Vickers Named ECAC Defensive Rookie of the Year; Blango and Gibson Second Team

Danbury, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2019 Division IIII Football All-ECAC Teams and Major Awards. Freshman Dadrick Vickers earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Vickers prowled the defensive backfield for the Bison picking off seven passes this season, the second highest in Division III. The PAC newcomer of the year led all of DIII in interceptions per game with .8. The freshman tacked on four pass breakups and 19 tackles on the year.

Joining Vickers with All-ECAC honors are seniors Daniel Gibson and Chas Blango.

Senior defensive linemen Gibson earned PAC Defensive Player of the Week honors this season after registering four sacks for 30 yards and six tackles for a loss of 34 yards against Thiel on Nov. 9. Gibson finished the season with 62 tackles, 5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss, while forcing three tackles, and recovering one.

Senior defensive linemen Blango was named PAC Defensive Player of the Week, D3football.com Team of the Week, and ECAC Player of the Month this season. He tallied 55 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, forced four fumbles, two recoveries, and made one interception. He also broke up two passes and blocked two field goals. Against Carnegie Mellon he tallied 3.5 sacks and totaled 4.0 sacks against Thiel.

The trio of Bethany defensive players are three of 10 student-athletes from the PAC recognized on the All-ECAC teams.