University at Albany’s Greg Gattuso Named Walter Camp 2023 Football Championship Subdivision Coach of the Year
University at Albany’s Greg Gattuso has been selected as Walter Camp’s 2023 Football Championship Subdivision Coach of the Year. This is the first year the Walter Camp Foundation has given this award.
Under Gattuso’s leadership, UAlbany’s 2023 season was the best in program history. The Great Danes finished with an 11-4 overall record, going 7-1 in the highly competitive Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). UAlbany claimed its first-ever conference title, sharing it with Villanova and Richmond. The Great Danes defeated Villanova midway through the season, 31-10 at home, and took down Richmond, 41-13, in the second round of the FCS Playoffs.
UAlbany was awarded the NCAA’s #5 seed in the FCS playoffs and earned a first-round bye. Following its second-round win over Richmond, the Great Danes traveled to #4 Idaho and defeated the Vandals, 30-22. UAlbany’s 2023 season came to an end in the semifinals, falling to top-seeded and eventual national champion, South Dakota State.
Up front, UAlbany led the nation in team sacks – led by Walter Camp FCS All-America defensive end Anton Juncaj (15.0 sacks). Juncaj finished as the nation’s leader in sacks, and finished fifth in the Buck Buchanan Award voting.
Gattuso was also named CAA Coach of the Year, FCS Football Central Coach of the Year and ECAC Coach of the Year in 2023. Gattuso has been the head coach at UAlbany for 10 seasons, and previously was the head coach at Duquesne University (97-32 record, 12 years) and served as an assistant coach at Maryland and his alma mater Penn State, where he played for the Nittany Lions and graduated in 1983.
Gattuso will be honored along with FCS Player of the Year Jaden Shirden (Monmouth, along with the members of the 2023 Walter Camp FBS All-America Team, Player of Year Jayden Daniels (LSU), Coach of Year Kalen DeBoer (Washington… now at Alabama) and Connecticut Players of the Year Tyler Van Dyke and Justin Barron at the Foundation’s 57th National Awards Gala on Saturday, March 16 in New Haven. National Awards Gala tickets are $350 and available at https://waltercamp.org/product/awards-dinner/
Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
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Former St. Joseph (HS) and Monmouth University Standout Jaden Shirden Named Walter Camp 2023 FCS Player of the Year
Former St. Joseph High School and Monmouth University running back Jaden Shirden (West Haven, CT) has been selected as Walter Camp’s 2023 Football Championship Subdivision Player of the Year. This is the first year the Walter Camp Foundation has given this award.
Shirden, the two-time Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Year, finished the 2023 regular season as the nation’s leading rusher for the second consecutive season. Entering the year at seventh on Monmouth’s all-time rushing yardage list, Shirden’s 1,478 yards on the ground in 2023 saw him rise to third, and his 10 touchdowns on the season brought him into the program’s top-10. The junior notched seven 100+ rushing yard games including two games eclipsing the 250 mark.
Shirden’s biggest game came at home on October 14 against Hampton where he ran for 276 yards and scored a career-best four touchdowns – including a 63-yard score and 72-yard score – on 16 carries. Two weeks later at nationally-ranked William & Mary, Shirden ran for two touchdowns while notching 251 yards on 21 carries.
Shirden, who finished third in the Walter Payton Award voting, announced he was declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft in December.
Shirden played scholastically for head coach Joe DellaVecchia at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull. Shirden was a two-time Walter Camp All-Connecticut honoree and led the Cadets to the 2019 Class L state title.
Shirden will be honored, along with the members of the 2023 Walter Camp All-America Team, Player of Year Jayden Daniels (LSU), Coach of Year Kalen DeBoer (Washington… now at Alabama) and Connecticut Players of the Year Tyler Van Dyke and Justin Barron at the Foundation’s 57th National Awards Gala on Saturday, March 16 in New Haven. National Awards Gala tickets are $350 and available at https://waltercamp.org/product/awards-dinner/
Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.
Rocky Hill’s Justin Barron and Glastonbury’s Tyler Van Dyke Named Walter Camp 2023 Connecticut Players of the Year
Two former Suffield Academy products – defensive back Justin Barron and quarterback Tyler Van Dyke – have been selected as Walter Camp’s 2023 Connecticut Players of the Year.
