UNH’s Lacey collects CAA honor

BALTIMORE – Pop Lacey (Reading, Pa.), a senior safety at the University of New Hampshire, was named to the CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team on Tuesday. The announcement was made at the conference’s annual Media Day that was held at M&T Bank Stadium.

Sophomore running back Carlos Washington, Jr. (Fort Washington, Md.) and senior punter Drew Sanborn (Amherst, N.H.) received Honorable Mention recognition.

New Hampshire kicks off the 2019 season Sept. 7 (1 p.m.) at College of the Holy Cross. UNH plays the first of five home games Sept. 21 (6 p.m.) against the University of Rhode Island.

Lacey (6-foot, 199 pounds) was named to the CAA Football Second Team Defense last year, when he started all 11 games and tied for the UNH lead in total tackles with 79, including a team-high 50 solo tackles. He was also credited with five pass breakups and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Lacey recorded two interceptions, one of which was a 23-yard return for a touchdown in a win against nationally-ranked James Madison University. He made a season-high 11 tackles twice – the aforementioned game vs. JMU and at Elon University, another nationally-ranked opponent. Lacey made 10 stops and intercepted a pass at FBS opponent University of Colorado. Lacey’s other collegiate accolades include CAA Football Third Team Defense in 2016.

Washington, Jr. (5-11, 201) was UNH’s leader in eight statistics: rushes (99), rushing yards (582), rushing touchdowns (six), touchdowns (seven), points (42), kickoff returns (10), kickoff return yards (159) and all-purpose yards (905). He averaged 5.9 yards per carry and 52.9 rushing yards per game. He also had 17 catches for 164 yards, which calculates to 9.6 yards per catch.

In the last four games of the 2018 season, Washington, Jr. carried the ball 56 times for 464 yards and six TDs for averages of 8.3 yards per carry and 116 yards per game. He finished with 17 rushes for 179 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75-yarder, at Villanova University. His other season highlights included a 93-yard score against the University at Albany and three TDs at the University of Rhode Island.

Sanborn (6-0, 226) was named CAA Football Third Team Defense after averaging 40.2 yards per punt a year ago. He recorded seven punts of 50-plus yards, including a season-long of 60 that was one of three punts longer than 50 yards at Colorado. In that game, he averaged 49.7 yards per punt. Sanborn pinned the opponent inside the 20-yard line 27 times and that included six times in the season opener at the University of Maine and four times at Colorado. Also of note, he averaged 44.2 yards per punt with a long of 55 at Villanova.

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