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University of New Hampshire Athletics
Eight Wildcats Receive CAA All-Conference Awards
11/25/2025 2:11:00 PM | Football
RICHMOND, Va. – Senior offensive lineman Tolu Olajide (Lawrenceville, N.J.), sophomore kicker Nick Reed (Harrison, N.Y.) and junior fullback/halfback Peyton Strickland (Goffstown, N.H.) were named to the First Team to highlight a total of eight Wildcats on the 22nd-ranked University of New Hampshire football team who received CAA All-Conference Team accolades on Tuesday.
Grad student defensive lineman Justice Akinmoladun (Grandview, Mo.) earned Second Team status while senior wide receiver Caleb Burke (Johnstown, Pa.), junior linebacker Darren Burton II (Newark, N.J.), sophomore defensive lineman Jordan Mcallister (South Orange, N.J.) and sophomore quarterback Matt Vezza (Elmhurst, Ill.) were voted to the Third Team.
Three more Wildcats – grad student safety Duncan Moreland (Beverly, Mass.), senior running back Myles Thomason (Montclair, N.J.) and grad student wide receiver Chase Wilson (Lake Charles, La.) – received Honorable Mention recognition.
UNH (8-4, 6-2 CAA), which received an NCAA at-large bid to the 2025-26 FCS Championship, will play at No. 14 seed South Dakota State University in a Nov. 29 (1pm Eastern) first round game on ESPN+.
Get a head start on the 2026 season by CLICKING HERE to buy season tickets.
Olajide started all 12 games at left tackle to anchor an offensive line that led UNH to a No. 2 national ranking in time of possession (33 minutes, 28 seconds), as well as 26.7 points per game and 358.2 yards per game. During UNH's current five-game winning streak, those numbers improve to 36:04 in time of possession, 33.4 points per game and 425.6 yards per game.
Reed – a three-time CAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week – is the FCS leader in field goals per game (2.0) and he ranks No. 9 in points (102) as well as 12th in scoring (8.5 points per game). His 24 field goals shattered the previous UNH record for field goals made in a single season and he also broke the program benchmark for longest field goal with a 55-yarder Nov. 22 against the University of Maine.
Reed, a first-year Wildcat, has made 24 of 31 field goal attempts and has proven to be accurate from long distance, where he has made 6 of 8 attempts from 50+ yards and is 3-for-4 from 40-49 yards. He has also made 10 of 11 kicks in the 30-39 range.
Reed kicked a 40-yard field goal on the last play of the game to lift UNH to a 19-16 victory against Holy Cross; that kick capped a perfect 4-for-4 day that also included makes of 33, 30 and 50 yards. He was named the national Special Teams Player of the Week for that performance.
Reed was also perfect with four field goals – including the record 55-yarder – and a PAT kick against Maine to help the Wildcats retain the Brice-Cowell Musket with a 33-27 win.
Strickland has 21 catches for 211 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games. He is tied for second on the team in receiving TDs and the 21 catches are tied for fifth. Strickland began the 2025 season with a 65-yard yard touchdown catch in the opener at N.C. Central. He finished with a career high of three catches in four games and that included a personal-best two touchdown game at Bryant University. During UNH's five-game winning streak, Strickland has 11 catches for 88 yards and a pair of TDs.
Akinoladun, another first-year Wildcat, played every game and started the last 11. He leads the Wildcats with seven sacks – that number ranks seventh in the conference – and ranks second with 9.5 tackles for loss. Akinmoladun recorded a tackle for loss in 8 of 12 games.
He has 32 total tackles with a breakdown of 19 solo stops and 13 assisted tackles. Akinmoladun recorded career highs of five tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks at Bryant. He finished with four tackles in games against nationally-ranked Rhode Island and Monmouth.
Burke is UNH's leader in receptions (51) and receiving yards (764) and is second in TD receptions (four) to average 15.0 yards per catch and 69.5 yards per game. With those numbers, he ranks No. 8 in the CAA in receiving yards and 10th in receptions.
Burke had six catches for a career-high 153 yards and two touchdowns, which also matched a personal best, in UNH's 34-24 win against William & Mary. Burke also topped 100 receiving yards with 134 on a career-high nine catches at Bryant. He caught five or more passes in a game five times and surpassed 75 receiving yards in a game five times.
During UNH's five-game winning streak, he has been the top target and big-play playmaker with 24 catches for 446 yards and three touchdowns for averages of 18.6 yards per catch and 89.2 yards per game.
