Photo of Benkwitt with ECAC Commissioner Rudy Keeling - Click Here

East Rutherford, NJ (2/18/10) – Freshman quarterback Andrew Benkwitt (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) (Mamroneck, N.Y.) of the Utica College football team was named ECAC Division III Rookie of the Year Thursday at the annual ECAC Football Banquet on the grounds at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J. Benkwitt beat out three other freshman candidates from the Northeast, Southeast and Southwest regions to earn the prestigious honor.

Earlier in the year Benkwitt became eligible for the award after being named the ECAC Southwest Rookie of the Year. This marks the first time a member of the Utica College football program has earned one of the ECAC's major post-season awards.

“This is an incredible honor for Andrew and our entire program,” said second year Head Coach Blaise Faggiano. “To be recognized as the most outstanding freshman in the east is a testament to how hard he has worked and how far he has come in a very short time.”

Benkwitt, who was also the first player in program-history to earn Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Year status, broke nearly every single-season school passing record including pass completions (200), passing yards (2,375), passing attempts (329), passing touchdowns (19), completion percentage (60.8) and passing yards per game (237.5). He ranked second in the conference in total yards per game (243.7) and ranked fourth in the conference in pass efficiency (130.15). He also led all freshman quarterbacks in the conference in average yards passing per game, passing efficiency and total offense.

He helped the Pioneer offensive unit break several single-season school records including rushing touchdowns (21), total offensive yards (3,876), touchdowns responsible for (69), total yards of offense per game (387.6), all purpose yards (4,979) and total points scored (344).

As a team, the Pioneers finished the season with a 4-6 overall record, marking the second-highest win total in the program's nine-year history.