The award is presented to the top college football player who is a resident and/or played scholastically in the state of Connecticut. The award is voted on by the Walter Camp Football Foundation membership.
Defense: Justin Barron, Defensive, Syracuse University (Rocky Hill, CT/Suffield Academy)
The captain of the Orange defensive unit, Barron earned Honorable Mention All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors after registering a team-best 90 tackles in 2023 from his rover position. Barron recorded five tackles for loss, one interception and broke up seven passes as Syracuse finished with a 6-7 record and earned a berth in the Boca Raton Bowl.
Barron’s best game came on November 25 when he posted eight tackles in a win against Wake Forest.
He has appeared in 49 games with 34 starts at defensive back in his collegiate career, and ranks 15th in program history for tackles by a defensive back (201).
Offense: Tyler Van Dyke, Quarterback, University of Miami (Glastonbury, CT/Suffield Academy)
Van Dyke, who also earned Connecticut Player of Year honors in 2021, had an outstanding season in 2023. He completed 219-of-333 passes (65.8%) for 2,703 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Hurricanes, who finished 7-6 and earned a spot in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.
Van Dyke’s best game came on Nov. 24 in a win over Boston College when he
completed 23-of-36 for 290 yards and two touchdowns.
In three collegiate seasons, Van Dyke threw for 7,478 yards and 54 touchdowns. In December, Van Dyke transferred to the University of Wisconsin and will have one season of eligibility remaining.
Barron and Van Dyke each played scholastically for head coach Anthony Gamere at Suffield Academy. Both were instrumental as the 2019 team had an undefeated season and captured the NEPSAC Class A Championship.
Barron and Van Dyke will be honored, along with the members of the 2023 Walter Camp All-America Team, Player of Year Jayden Daniels (LSU) and Coach of Year Kalen DeBoer (Washington… now at Alabama) at the Foundation’s 57th National Awards Gala on Saturday, March 16 in New Haven. National Awards Gala tickets are $350 and available at https://waltercamp.org/product/awards-dinner/
Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
Connecticut Player of the Year
Presented to the top college football player who is a resident and/or played scholastically in the state of Connecticut. The award is voted on by the Walter Camp Football Foundation membership.
2023 – Justin Barron, DB, Syracuse; Tyler Van Dyke, QB, Miami (Wisconsin)
2022 – Drew Pyne, QB, Notre Dame (Arizona State)
2021 – Will Levis, QB, Kentucky; Tyler Van Dyke, QB, Miami
2020 – Andrew Stueber, OL, Michigan
2019 – Christian Montano, C, Tulane
2018 – Zach Allen, DE, Boston College
2017 – Ervin Philips, WR, Syracuse
2016 – Noel Thomas, WR, Connecticut
2015 – Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple
2014 – Tyler Murphy, QB, Boston College
2013 – Kevin Pierre-Louis, LB, Boston College
2012 – Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
2011 – Silas Redd, RB, Penn State
2010 – John Moffitt, OL, Wisconsin
2009 – Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida
2008 – Kory Sheets, RB, Purdue
2007 – Mike McLeod, RB, Yale
2006 – Kory Sheets, RB, Purdue
2005 – John Sullivan, C, Notre Dame
2004 – Anttaj Hawthorne, DT, Wisconsin; Dan Orlovsky, QB, Connecticut
2003 – Dan Orlovsky, QB, Connecticut
2002 – Niko Koutouvides, LB, Purdue
2001 – Dwight Freeney, DE, Syracuse
2000 – Peter Mazza, LB, Yale
1999 – Bobby Myers, DB, Wisconsin
1998 – Carl Bond, RB, Connecticut
1997 – Kyle McIntosh, RB, Syracuse
1996 – Tarek Salah, LB, Wisconsin
1995 – Tarek Salah, LB, Wisconsin
1994 – Jason Miska, LB, Auburn
1993 – Chris Zingo, LB, Cornell
1992 – Curtis Eller, LB, Villanova
1991 – Corey Vincent, DL, Holy Cross
1990 – Rob Thomson, DB, Syracuse
1989 – Terry Wooden, LB, Syracuse
1988 – Glenn Antrum, WR, Connecticut
1987 – Bill Romanowski, LB, Boston College
1986 – Richard Comizio, RB, Pennsylvania
1985 – Tom Patton, DE, Holy Cross
1984 – No recipient
1983 – Steve Young, QB, Brigham Young
1982 – Mike Marshall, DB, Southern Conn.