Burton II has started all 12 games in his first year as a Wildcat. He has tallied 24 solo tackles and 11 assisted for a total of 35 tackles. He ranks third on the team with eight tackles for loss and that number includes two sacks. His other stats include two pass breakups, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Burton II recorded a career-high six tackles at Rhode Island and finished with two tackles for loss in games against both N.C. Central and Maine.
Burton II is UNH's leader with 13 kickoff returns for 247 yards and an average of 19.0 per return and long of 32.
Mcallister has been one of UNH's top disruptors in the opponent's backfield as he has a team-high 10.5 tackles for loss and ranks second with 4.5 sacks. He also has three forced fumbles and two quarterback hurries. Mcallister earned the CAA Defensive Player of the Week award following his performance at sixth-ranked Monmouth with 3.5 tackles for loss, all of which were sacks – he forced a fumble on all three sacks. He has a total of 30 tackles with a breakdown of 18 solo and 12 assisted.
Vezza, whose regular-season accolades include CAA Offensive Player of the Week and two New England Football Writers Gold Helmet awards, has taken every snap at quarterback this season for the Wildcats. He has completed 216 of 347 passes for 2,625 yards and 19 touchdowns with a 140.0 efficiency rating, and he also leads the team with eight rushing touchdowns on 142 carries for 567 yards. Vezza ranks second in the conference in passing yards and is tied for third in TD passes.
In his first career start, Vezza completed 10 of 17 passes for 186 yards and two TDs to lead UNH toa 27-10 win at N.C. Central. He recorded career highs of 328 passing yards and five touchdowns in a 42-14 win at Bryant. Vezza threw for 280 yards and three TDs with a season-high 219.2 efficiency rating and ran for a career-high 99 yards in a victory vs. William & Mary.
Vezza has thrown for 1,277 yards and 12 touchdowns on a 66.2 completion percentage with a 162.2 rating during the five-game winning streak.
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CAA Football First Team
Tolu Olajide (OL), Nick Reed (K), Peyton Strickland (FB/HB)
CAA Football Second Team
Justice Akinmoladun (DL)
CAA Football Third Team
Caleb Burke (WR), Darren Burton II (LB), Jordan Mcallister (DL), Mazz Vezza (QB)
CAA Football Honorable Mention
Duncan Moreland (S), Myles Thomason (RB), Chase Wilson (WR)
Grad student defensive lineman Justice Akinmoladun (Grandview, Mo.) earned Second Team status while senior wide receiver Caleb Burke (Johnstown, Pa.), junior linebacker Darren Burton II (Newark, N.J.), sophomore defensive lineman Jordan Mcallister (South Orange, N.J.) and sophomore quarterback Matt Vezza (Elmhurst, Ill.) were voted to the Third Team.
Three more Wildcats – grad student safety Duncan Moreland (Beverly, Mass.), senior running back Myles Thomason (Montclair, N.J.) and grad student wide receiver Chase Wilson (Lake Charles, La.) – received Honorable Mention recognition.
UNH (8-4, 6-2 CAA), which received an NCAA at-large bid to the 2025-26 FCS Championship, will play at No. 14 seed South Dakota State University in a Nov. 29 (1pm Eastern) first round game on ESPN+.
Get a head start on the 2026 season by CLICKING HERE to buy season tickets.
Olajide started all 12 games at left tackle to anchor an offensive line that led UNH to a No. 2 national ranking in time of possession (33 minutes, 28 seconds), as well as 26.7 points per game and 358.2 yards per game. During UNH's current five-game winning streak, those numbers improve to 36:04 in time of possession, 33.4 points per game and 425.6 yards per game.
Reed – a three-time CAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week – is the FCS leader in field goals per game (2.0) and he ranks No. 9 in points (102) as well as 12th in scoring (8.5 points per game). His 24 field goals shattered the previous UNH record for field goals made in a single season and he also broke the program benchmark for longest field goal with a 55-yarder Nov. 22 against the University of Maine.
Reed, a first-year Wildcat, has made 24 of 31 field goal attempts and has proven to be accurate from long distance, where he has made 6 of 8 attempts from 50+ yards and is 3-for-4 from 40-49 yards. He has also made 10 of 11 kicks in the 30-39 range.
Reed kicked a 40-yard field goal on the last play of the game to lift UNH to a 19-16 victory against Holy Cross; that kick capped a perfect 4-for-4 day that also included makes of 33, 30 and 50 yards. He was named the national Special Teams Player of the Week for that performance.
