WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University senior defensive end Cedie Dashiell II (Buena Park, Calif./Buena Park HS) has been selected as the Defensive Player of the Year in the Northeast-10 Conference and was one of five Falcons voted to the All-NE10 football first team.

Joining Dashiell II on the first team were junior linebacker Salvatore Lupoli Jr. (Chelmsford/Chelmsford HS), senior cornerback Jailen Branch (Randolph/Milton Academy), senior running back Nate Larkins (Huntington, N.Y./John Glenn HS) and junior placekicker Mason Campbell (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS).

Bentley, following a 7-3 season, also had seven players earn second-team All-Conference recognition. They are graduate offensive lineman Gavin Olsen (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset HS), freshman offensive lineman Mike Boutros (Worcester/Doherty Memorial HS), senior wide receiver Noah Neville (Boston/Newton North HS), graduate QB Mark Waid (Cortland, Ohio/Girard HS), defensive tackle Herve Tshibamba (Naugatuck, Conn./Naugatuck HS), senior defensive back Mathieu Severance (Lynn/Lynn English HS) and senior punter Charlie Ogletree (Needham/Needham HS).

In addition, Boutros and junior defensive lineman Zachary Goodwin (North Easton/Catholic Memorial HS) were part of the conference's All-Rookie Team.

Bentley's defense ranks second in Division II in fewest points allowed and fourth in yards allowed and Dashiell II played a major role in that success. A first-team All-Conference honoree for the third time, the six-foot, 235-pounder made 12.5 of his 27 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including 10.5 sacks that resulted in the loss of 101 yards. His stat line also included five quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Dashiell II, who was the NE10 Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2021, ranks fourth in Division II nationally in forced fumbles and seventh in sacks per game. Among active Division II players, he is first in career forced fumbles (11), third in career sacks (30.5) and sack yards loss (230) and fourth in tackle for loss yards (280).

Branch, a member of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, also earned All-Conference honors for the third time, as well as first-team accolades for the second consecutive year. He was tied for second in the NE10 in interceptions with four and also had 21 tackles and seven pass breakups.

Lupoli led the NE10 in tackles (101) with his 10.1 per game average 13^th best in Division II. Three times the NE10 Defensive Player of the Week, he reached double-figures in tackles in five games. His season also included seven tackles for losses, three sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery.

Larkins, who had two 100-yard rushing performances, was second on the team and fourth in the NE10 in rushing yards (576). He ran for seven touchdowns and also caught a touchdown pass. For his career, he has 1370 yards, a 5.1 yard per carry average and 17 TDs.

Campbell was the conference's leading scorer with 66 points. He converted 12 of 16 field goals, a total that ranks third on Bentley's all-time list, and set a Bentley varsity record with a 48-yarder this past Saturday in a double-overtime win at Pace. In addition, he was 30 of 30 on extra points this season and had 15 touchbacks on kickoffs.

Waid, a grad transfer from Youngstown State, was the number two rusher in the NE10 with 714 yards as well as second in passing efficiency (136.8). The seventh most prolific running QB in Division II, he also threw for 1505 yards and 15 TDs.

Neville, a first-team honoree in 2021, had 18 receptions for 336 yards and five touchdowns. At Pace on Saturday, he caught both a TD pass and a two-point conversion in the second OT to give the Falcons an 18-10 win. His career totals include 103 catches for 1674 yards and 20 TDs.

Olson (6'9", 330 pounds) and Boutros (6'2", 275) were part of an offensive line that helped Bentley average nearly six yards a play and allowed only 14 sacks, second fewest in the conference.

Tshibamba was third on the team in tackles with 39, including 12 in the season-ending win at Pace, and also had two tackles for losses and 1.5 sacks. Last year, he was named to the All-Rookie Team.

Severance broke up 11 passes, tied for the third most in the conference, and also was second on the team with 42 tackles. That included 3.6 that resulted in losses.

Ogletree, a second-team selection for the second time, averaged 39.5 yards per punt, second best in the NE10, and placed 13 of his 38 kicks inside the 20, including several inside the five. His career 39.7 average is 14^th best among active Division II players.  

Goodwin, in his first season of collegiate action, had 33 tackles, half a sack and a blocked kick from his position on the defensive line

NE10 Release