1981 – Richard Diana, RB, Yale
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Walter Camp Foundation Announces Major Award Winners
In preparation for its 57th National Awards Dinner, presented by 777 Partners, the Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced its Major Award recipients.
The “Head Ball Coach” Steve Spurrier (Florida ’67) will receive the Distinguished American award.
The Walter Camp “Distinguished American” award is presented each year to an individual who has utilized his or her talents to attain great success in business, private life, or public service and who may have accomplished that which no other has done. He or she may have a record of dedication to mankind that should not pass unrecognized and a life that has been dedicated to the preservation of the American ideal. The recipient need not have participated in football but must be one who understands its lesson of self-denial, cooperation, and teamwork, and one who is a person of honesty, integrity, and dedication. He or she must be a leader, an innovator, even a pioneer, who has reached a degree of excellence that distinguishes him or her from contemporaries, as well as someone who lives within the principles of Walter Camp.
Spurrier joins previous recipients of the Walter Camp Distinguished American honor include nationally respected sportscasters Keith Jackson (1995), Pat Summerall (2004) and Verne Lundquist (2014), all-purpose television personality Regis Philbin (2003), former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue (1994), world-renowned entertainer Bob Hope (1985), former college coach Eddie Robinson (1982), former NFL standout Archie Manning, and last year’s recipient Super Bowl-winning coach Tom Coughlin.
NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews (USC ‘83) is the recipient of the Man of the Year honor.
The Walter Camp “Man of the Year” award honors an individual who has been closely associated with the game of football as a player, coach or close attendant to the game. He must have attained a measure of success and been a leader in his chosen profession. He must have contributed to the public service for the benefit of his community, country and his fellow man. He must have an impeccable reputation for integrity and must be dedicated to our American Heritage and the philosophy of Walter Camp.
Matthews joins a distinguished list of former “Man of the Year” winners, including Roger Staubach (Navy), Gale Sayers (Kansas), Dick Butkus (Illinois), John Elway (Stanford), Jerome Bettis (Notre Dame), and Curtis Martin (Pittsburgh).
The Walter Camp “Alumni of the Year” award is bestowed on a worthy individual who has distinguished himself in the pursuit of excellence as an athlete, in his personal career and in doing good works for others. He must be an individual who has exhibited dedication and good moral conduct in achieving success. He must be a compassionate and unselfish person who contributes his time and assistance in helping to encourage and comfort fellow human beings less talented and less fortunate than himself. He must be an individual who takes pride in having been a Walter Camp All-American.
Former Alumni Award recipients include including Bo Jackson (Auburn), Tony Dorsett (Pittsburgh), Herschel Walker (Georgia), Tim Brown (Notre Dame), Doug Williams (Grambling State), Larry Fitzgerald (Pittsburgh) and Von Miller (Texas A&M).
Steve Spurrier – Distinguished American
A native of Miami Beach, Fla., Steve Spurrier became known for his play at quarterback for the University of Florida and earned Walter Camp All-America honors in 1966 after passing for 2,012 yards and 16 touchdowns for the 9-2 Gators. He also earned the Heisman Trophy for his efforts. Spurrier went on to play 10 seasons – as a quarterback and punter – in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He then went into coaching and served as an assistant at his alma mater Florida (1978), Georgia Tech (1979) and Duke (1980-82) before accepting the head coach position in the fledgling United States Football League for the Tampa Bay Bandits in 1983. He led the Bandits to two playoff appearances in three years before the league folded.
Spurrier returned to the collegiate ranks in 1987, serving as the head coach at Duke. He led the Blue Devils to two winning seasons in three years, including a bowl berth in 1989.
In 1990, he was named head coach at Florida and is credited for an innovative, wide-open passing game (known as “Fun-n-Gun”). Under his leadership, the Gators proceeded to win 122 games in 12 seasons, earned 12 bowl berths, and won six Southeastern Conference titles. Spurrier led Florida to the 1996 National Championship, a 52-20 victory over Florida State in the Sugar Bowl.