Reed was also perfect with four field goals – including the record 55-yarder – and a PAT kick against Maine to help the Wildcats retain the Brice-Cowell Musket with a 33-27 win.
Strickland has 21 catches for 211 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games. He is tied for second on the team in receiving TDs and the 21 catches are tied for fifth. Strickland began the 2025 season with a 65-yard yard touchdown catch in the opener at N.C. Central. He finished with a career high of three catches in four games and that included a personal-best two touchdown game at Bryant University. During UNH's five-game winning streak, Strickland has 11 catches for 88 yards and a pair of TDs.
Akinoladun, another first-year Wildcat, played every game and started the last 11. He leads the Wildcats with seven sacks – that number ranks seventh in the conference – and ranks second with 9.5 tackles for loss. Akinmoladun recorded a tackle for loss in 8 of 12 games.
He has 32 total tackles with a breakdown of 19 solo stops and 13 assisted tackles. Akinmoladun recorded career highs of five tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks at Bryant. He finished with four tackles in games against nationally-ranked Rhode Island and Monmouth.
Burke is UNH's leader in receptions (51) and receiving yards (764) and is second in TD receptions (four) to average 15.0 yards per catch and 69.5 yards per game. With those numbers, he ranks No. 8 in the CAA in receiving yards and 10th in receptions.
Burke had six catches for a career-high 153 yards and two touchdowns, which also matched a personal best, in UNH's 34-24 win against William & Mary. Burke also topped 100 receiving yards with 134 on a career-high nine catches at Bryant. He caught five or more passes in a game five times and surpassed 75 receiving yards in a game five times.
During UNH's five-game winning streak, he has been the top target and big-play playmaker with 24 catches for 446 yards and three touchdowns for averages of 18.6 yards per catch and 89.2 yards per game.
Burton II has started all 12 games in his first year as a Wildcat. He has tallied 24 solo tackles and 11 assisted for a total of 35 tackles. He ranks third on the team with eight tackles for loss and that number includes two sacks. His other stats include two pass breakups, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Burton II recorded a career-high six tackles at Rhode Island and finished with two tackles for loss in games against both N.C. Central and Maine.
Burton II is UNH's leader with 13 kickoff returns for 247 yards and an average of 19.0 per return and long of 32.
Mcallister has been one of UNH's top disruptors in the opponent's backfield as he has a team-high 10.5 tackles for loss and ranks second with 4.5 sacks. He also has three forced fumbles and two quarterback hurries. Mcallister earned the CAA Defensive Player of the Week award following his performance at sixth-ranked Monmouth with 3.5 tackles for loss, all of which were sacks – he forced a fumble on all three sacks. He has a total of 30 tackles with a breakdown of 18 solo and 12 assisted.
Vezza, whose regular-season accolades include CAA Offensive Player of the Week and two New England Football Writers Gold Helmet awards, has taken every snap at quarterback this season for the Wildcats. He has completed 216 of 347 passes for 2,625 yards and 19 touchdowns with a 140.0 efficiency rating, and he also leads the team with eight rushing touchdowns on 142 carries for 567 yards. Vezza ranks second in the conference in passing yards and is tied for third in TD passes.
In his first career start, Vezza completed 10 of 17 passes for 186 yards and two TDs to lead UNH toa 27-10 win at N.C. Central. He recorded career highs of 328 passing yards and five touchdowns in a 42-14 win at Bryant. Vezza threw for 280 yards and three TDs with a season-high 219.2 efficiency rating and ran for a career-high 99 yards in a victory vs. William & Mary.
Vezza has thrown for 1,277 yards and 12 touchdowns on a 66.2 completion percentage with a 162.2 rating during the five-game winning streak.
Support UNH Football's Playoff Journey
The Wildcats are competing on the national stage, and your support makes a difference! Every gift helps provide the resources our student-athletes need to succeed.
Join us and keep the momentum going. Give today and help UNH Football power through the playoffs!
Support UNH Football
CAA Football First Team
Tolu Olajide (OL), Nick Reed (K), Peyton Strickland (FB/HB)
CAA Football Second Team
Justice Akinmoladun (DL)
CAA Football Third Team
Caleb Burke (WR), Darren Burton II (LB), Jordan Mcallister (DL), Mazz Vezza (QB)
CAA Football Honorable Mention
Duncan Moreland (S), Myles Thomason (RB), Chase Wilson (WR)
Players Mentioned
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WR
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CB
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DE
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S
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OL
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RB
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QB
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WR
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