RICHMOND, VA -- Record-setting University of Delaware senior quarterback Joe Flacco, who threw for 3,185 yards and 17 touchdowns in leading the Blue Hens to a berth in this week’s NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Tournament, was named co-winner of the Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Year Award announced Monday afternoon.

Flacco (at right), who shared the honor with quarterback Ricky Santos of New Hampshire, was among nine Delaware players, including a league-high six on the All-CAA first team, honored by the CAA. The teams were selected from a vote of the 12 league coaches.

Flacco, who becomes the first Delaware player to be named conference Player of the Year since quarterback Andy Hall and defensive end Shawn Johnson were both honored during the 2003 NCAA championship season, will lead No. 13 Delaware (8-3) into a first round NCAA playoff game vs. No. 10 Delaware State (10-1) Friday at 1:30 p.m. at Delaware Stadium.

In addition to Flacco, senior running back Omar Cuff, junior wide receiver Aaron Love, senior offensive tackle Mike Byrne, junior center Kheon Hendricks, and sophomore kicker Jon Striefsky were all named to the offensive first team. In addition, senior offensive lineman Rich Beverley and junior wide receiver Kervin Michaud were named All-CAA third team offense and sophomore defensive end Matt Marcorelle was a third team All-CAA selection.

Flacco (Audubon, NJ/Audubon) has led a passing attack that is first in the CAA with a 292.2 yards-per-game average. In the team's 11games, he has completed 251 passes for 3,185 yards and 17 touchdowns. His 152.61 passing efficiency is also the 11th best in the country.

Over his career, Flacco has started 22 games and completed 515 passes, the most in Delaware history. He also ranks 4th all-time with 5,711 passing yards. His career 271.3 yards-per-game average is also the second best mark among all FCS quarterbacks, while his 65.4 completion percentage is the seventh best in the country.

Cuff (Landover, MD/C.H. Flowers) leads all NCAA players in scoring with 198 points on 33 touchdowns. In the season opener against William & Mary, he set the Delaware record for most touchdowns in a game with seven. He also holds the Blue Hen record for most touchdowns in a season (33) and a career (67).

This season, Cuff has rushed for 1,369 yards, the fourth highest single season mark in school history. After also topping the 1,000 yard mark in 2005, he is just the fourth Blue Hen to do it twice, joining Daryl Brown, Nate Beasley, and Chuck Hall. He is also the first Delaware player to finish the regular season as the team’s leading rusher in four straight seasons.

Love (Detroit, MI/Southfield) currently leads the Hens with 741 yards receiving and 55 receptions. He has also hauled in three touchdowns this season, while his 74.1 yards-per-game average is the highest on the team.

During his career, Love has caught 137 passes, the fifth highest total in Delaware history. His 1,729 receiving yards are also the ninth most among all Blue Hen receivers.

Byrne (Lititz, PA/Manheim Central) has been one of the top offensive linemen for the Hens during the last four seasons. An anchor at right tackle, he has helped pave the way for an offense that ranks in the top-20 in passing, scoring, and total offense.

A preseason first team All-Conference selection this year, Byrne was a third team All-Conference pick last year. Over his career, he has started 31 games and has led an offense that finished 20th in the country in rushing in 2005 and 9th in passing last season.

Hendricks (Baltimore, MD/Woodlawn) has started all 11 games at center for the Blue Hens this season. He has provided strong support to the Hens’ high-powered offense and has helped open holes for Cuff’s record-setting 33 touchdown runs.

After serving as a backup guard and jumbo back during his freshman season, Hendricks has started 22 games, including all 11 at left guard last year. He has been a key member of an offense that has finished among the top-2 in the conference in passing during each of the last two seasons.

Striefsky (Landsdale, PA/North Penn) has converted a record 51 straight PATs this season, breaking the previous Delaware mark of 50 set by Mark Drozic from 1990-91. He also converted 13 consecutive field goals earlier this year, which also set a new school record.

Striefsky leads the conference with a 1.4 field goals-per-game average, which is also the eighth highest in the entire FCS. He is also one field goal shy of tying Delaware’s single season record of 17 set by Brad Shushman in 2003.

Beverley (Cedar Run, NJ/Southern Regional) has started all 11 games this season at right guard. He has been an integral part on the Hens’ offensive line that has been one of best in the conference this year.

During his career, he has made 36 starts, including one at every position on the line except center. Beverley is also the most experienced player on the team with 46 career appearances dating back to 2004. He also spent the 2003 season on the scout team and helped the Hens win the National Championship.