In 2002, he accepted the head coaching position with the then-called Washington Redskins. In 2005, he returned to the collegiate game, assuming the head job at University of South Carolina. He spent 11 seasons with the Gamecocks, leading them to 86 victories and nine bowl berths, including three straight 11-win seasons from 2011 to 2013.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017, making him just one of four members to be inducted as a both a player and coach. In 2016, the University of Florida renamed its home field, “Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.”
Spurrier and his wife Jerri have four children and 14 grandchildren.
A 1982 Walter Camp All-American, Bruce Matthews was a standout for the USC Trojans, where he was a two-time All-Pac-10 selection. He was selected in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers and proceed to play 18 seasons before retiring prior to the 2002 season at age 40.
Beginning in 1988 and continuing through his final year, he was selected to the Pro Bowl each and every season. His 14 consecutive Pro Bowls (9 at guard, 5 at center) tied Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen for the most ever.
He is considered to one of the most versatile offensive lineman to ever play in the NFL. Matthews was also named first-team All-Pro nine times (1988-1993, 1998-2000) and All-AFC 12 seasons (1988-1993, 1995-2000). He was selected as a guard on the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s.
In 2007, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His number 74 has been retired by the Tennessee franchise. In 2020, Matthews was named to the NFL 100 All-Time Team as one of the top 100 players of the first 100 years of the NFL.
A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Matthews comes from a football family. His father, Clay, played in the NFL in the 1950s. His brother, Clay, Jr., played 19 seasons in the NFL. Bruce and his wife, Carrie, have seven children, including this year’s Walter Camp Alumni Award winner Jake, the current starting left tackle for the Atlanta Falcons.
Born in Houston, Texas and the son of Walter Camp Man of the Year Bruce Matthews, Jake Matthews attended the Texas A&M University and was four-year standout for the Aggies. He earned Walter Camp All-America honors in 2013 and was a two-time unanimous All-Southeastern Conference selection.
Selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round (6th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft, Matthews has played all 10 seasons with the Falcons. In 2016, Matthews and the Falcons reached Super Bowl LI, when they faced the New England Patriots. Following the 2018 season, Matthews earned his first Pro Bowl selection for his play at left tackle. Since 2015, Matthews has been a standard of consistency and durability – playing at least 1,000 snaps every season.
Jake and his wife Meggi have one son, Beckett.
The Major Award winners will be honored, along with the members of the 2023 Walter Camp All-America Team, Player of Year Jayden Daniels (LSU) and Coach of Year Kalen DeBoer (Washington; now at Alabama) at the Foundation’s 57th National Awards Dinner, presented by 777 Partners, on Saturday, March 16 in New Haven. National Awards Dinner tickets are $350 and available at https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=H4Q8LBUAJGE7S
Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation (www.waltercamp.org,@WalterCampFF) – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association’s website, www.ncfaa.org
Walter Camp Football Foundation Announces 2023 All-Connecticut High School Team; Staples Earns Kelly Award; Breakfast of Champions set for March 16
The Walter Camp Football Foundation will host its 16th Connecticut High School “Breakfast of Champions,” on Saturday, March 16 at The Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale. Tickets are $60 and can be purchased online (https://waltercamp.eventchamp.com/).
The members of the 2023 All-Connecticut First and Second Teams will be recognized as will the six Connecticut high school 2023 state champions – Staples (Class LL), New Canaan (Class L), North Haven (Class MM), Daniel Hand (Class M), Joel Barlow (Class SS) and Bloomfield (Class S).
Staples of Westport, which finished as the number-one team in the state’s final polls, will be recognized as the Joseph W. Kelly Award winner. The Wreckers, under the direction of head coach Adam Behrends, won the Class LL state title after defeating eighth-seeded Fairfield Prep (13-12), fourth-seeded Southington (41-0) and third-seeded West Haven (21-10) to finish 12-1. It is the first time Staples has earned the Kelly Award.
Coach of the Year finalists, presented by Stadium System
Adam Behrends (Staples), EJ DiNunzio (Wilton), Tony Sagnella (North Haven)
Player of the Year finalists
Jett Hall (Naugatuck), Donte Kelly (Maloney), Caleb Smith (Staples)
Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by NFP Sports
George “Coach” DeMaio, WELI 960 AM
Inspiration Award, presented by NFP Sports – TBD
2023 Walter Camp All-Connecticut Teams
The Walter Camp All-Connecticut Team is voted on by a Selection Committee, which is comprised of 10 high school head coaches that represent nine conferences around the state.
