Springfield, Mass. - December 3, 2024 - For the third-straight season, the Springfield College football team had three student-athletes named to the New England Football Writers Association All-New England team. The team, selected by a committee of media relations representatives from the six conferences, honors the best Division II and III players by position in New England from the 2024 season.  

Leading the way was Arsen Shtefan (West Hartford, Conn.), who in addition to being chosen to the NEFW All-New England Team for the third-straight year, became the fourth Springfield College student-athlete to be named the recipient of the NEFW College Division 2024 Season Gold Helmet award, presented annually to the most valuable player in Divisions II and III. Shtefan joins Roy Samuelson (1976), Kevin Cahill (2000) and Chris Sharpe (2006) as the only Springfield College student-athletes to earn the prestigious honor as the top player in New England.  The two-time NEWMAC Offensive Athlete of the Year, Shtefan posted 1,286 rushing yards in Springfield's 10 regular season games, as he ranked ninth nationally in Division III in rushing yardage and his 17 touchdowns tied him for seventh nationally. The only College Division player to win the NEFW weekly Gold Helmet Award twice in 2024, he topped the 100-yard mark in six regular-season games this year.

Craig Connell (Goshen, N.Y.) also earned All-New England honors following a standout year at left tackle for the Pride.  The junior paved the way for Springfield to have the nation's top rushing offense as the Pride leads all of college football with 451.1 rushing yards per game. The Pride is also ranked second nationally in Division III in third down conversions, succeeding at a 64.9% clip. Other top 10 rankings for Springfield in the regular season including the Pride being fourth in Division III in red zone conversions, scoring on 44 of 47 red zone attempts, and earning the ninth ranking in Division III in scoring at 48.6 points per game.

Billy Carr (Southington, Conn.), who was previously tabbed the NEWMAC Defensive Athlete of the Year, earned the first All-New England honor of his career as an anchor at the linebacker spot for the Pride. In helping Springfield win its fourth-straight NEWMAC Championship, he led the team in total tackles with 69, unassisted tackles with 41 and tackles-for-loss with 7.5.  Carr was one of four linebackers from across New England to be honored. 

The team will be honored at the New England Football Writers Captains and Awards Banquet on Thursday, December 12, at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center.

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