CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Thirty-three conference all-stars representing 16 schools from the five New England Division II and III football playing conferences have been selected to the 2025 New England Football Writers Association All-New England team. The team, selected by a committee of media relations representatives from the six conferences, honors the best Division II and III players by position in New England from the 2025 season.

The Division II Northeast 10 leads the team with ten players selected. The New England Women’s & Men’s Athletic Conference had eight picks while the Conference of New England had seven. The New England Small College Athletic Conference came away with five selections while the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference has three honorees.

NESCAC honorees were Ryan Rozich (Bates), Nolan O'Brien (Trinity), Austin Baker & Dylan Connors (Wesleyan), and Joseph Ngnombouowo (Williams).

Rozich, a junior captain for Bates, earns a spot on the All-New England squad for the second straight season. The linebacker's 109 total tackles ranked first in the NESCAC and his 12.1 tackles per game is good for sixth in all of NCAA Division III. Rozich also tied for the team lead with 5.5 tackles for loss. Besides tackling, Rozich did a little bit of everything for Bates. He picked off a pass and blocked a kick at Trinity, recovered a fumble in wins over Amherst and Tufts, sacked the quarterback against Colby, and broke up a pass against Wesleyan and Hamilton. 

O'Brien was tabbed as the NEFW All-New England Punt Return Specialist, becoming the first Trinity player to earn All-New England honors at the position. O'Brien was named an All-NESCAC First Team Wide Receiver and First Team Returner accolades this season after leading the Bantams in receptions (44), receiving yards (570) and receiving touchdowns (5), while adding 61 rushing yards on 10 carries with three touchdowns. O'Brien ranked fourth in the NESCAC in receptions and receptions per game (4.9), fifth in receiving touchdowns, and sixth in receiving yards and yards per game (63.3). As a return specialist, O'Brien racked up 236 yards on 15 returns, including a career-low 79-yard punt return touchdown against Bates.
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Connors, the 2025 NESCAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, closed out his collegiate career as a two-time All-New England selection. He played a key role on Wesleyan's defense, which led the NESCAC in fewest yards allowed per game for the second straight year. He totaled 51 tackles (35 solo) with four tackles for loss, two interceptions, and seven pass breakups. He graduates with four career touchdowns (two interception, two blocked punt recoveries), five interceptions, 26 pass breakups, and 145 tackles.
 
In his first year as a starter at linebacker, Baker produced a team-leading 61 tackles (34 solo) including 7.5 TFL, two sacks, four pass breakups, and four QB hurries. Playing for a Wesleyan defense that graduated all three starters at the linebacker position from last season, Baker started the year with nine tackles in a home win over Middlebury, produced five tackles and two TFL in a road win over Bates, recorded seven tackles (six solo) and two pass breakups on the road against Colby, and had his best game with a season-high 12 tackles (six solo) with two TFL and one sack in the OT win over Williams on the road.

After earning All-NESCAC First Team Offense honors and helping Williams score 35 or more points three times during the 2025 season, senior offensive lineman Joseph Ngnombouowo earned a spot on the All-New England Team. Ngnombouowo was a focal point behind the Ephs leading the NESCAC in rushing yards (1,703), yards per rush (5.2) and rushing yards per game (189.2). Additionally, Williams ranked second in the conference in sacks allowed (8), allowing less than one per game.

The team will be honored at the New England Football Writers Captains and Awards Banquet on Thursday, December 11, at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center. Reservations must be made no later than Friday, December 5 at 4:00PM, click here. Tickets are $75/person. Reservations are made on-line only and are non-refundable. The banquet is open to anyone that wishes to attend. All attendees, including award recipients, are expected to make a paid reservation.