Wadley Named To Stats Perform Preseason All-America Third Team
Transfer was the 2023 NEC Offensive Player of the Year while at Merrimack
Central Connecticut State football senior Donovan Wadley was named to the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Third Team at kick returner. The preseason FCS team was announced on Tuesday.
Wadley comes to CCSU after playing the past three seasons at Merrimack. In 2023 he was named the NEC Football Player of the Year and earned two spots on the NEC First-Team. He was selected there as both a wide receiver and a return specialist. He was the first wide receiver to take home NEC Player of the Year accolades since 2016.
A Newark, NJ, native, Wadley totaled 1,332 all-purpose yards in 2023 and ranked 17th nationally at 121.09 APY per game. He led the league, and was ninth nationally, with 645 combined kick return yards, including a FCS best three kickoff returns for touchdowns. All told, Wadley scored 11 touchdowns, first in the NEC and 31st in the nation. In his primary receiver role, Wadley averaged 18.12 yards per reception, 17th nationally, and finished with 471 total receiving yards, on 26 catches. He also carried the ball 34 times for 216 yards.
In three seasons at Merrimack Wadley appeared in 24 games and accumulated 1,838 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns. He caught 42 passes for 701 yards, rushed for 275 yards, on 50 carries, and returned 31 kicks for 862 total yards.
CCSU football won its league-leading seventh NEC Championship in 2024, after being selected last in the preseason coaches poll. The Blue Devils went 7-5 overall and were 6-1 in league play. The Blue Devils led the nation with 16 fumbles recovered, finished second in the nation in turnovers gained (32), third in turnover margin (1.08), fourth in sacks allowed (0.69) and ninth in team sacks (2.85).
The Blue Devils kickoff the 2025 campaign on August 30th, when they travel to East Hartford for a game versus UConn. The home opener is a week later, under the lights, versus AIC. Season and single-game tickets will go on sale in early August.
