WALTHAM, Massachusetts – Salvatore Lupoli Jr. was named to the D2football.com Elite 100, and he was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award.

The D2football.com Elite 100 is compiled with input from coaches, media, scouts, and sports information directors from all around the country. Lupoli is Bentley's second Elite 100 honoree is as many years. Cedie Dashiell II earned the distinction in 2022.

The Cliff Harris Award is for the best small college defensive player in the nation. Lupoli was one of only 36 finalists from the NCAA D-II level.

Among his many 2023 accolades, Lupoli was named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-American First Team, and the Conference Commissioners Association (CCA) All-American Second Team.

Lupoli is the first Falcon since 2016 to earn multiple All-American honors in the same season (Tyler Ford).

Lupoli 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 also received the Gold Helmet award from the New England Football Writers for best college football player (NCAA D-II/III) in New England. The Gridiron Club of Great Boston recently named Lupoli New England's Defensive Player of the Year (NCAA D-II/III).

Lupoli's record-setting 2023 not only included Northeast-10 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 received an official invitation to the Trillion FCS Bowl in Daytona Beach, Florida. That game hosts NFL scouts.

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 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.