Three members of the ECAC Asa S. Bushnell Bowl Champion Hobart College football team were named to the 2021 All-ECAC teams which were announced Tuesday. Linebacker Emmett Forde and running back Tim Denham Jr. represented the Statesmen on the first team while offensive lineman Kieran Paskewitz received second team honors.
A unanimous All-American, Forde led the Liberty League in tackles for loss (15.5), sacks (6) and forced fumbles (3). He ranked 20th in the nation in fumbles forced per game (0.33) and 25th in tackles for loss per game (1.7). In nine games, he recorded 51 total tackles, including a season-high nine at nationally-ranked Ithaca. He notched a pair of sacks in Hobart’s win over NCAA quarterfinalist RPI and two more in the win over Buffalo State. Forde was voted the 2021 Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year after earning the same honor in 2019.
In 39 career games, the three-time All-Liberty League pick produced 190 tackles, 43 for loss, 14.5 sacks, eight pass breakups, seven forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and three interceptions. Forde finished sixth on Hobart’s career tackles for loss list and 11th on the career sacks list.
The 2021 Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year, Denham was the only player in the conference to rush for 1,000 yards this season, finishing with 1,168 yards (5.5 yds/rush) and 13 touchdowns. A versatile athlete, he also caught 12 passes for 84 yards and returned 10 kickoffs for 220 yards. Denham was named the Liberty League Special Teams Performer of the Week after returning a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and rushing for 118 yards and a touchdown at St. John Fisher. He closed out the regular season with back-to-back Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week awards, combining for 372 yards rushing and six touchdowns against Buffalo State (213 yds, 3 TDs) and Rochester (159, 3).
A three-time All-Liberty League selection and a 2021 D3football.com All-Region pick, Denham has rushed for 1,415 yards and 15 touchdowns in 22 career games.
Hobart’s starting right tackle, Paskewitz cleared the way for a Hobart offense ranked third in the nation in sacks allowed (0.45/g), 10th in tackles for loss allowed (3.36/g) and 20th in rushing (237.5 ypg). He did not allow a sack this season. The Statesmen rushed for a season-high 346 yards against Buffalo State, eighth on Hobart’s single game list, averaging 8.6 yards per carry against the Bengals, second on the program’s single game list. Paskewitz helped Hobart gain 509 yards of total offense against Keystone, 13th on the single game list.
The 2021 first team All-Liberty League and D3football.com All-Region third team selection has appeared in 23 career games.
Hobart was 9-2 overall this season. The Statesmen were invited to the ECAC Asa S. Bushnell Bowl to face top seeded Westminster (Pa.) College. Hobart remained unbeaten in bowl games with a 21-3 victory over the Titans. Westminster came into the game with the No. 5 rushing defense in the nation (61.3 yds/g), but Denham accounted for 90 of the Statesmen’s 187 yards rushing on the day.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].