First Team Offense
Quarterback: Caleb Smith (Staples) #
Running Back: Jett Hall (Naugatuck), Rowan Johnston (Trumbull) #
Wide Receiver: Davien Kerr (Bloomfield)*, Armani Reid (West Haven)
Tight End: Preston Dziubina (Ansonia)
Offensive Line: Tanner Chlupsa (Staples), Eli Fangiullo (Windsor), Ben Reagan (New Canaan), Brendan Ryan (North Haven), Peter Vomvolakis (Greenwich)
Placekicker: Tucker Stevens (New Canaan)
First Team Defense
Linebacker: John Insinga (Greenwich)*, Zakkai Moore (Maloney), Sebastian Parra (Greenwich)
Defensive Back: Alex Benevento (New Canaan), Davion Kerr (Bloomfield), Jon Morris (Fairfield Prep)*, Adam Pandolfi (North Haven)*
Defensive Line: Miles Chisholm (New Canaan), Evan Russo (Cheshire), Owen Theoharides (Wilton), Jayden Vega (Platt)
Punter: Ben Perry (Fitch)
Kick Returner: Donte Kelly (Maloney)
Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Drayvn Roberts (East Hartford)
Running Back: Aidan Dolan (Daniel Hand), Soren Rief (Killingly) #
Wide Receiver: Evan Anderson (Southington), Kyle Colsey (Ridgefield)
Tight End: Charlie Thom (Darien)
Offensive Line: Panas Charitopoulos (Bunnell), Gianni Drab (Fitch), Bryce Malary (Daniel Hand), Michael Paine (Notre Dame-West Haven), Justin Reid (Notre Dame-Fairfield)
Placekicker: Jackson Zylick (Masuk)
Second Team Defense
Linebacker: Antwan Davis (Notre Dame-Fairfield), Amir Knighton (Rockville), Todd Woodring (Wilton)
Defensive Back: Jose DeJesus (Notre Dame-Fairfield), Jesus Martell (Maloney), Max Maurillo (Staples), Samuel Petrosino (Staples)
Defensive Line: Ricci Fernandez (New Milford), Austin McGoey (Ridgefield), Ifeoluwa Oluborode (SMSA co-op), Chris Taylor (Shelton)
Punter: Zach Bonini (Enfield)
Kick Returner: Jason Champagne (Masuk)
* – 2022 Walter Camp First Team All-Connecticut honoree
# – 2022 Walter Camp Second Team All-Connecticut honoree
Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.
Recapping the 2023 College Football Season – Walter Camp Players of Week, presented by The Heights Group at Morgan Stanley
Each week during the 2023 regular-season, the Walter Camp Foundation recognized a National Football Bowl Subdivision Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, presented by The Heights Group at Morgan Stanley.
In all, players from seven different conferences were recognized with the Pac-12 Conference having the most with eight total, led by Washington’s four honorees. The Big-12 Conference was next with five recipients and Atlantic Coast Conference had four.
This was the 20th year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation administered a national player of the week, currently the oldest weekly honor among college football awards organizations.
2023 Walter Camp FBS Players of Week, presented by The Heights Group at Morgan Stanley
Sept. 3 – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado (offense); Kaimon Rucker, LB, North Carolina (defense)
Sept. 10 – Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas (offense); Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma (defense)
Sept. 17 – Michael Penix, Jr., Washington (offense); Jacob Roberts, LB, Wake Forest (defense)
Sept. 24 – Cameron Ward, QB, Washington State (offense); Jonah Elliss, DE, Utah (defense)
Oct. 1 – Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky (offense), Howard Cross III, DL, Notre Dame (defense)
Oct. 8 – Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oklahoma (offense); Devin Grant, S, Buffalo (defense)
Oct. 15 – Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford (offense); Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame (defense)
Oct. 22 – Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State (offense); Mishael Powell, CB, Washington (defense)
Oct. 29 – Hayes King, QB, Georgia Tech (offense); Jalen Green, DL, James Madison (defense)
Nov. 5 – Dillon Johnson, RB, Washington (offense); Jeremiah Trotter, LB, Clemson (defense)
Nov. 12 – Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU (offense); Demari Henderson, DB, UCF (defense)
Nov. 19 – Bo Nix, QB, Oregon (offense); Nathanel Watson, LB, Mississippi State (defense)