Michaud (Levittown, PA/Pennsbury) has appeared in nine games for the Hens this year. During the season, he has caught 39 passes for 465 yards and two touchdowns. He has also rushed for 69 yards and gained 585 yards on kickoff returns. His 124.3 total yards-per-game average is the second highest on the team.

Against Navy, he amassed 285 total yards and was named the Blue Hen Touchdown Club Offensive Player of the Week. In his career, he has 103 career receptions and 1,011 receiving yards. He is the 12th player in Delaware history to record 100 career catches and the 23rd to reach 1,000 career receiving yards.

Marcorelle (Fort Pierce, FL/John Carroll) has started 10 games this season as a defensive end. He leads the team with 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.5 sacks. He is also seventh in the CAA with a .60 sacks-per-game average.

Against Towson earlier this season, he earned CAA Defensive Player of the Week honors after posting six tackles and three sacks. Over his career, he has notched 104 tackles, including 20.5 for a loss and 9.5 sacks.

Along with the nine Blue Hens, the CAA also honored James Madison’s Tony LeZotte as the Defensive Player of the Year. Richmond’s Dave Clawson was tabbed Coach of the Year, while the Spiders’ Justin Rogers earned Special Teams Player of the Year, Kevin Grayson was named the top offensive rookie in the conference, and Eric McBride garnered top defensive rookie accolades.

AGATE:

All-CAA First Team Offense: QB - Joe Flacco (Delaware), Ricky Santos (New Hampshire); RB - Omar Cuff (Delaware), Tim Hightower (Richmond), Maurice Murray (Northeastern); FB - Joe Casey (Rhode Island); WR - Aaron Love (Delaware), Keith Levan (New Hampshire), J.J. Moore (Massachusetts), Charles Sullivan (Hofstra); TE - Matt Sherry (Villanova); OL - Matt Austin (Massachusetts), Mike Byrne (Delaware), Nick Couturier (New Hampshire), Kheon Hendricks (Delaware); Scott Lemn (James Madison); PK - Jon Striefsky (Delaware); KR - Justin Rogers (Richmond); PR - Anthony Nelson (Hofstra).

All-CAA First Team Defense: DL - John Baranowsky (James Madison), Jovan Belcher (Maine), David Burris (Massachusetts), Lawrence Sidbury (Richmond); LB - Brian Bradford (Towson), Jason Hatchell (Massachusetts), Gian Villante (Hofstra), Charles Walker (Massachusetts); CB - Courtney Robinson (Massachusetts), Sean Smalls (Massachusetts); S - Tony LeZotte (James Madison), Jeff Pammer (New Hampshire); P - Bryan Giannecchini (Rhode Island).

All-CAA Second Team Offense: QB - Liam Coen (Massachusetts), Rodney Landers (James Madison); RB - Kareem Huggins (Hofstra), Matt Lawrence (Massachusetts); FB - John Crone (Richmond); WR - Kevin Grayson (Richmond), Marcus Lee (Towson), Rasheed Rancher (Massachusetts); TE - Brian Mandeville (Northeastern); OL - Sean Calicchio (Massachusetts), Ryan Canary (Maine), Matt McCracken (Richmond), Kevin Newhall (Northeastern), Mark Stolte (Rhode Island); K - David Stannard (James Madison); KR - Kareem Huggins (Hofstra), PR - Derek Hatcher (Richmond).

All-CAA Third Team Defense: DL - Brandon Collier (Massachusetts), Bruno Dorismond (Maine), Matt Marcorelle (Delaware), Marvin Wright (New Hampshire); LB - Stanley Gutierrez (Hofstra), Collin McConaghy (Richmond), Joe Mele (Northeastern), Osayi Osunde (Villanova); CB - Derek Cox (William & Mary), Seth Williams (Richmond); S - Drew Mack (Towson), Jeromy Miles (Massachusetts); P - Jason Pritchard (James Madison).

All-CAA Third Team Offense: QB - Jake Phillips (William & Mary); RB - Matt Dicken (Villanova), Jhamal Fluellen (Maine); WR - LC Baker (James Madison), Elliott Mack (William & Mary), Kervin Michaud (Delaware); TE - Scott Sicko (New Hampshire); OL - Terrence Apted (James Madison), Rich Beverley (Delaware), Shawn Demaray (Maine), Nick Diana (Massachusetts); KR - Courtney Robinson (Massachusetts); PR - LC Baker (James Madison).

Offensive Players of the Year: Joe Flacco (Delaware), Ricky Santos (New Hampshire)
Defensive Player of the Year: Tony LeZotte (James Madison)
Special Teams Player of the Year: Justin Rogers (Richmond)
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Kevin Grayson (Richmond)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Eric McBride (Richmond)
Coach of the Year: Dave Clawson (Richmond)