University of Richmond Athletics
Six Spiders Named Preseason All-CAA By Phil Steele, Two Named Preseason All-Americans
08/02/2024 | Football
Link to Phil Steele Release
Richmond, Va. – Six members of the University of Richmond Football team have been named Phil Steele/Draft Scout Preseason All-CAA selections prior to the 2024 season, announced Friday. The Phil Steele honors are one of the top publication honors in the FCS each year.
Wide receiver Nick DeGennaro and defensive end Jeremiah Grant have been named to the First Team, team captains Tom Elia (center) and linebacker Wayne Galloway (linebacker) as well as punter Aaron Trusler have been named to the Second Team, and long snapper Brian Catanzarite was tabbed to the Thrid Team. On top of their Preseason All-CAA honors, DeGennaro (First Team) and Trusler (Fourth Team) were tabbed Preseason All-Americans as well.
DeGennaro has reveled in offseason honors including his latest by Phil Steele. DeGennaro earns the honor after the 2023 season saw him start all 13 games on his way to being named Second Team All-CAA. He tied the program record for touchdowns in a single season, hauling in 11. He recorded 71 receptions for 904 yards and averaged 5.5 receptions and 54.8 yards per game. He recorded three touchdowns in a win over Maine, tying the program record for most in a single game. Against No. 22, Rhode Island, he caught a career-long 69 yard reception and scored two touchdowns to help Richmond pull off the upset win. Just last week he was named the Shrine Bowl 1000, recognizing the top college football players in the country. So far this offseason he's been named to the Shrine Bowl 1000, was named Preseason All-Conference by the CAA, a preseason All-American by FCS Football Central and was tabbed the fifth-best wide receiver returning in 2024 by HERO Sports.
Also named Preseason All-CAA by the conference itself, Grant was named Third Team All-CAA a year ago after playing in 11 games and making seven starts. He recorded 21 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, four sacks, five quarterback hurries and two pass breakups. Grant recorded three sacks during the upset over No. 22 Rhode Island, the most by a single player since Nov. 6, 2021.
Elia took nearly every snap at center last season and started all 13 games. He was named Third Team All-CAA by Phil Steele and was a preseason honoree by the publication as well (Fourth Team). He helped the Spiders rank second in the CAA in completion percentage as the team averaged 345 yards of offense and 28.2 points per game. He also aided Richmond in mocing to fourth in the CAA and 19th nationally in total first downs.
A preseason All-CAA selection, Galloway earned Preseason Honorable Mention last season after playing in all 13 games and starting the last 11. He recorded 60 tackles, good enough for third on the Spiders, including 31 solo and 29 assists. He notched 9.0 tackles for loss for a total of 25 yards and tallied four pass breakups. He recovered a fumble against Rhode Island and recorded two interceptions and took both to the house for scores including an 81-yard return against Delaware State and a 42-yard return against Campbell.
Another All-Conference selection by the CAA last month, Trusler was named First Team All-CAA last season as well as a Third Team AP All-American and a Second Team All-American by Phil Steele and Stats Perform. He punted 63 times for 2,168 yards including a long of 76 yards (t-1st longest in CAA) while averaging 41.6 yards a punt. He punched a CAA-high 26 inside the 20 yard line and accounted for seven over 50 yards and booted a career-long 76-yard punt, tying for the sixth-longest in program history against William & Mary in the Capital Cup victory on his way to being named an FCS Punter of the Year semifinalist.
Catanzarite reassumes long snapping duties after a 2023 season that saw him handle all but one long snapping assignment on the season and pick up a solo and assisted tackle on the special team unit.
Tickets to all six home contests at Robins Stadium can be purchased over the phone by calling 1-877-SPIDER-1, visiting the Robins Center Ticket Office or via online orders by clicking here. Richmond will begin its season when it travels to Virginia on Aug. 31. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at Scott Stadium.
Richmond, Va. – Six members of the University of Richmond Football team have been named Phil Steele/Draft Scout Preseason All-CAA selections prior to the 2024 season, announced Friday. The Phil Steele honors are one of the top publication honors in the FCS each year.
Wide receiver Nick DeGennaro and defensive end Jeremiah Grant have been named to the First Team, team captains Tom Elia (center) and linebacker Wayne Galloway (linebacker) as well as punter Aaron Trusler have been named to the Second Team, and long snapper Brian Catanzarite was tabbed to the Thrid Team. On top of their Preseason All-CAA honors, DeGennaro (First Team) and Trusler (Fourth Team) were tabbed Preseason All-Americans as well.
DeGennaro has reveled in offseason honors including his latest by Phil Steele. DeGennaro earns the honor after the 2023 season saw him start all 13 games on his way to being named Second Team All-CAA. He tied the program record for touchdowns in a single season, hauling in 11. He recorded 71 receptions for 904 yards and averaged 5.5 receptions and 54.8 yards per game. He recorded three touchdowns in a win over Maine, tying the program record for most in a single game. Against No. 22, Rhode Island, he caught a career-long 69 yard reception and scored two touchdowns to help Richmond pull off the upset win. Just last week he was named the Shrine Bowl 1000, recognizing the top college football players in the country. So far this offseason he's been named to the Shrine Bowl 1000, was named Preseason All-Conference by the CAA, a preseason All-American by FCS Football Central and was tabbed the fifth-best wide receiver returning in 2024 by HERO Sports.
Also named Preseason All-CAA by the conference itself, Grant was named Third Team All-CAA a year ago after playing in 11 games and making seven starts. He recorded 21 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, four sacks, five quarterback hurries and two pass breakups. Grant recorded three sacks during the upset over No. 22 Rhode Island, the most by a single player since Nov. 6, 2021.
Elia took nearly every snap at center last season and started all 13 games. He was named Third Team All-CAA by Phil Steele and was a preseason honoree by the publication as well (Fourth Team). He helped the Spiders rank second in the CAA in completion percentage as the team averaged 345 yards of offense and 28.2 points per game. He also aided Richmond in mocing to fourth in the CAA and 19th nationally in total first downs.
A preseason All-CAA selection, Galloway earned Preseason Honorable Mention last season after playing in all 13 games and starting the last 11. He recorded 60 tackles, good enough for third on the Spiders, including 31 solo and 29 assists. He notched 9.0 tackles for loss for a total of 25 yards and tallied four pass breakups. He recovered a fumble against Rhode Island and recorded two interceptions and took both to the house for scores including an 81-yard return against Delaware State and a 42-yard return against Campbell.
Another All-Conference selection by the CAA last month, Trusler was named First Team All-CAA last season as well as a Third Team AP All-American and a Second Team All-American by Phil Steele and Stats Perform. He punted 63 times for 2,168 yards including a long of 76 yards (t-1st longest in CAA) while averaging 41.6 yards a punt. He punched a CAA-high 26 inside the 20 yard line and accounted for seven over 50 yards and booted a career-long 76-yard punt, tying for the sixth-longest in program history against William & Mary in the Capital Cup victory on his way to being named an FCS Punter of the Year semifinalist.
Catanzarite reassumes long snapping duties after a 2023 season that saw him handle all but one long snapping assignment on the season and pick up a solo and assisted tackle on the special team unit.
Tickets to all six home contests at Robins Stadium can be purchased over the phone by calling 1-877-SPIDER-1, visiting the Robins Center Ticket Office or via online orders by clicking here. Richmond will begin its season when it travels to Virginia on Aug. 31. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at Scott Stadium.
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