TOWSON, Md. – After a season that saw them earn their second-straight berth in the Chesapeake Challenge Bowl Series, nineteen Wilkes University football student-athletes were selected to the All-Landmark Football Team, as announced by the conference office this afternoon.

Nine Colonels were named to the First Team, and five more were selected to the Second Team and Honorable Mentions.

First Team
Running back Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) had his most productive season as a Colonel in 2024, rushing for a conference-best 1,289 yards and 20 touchdowns, becoming Wilkes' leading rusher in the internet era (since 2004). Jules also led the conference averaging 128.9 yards per game. Jules rushed for over 100 yards in each of the last seven games of the season, dating back to the victory over St. John Fisher University in September. He was named Landmark Offensive Athlete of the Week twice in the 2024 season for his performances against Keystone and Catholic. This is the second consecutive season Jules has been selected All-Landmark First Team.

Mauro Guarino (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) and Aidan Palochik (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth Area) were a part of the offensive line that paved the way for the number two rushing offense in the conference, averaging 211.9 yards per game on the ground. They also allowed the fewest number of sacks in the conference, allowing only eight in 10 games. Guarino was selected to the Second Team last year, while Palochik returns to the First Team for the second time.

Defensive linemen Angel Ramos (Allentown, PA/Parkland) led the team in sacks for the second straight year, reclaiming his spot on the First Team. The senior got to the quarterback a conference-best eight times with 14.5 tackles for loss, also a conference-best mark. Ramos was named Landmark Defensive Athlete of the Week in the final week of the regular season for his play against Moravian.

Linebacker Tallen Murray (Vineland, NJ/Saint Joseph Academy) also made the First Team for the second-consecutive year, leading the team in tackles once again with 81 total tackles, with 9.5 for loss and five sacks. Murray's tackling total was the second-most in the Landmark.

Defensive back Rob Barbieri (Avoca, PA/Pittston Area) shined in his sophomore season, finishing second on the team in tackles with 62, while also snagging three interceptions and four pass breakups. This is his first All-Landmark honor.

Donell Mackey-Woodson (Hartford, CT/Southington) was the ball hawk of the Colonel secondary in 2024, snagging a conference-best seven interceptions with eight pass breakups. Mackey-Woodson also had three pick-sixes on the year, including the game-winning return against St. John Fisher, and was named Landmark Defensive Athlete of the Week three times this season as well as the D3football.com Team of the Week once. This is the senior's first All-Landmark recognition.

Kicker Nick Volpone (Delco, PA/Ridley) shattered records in his 2024 campaign, breaking the Internet Era career record in made PATs. Volpone hit 43 of his 44 attempts in the regular season, while also going 8-11 on field goals.

Punter Alex Orlando (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) also kicked himself into the record books in 2024 with his second All-Landmark season after being named to the second team in 2023. The senior led the conference with an average punt distance of 43.1 yards and 15 punts inside the 20-yard line. He also added five punts of over 50 yards to that tally, and took possession of the career punting yards record in Wilkes' Internet Era.

Second Team
After being named as an Honorable Mention in 2023, wide receiver Devin Higgins (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) was named to the Second Team in 2024, leading the team in catches (30), receiving yards (415), and touchdowns (4).

Jason Dean (Auburn, PA/Blue Mountain) earned his second All-Landmark distinction with a season that saw him catch 10 passes for 128 yards and play a crucial part as a blocker to help the Colonel run offense.  

Steele Hess (Allentown, PA/Whitehall) returns to the Second Team for the second consecutive season after a season where he picked up 45 total tackles with 8.5 for loss and three sacks. The senior also snagged an interception in the win over St. John Fisher.

Roamer Jesse Addesso (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph's by the Sea) earned his first All-Landmark recognition in 2024, wrapping up 43 tackles with two for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble. In coverage, Addesso forced four breakups and had one interception, as well as two quarterback hurries.

Defensive back Leroy Marshall (Cambria Heights, NY/Christ the King) was selected to his first All-Landmark team in 2024, totaling 48 tackles with 0.5 for loss, and four pass breakups. Marshall had one interception on the year, a pick-six in the Senior Day win over Moravian.

Honorable Mention
Quarterback Xavier Powell (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington) makes the All-Landmark team as an Honorable Mention. Powell passed for 1,908 yards with 16 touchdowns and added 565 yards on the ground with five rushing touchdowns as well. His 2,473 yards of total offense put him fifth overall in the conference.

Offensive linemen Damian Grullon (North Miami Beach, FL/North Miami Beach) and Anthony Messina (Bellmore, NY/Mepham) join Guarino and Palochik, who helped lead the Colonel offense to the second-most yards of total offense (4,256) and touchdowns (48) in the Conference.

Kellen Redmond (St. Petersburg, FL/Calvary Christian) was the third piece of a three-headed monster on the Colonel defensive line alongside Ramos and Hess, totaling 12.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and three quarterback hurries. This is Redmond's first All-Landmark selection.

