Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University football team had four student-athletes named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
Burgess, named Second Team All-Region 2 and the NJAC Defensive Player of the Year, was the 10th student-athlete to gain Defensive Player of the Year laurels and the first since Zack Zaccone in Spring 2020. The junior led the NJAC with 101 tackles, including 45 solo stops. He added 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery.
The Hackensack, NJ native tallied double-digit tackles in seven games, including a season-high 13 against Rowan. In the season-opening win against Gettysburg, Burgess had 12 tackles while adding two sacks. On Homecoming against TCNJ, the junior registered 12 tackles and took an interception back 52 yards for a touchdown. Burgess finished the season with 12 stops against nationally-ranked Muhlenberg while recovering a fumble.
Ray bolstered an offensive line that was third in the NJAC with 311.8 yards per game, including 142.1 yards per game on the ground. The offensive line surrendered 11 sacks on the season, with Ray allowing none. The senior earns his second All-Conference nod after gaining Second Team honors last season.
Lewis led the NJAC with 724 yards rushing, including four touchdowns. He opened the with 88 yards on the ground against Gettysburg with a 66-yard touchdown run. In the victory against Kean, he picked up a career-high 176 yards and an 80-yard touchdown run. He closed out the year with 127 yards on 19 carries against Muhlenberg, scoring his final TD of the year.
After missing last season with an injury, Buchwald tied for the team lead with three interceptions from his safety position. He tallied 44 tackles, including three tackles for loss. Buchwald added three pass breakups and a forced fumble while recording a quarterback hit. The junior registered 10 tackles against Union and preserved a victory against William Paterson with his second interception of the game. The following week, he picked off a pass against Rowan.
