EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The NEC today announced its Football 2024 All-NEC Preseason Team featuring four LIU Sharks including OL Jake Timm, DB Caleb Nartey, P Will Lynch and WR Michael Love, who was selected as a Return Specialist. 

The preseason awards were announced at NEC Football Media Day at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, where conference stars and coaches convened to talk NEC football with a bevy of media members in attendance. 

"It's great to see Jake, Caleb, Will and Michael get the recognition they deserve as we head into the 2024 season," said Sharks head coach Ronald Cooper. "There's a lot of talent in the NEC heading into this year and we're looking forward to showing the rest of the conference that we're a threat to take home the 2024 NEC title."

Timm, one of the veteran leaders of this year's squad, earned second team All-NEC honors in 2023 and is looking to repeat with an All-NEC performance this coming season. Love has earned Preseason All-NEC honors in back-to-back years, with last year's selection coming at the wide receiver position.

Lynch, who is picking up his first NEC preseason honor, has made first team All-NEC for the past two seasons and picked up FedEx Ground FCS National Special Teams Player of Week honorable mention in two games during 2022.

Nartey is earning his first NEC recognition but was highlighted by his teammates being named Defensive Newcomer of the Year for his play in 2022. "Pressure is a privilege," said the versatile Nartey. "It's quite a moment for me to receive this honor and I'm excited to hit the field with my teammates and show what we can do this coming season." 

The LIU Sharks are coming off a 2023 campaign where they finished 4-3 in the NEC, including wins in three of their last four games over Central Connecticut State, Saint Francis University and Wagner College.