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University of New Hampshire Athletics
O'Connor Named to STATS All-America Second Team
12/18/2017 6:54:00 PM | Football
Junior WR Has Received Four All-America Accolades in 2017
DURHAM, N.H. – Neil O'Connor (Leominster, Mass.), a junior wide receiver on the No. 21/20 University of New Hampshire football team, was named to the 2017 STATS FCS All-America Second Team on Tuesday.
It is the fourth All-America accolade of the month for O'Connor, who was previously named to the Associated Press All-America Second Team, Madness All-America First Team and Phil Steele All-America. His other 2017 accolades included Walter Payton Award Finalist, All-CAA First Team, All-New England Team and All-ECAC First Team.
O'Connor ranked No. 1 in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and third nationally in receptions (97) with the second-highest total in UNH single-season history behind R.J. Harris (100 in '14). He also paced the CAA in receptions/game (6.9, 11th in FCS), receiving yards (1,396, 4th), receiving yards/game (99.7, 11th) and touchdown receptions (10, T-14th).
O'Connor's 1,396 receiving yards ranked fourth in single-season school history, and was a mere 155 yards shy of all-time co-leaders Harris (2014) and David Ball (2005).
He earned the New England Football Writers Gold Helmet weekly award twice (Sept. 13, Oct. 4) and set career bests with 232 yards receiving (Sept. 23 vs Rhode Island) and 13 receptions (Oct. 13 at Stony Brook).
The 232 receiving yards vs. URI ranks second on UNH's list of single-game superlatives. O'Connor surpassed 100 receiving yards four other times, including 193 at William & Mary and 182 at Stony Brook. His other season highlights included a personal-best three receiving touchdowns against Bryant.
New Hampshire (9-5) competed in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs for the 14th consecutive season, which is the longest active streak in the nation. The Wildcats defeated Central Connecticut State in the first round and No. 4 seed Central Arkansas in the second round before falling at No. 5 seed South Dakota State in the quarterfinal round Dec. 9.
UNH, in its second season at Wildcat Stadium, saw a 13-percent home attendance increase, highlighted by the all-time largest crowd for a home opener (15,854) and largest on-campus crowd (22,135) in school history. The Wildcats averaged 12,751 fans per home game in 2017, up from the previous high of 11,108 in 2016. The overall attendance of 63,756 for five home dates eclipsed the regular-season attendance of 55,542 in 2016.
It is the fourth All-America accolade of the month for O'Connor, who was previously named to the Associated Press All-America Second Team, Madness All-America First Team and Phil Steele All-America. His other 2017 accolades included Walter Payton Award Finalist, All-CAA First Team, All-New England Team and All-ECAC First Team.
O'Connor ranked No. 1 in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and third nationally in receptions (97) with the second-highest total in UNH single-season history behind R.J. Harris (100 in '14). He also paced the CAA in receptions/game (6.9, 11th in FCS), receiving yards (1,396, 4th), receiving yards/game (99.7, 11th) and touchdown receptions (10, T-14th).
O'Connor's 1,396 receiving yards ranked fourth in single-season school history, and was a mere 155 yards shy of all-time co-leaders Harris (2014) and David Ball (2005).
He earned the New England Football Writers Gold Helmet weekly award twice (Sept. 13, Oct. 4) and set career bests with 232 yards receiving (Sept. 23 vs Rhode Island) and 13 receptions (Oct. 13 at Stony Brook).
The 232 receiving yards vs. URI ranks second on UNH's list of single-game superlatives. O'Connor surpassed 100 receiving yards four other times, including 193 at William & Mary and 182 at Stony Brook. His other season highlights included a personal-best three receiving touchdowns against Bryant.
New Hampshire (9-5) competed in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs for the 14th consecutive season, which is the longest active streak in the nation. The Wildcats defeated Central Connecticut State in the first round and No. 4 seed Central Arkansas in the second round before falling at No. 5 seed South Dakota State in the quarterfinal round Dec. 9.
UNH, in its second season at Wildcat Stadium, saw a 13-percent home attendance increase, highlighted by the all-time largest crowd for a home opener (15,854) and largest on-campus crowd (22,135) in school history. The Wildcats averaged 12,751 fans per home game in 2017, up from the previous high of 11,108 in 2016. The overall attendance of 63,756 for five home dates eclipsed the regular-season attendance of 55,542 in 2016.
Players Mentioned
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