WALTHAM, Mass. – Salvatore Lupoli Jr. will be celebrated Monday night during the annual Bob Whelan College Night hosted by the Gridiron Club of Greatear Boston. Lupoli was named the New England Defensive Player of the Year (D-II/D-III) by the club's awards committee. Tonight's banquet is at the Burlington Marriott Hotel.

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 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 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.