Linebacker Tyler Wetzel (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) was a swiss army knife for Colonels on defense and special teams en route to his first All-Landmark selection. Wetzel collected the third-most tackles on the team with 54, picking up 4.5 for loss with 1.5 sacks. In coverage, Wetzel forced three breakups and had two hurries. On special teams, Wetzel successfully scored four two-point conversions (three rushing, one passing).
 
2024 All-Landmark Conference Football Team
Offensive Player of the Year: Josh Erlich, Susquehanna
Defensive Player of the Year: Garrett Carter, Susquehanna
Rookie of the Year: Rahshan La Mons, Susquehanna
Coaching Staff of the Year: Catholic
 
First Team
Offense
Quarterback: J. Erlich, Susquehanna
Running Back: R. La Mons, Susquehanna
Running Back: E. Jules, Wilkes
Wide Receiver: Jordan Bingham, Moravian
Wide Receiver: Chris Bookter, Susquehanna
Wide Receiver: Kyle Howes, Susquehanna
Tight End: Rowen Hershey, Susquehanna
Offensive Lineman: Nick Gonzalez, Susquehanna
Offensive Lineman: Eli Kantor, Susquehanna
Offensive Lineman: Hunter Shimko, Susquehanna
Offensive Lineman: M. Guarino, Wilkes
Offensive Lineman: A. Palochik, Wilkes
Kicker: N. Volpone, Wilkes
Kick Return: R. La Mons, Susquehanna
 
Defense
Defensive Lineman: Jeremy McGuigan, Moravian
Defensive Lineman: Brian Layton, Susquehanna
Defensive Lineman: Jake Schultes, Susquehanna
Defensive Lineman: A. Ramos, Wilkes
Linebacker: G. Carter, Susquehanna
Linebacker: Drew Robinson, Susquehanna
Linebacker: Jesse Ruisch, Susquehanna
Linebacker: T. Murray, Wilkes
Defensive Back: Andrew Wells, Susquehanna
Defensive Back: Steven Williams III, Susquehanna
Defensive Back: R. Barbieri, Wilkes
Defensive Back: D. Mackey-Woodson, Wilkes
Punter: A. Orlando, Wilkes
 
Second Team
Offense
Quarterback: Jared Jenkins, Moravian
Running Back: Mujaheed Muhammad, Keystone
Running Back: Terrence Oliver, Lycoming
Wide Receiver: Quintin Stephen, Juniata
Wide Receiver: Diego Del Castillo, Moravian
Wide Receiver: D. Higgins, Wilkes
Tight End: J. Dean, Wilkes
Offensive Lineman: Ben Ciesielski, Catholic
Offensive Lineman: Josh Moore, Keystone
Offensive Lineman: Braedon Hart, Lycoming
Offensive Lineman: Reins Leedy, Moravian
Offensive Lineman: Mark McFadden, Susquehanna
Kicker: Jeremiah Ortiz, Keystone
Kick Return: Jayson Nami, Keystone
Kick Return: Tyler Marshall, Lycoming
 
Defense
Defensive Lineman: Jake Welch, Lycoming
Defensive Lineman: Nathan Carr, Moravian
Defensive Lineman: Tim Pherson Jr., Susquehanna
Defensive Lineman: S. Hess, Wilkes
Linebacker: Joey Rivituso, Lycoming
Linebacker: Clay Basile, Moravian
Linebacker: Malachi McNeil-Harrison, Moravian
Linebacker: J. Addesso, Wilkes
Defensive Back: Ethan Shank, Juniata
Defensive Back: Aidan Lane, Moravian
Defensive Back: Le'trey Bons, Susquehanna
Defensive Back: L. Marshall, Wilkes
Punter: Jack Corrigan, Moravian
 
Honorable Mentions
Offense
Quarterback: Donald Leach, Keystone
Quarterback: X. Powell, Wilkes
Running Back: Hunter Wolfley, Juniata
Wide Receiver: Sean Hakanson, Juniata
Wide Receiver: J. Nami, Keystone
Tight End: Sam Comacchione, Catholic
Offensive Lineman: Carter Sauer, Juniata
Offensive Lineman: Brandon Guffy, Moravian
Offensive Lineman: D. Grullon, Wilkes
Offensive Lineman: A. Messina
Kicker: Connor Gill, Catholic
Kick Return: Malachi Hansen, Catholic
 
Defense
Defensive Lineman: Sean Holt, Catholic
Defensive Lineman: Tyler Malanga, Keystone
Defensive Lineman: K. Redmond, Wilkes
Linebacker: Carson Henry, Catholic
Linebacker: Quentin Tibbs, Keystone
Linebacker: Chris Cacace, Moravian
Linebacker: T. Wetzel, Wilkes
Defensive Back: Mason Stillwell, Catholic
Defensive Back: Tyler Marshall, Lycoming
Defensive Back: Isaiah Johnson, Moravian
Punter: C. Gill, Catholic
Punter: Christian Colasurdo, Susquehanna