WALTHAM, Massachusetts – Accolades continue to roll in for the Most Valuable Player in the Northeast-10. Salvatore Lupoli Jr. was named an All-American First Team honoree by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the AFCA announced Thursday.

AFCA release

Lupoli, a graduate student from Chelmsford, Mass., is Bentley's first AFCA First Team All-American since 2007 when offensive lineman Mackenzy Bernadeau received the honor. Bernadueau was subsequently drafted by the Carolina Panthers and inducted into Bentley's Hall of Fame.

Lupoli's record-setting 2023 not only included conference MVP, but he was also named to the All-Super Region 1 First Team, and he was nominated for the Harlon Hill award for the NCAA D-II Player of the Year.

Lupoli led all NCAA D-II players in tackles per game (12.3) this season. Lupoli tied a school record with 123 tackles - a total that far and away led the NE10 – more than twice as many as the next conference player. He also had a conference-leading 12.5 tackles for a loss. Lupoli's 337 career tackles are the most in school history.

Lupoli will speak at the New England Football Writers banquet Thursday night (Dec. 7), where he formally receives the Gold Helmet award for best college football player (NCAA D-II/III) in New England.

Lupoli recently received an official invitation to the Trillion FCS Bowl in Daytona Beach, Florida. That game hosts NFL scouts.

Lupoli anchored a Bentley defense that ranked second in the nation for total defense with just 232.7 yards allowed per game. The Falcons' scoring defense ranked fifth in NCAA D-II, yielding only 13.8 points per game. 

Recent Bentley All-American honors:

Salvatore Lupoli Jr. (LB), 2023            American Football Coaches Association

Cedie Dashiell (DE), 2022                   Honorable Mention (Don Hansen Football Gazette)

Pete Thorbahn (DB), 2019                  Honorable Mention (Don Hansen Football Gazette)

Austin Ryan (WR), 2017                      First Team (Don Hansen Football Gazette)