov. 30 opposite Central Connecticut State. The first round game is set for a 12 p.m. start at Meade Stadium. Tickets are available here.

2024 CAA FOOTBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year: Derek Robertson, Monmouth
Defensive Player of the Year: Josiah Silver, New Hampshire
Special Teams Player of the Year: Chandler Brayboy, Elon
Coach of the Year: Billy Cosh, Stony Brook
Offensive Rookie of the Year: David Avit, Villanova
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Matthew Traynor, Richmond
Chuck Boone Leadership Award: Caleb Curtain, Elon

The full CAA Football All-Conference teams can be viewed here.