NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Freshman quarterback Josh Smith (Parsippany, N.J.) has been named Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) Co-Rookie of the Year, highlighting eight Caldwell student-athletes named to CSFL All-Conference Teams, the league announced today. 

Named to the First Team Offense was Junior wide receiver Arjun Petgrave (Cranford, N.J.), while senior defensive back Amajuwan Murray (Rahway, N.J.) was selected to the First Team Defense squads. Five Cougars were chosen for Second Team honors, including senior offensive linemen Micah Chudkowski (Sayreville, N.J.) and Christopher Lohrmann (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J.), senior defensive lineman Michael Bonsu (Atlanta), freshman linebacker Damian Tavares (Pasco, Wash.) and senior defensive back Kyle Readus (Paterson, N.J.).

Smith, who was also selected to the All-Conference Honorable Mention team, was twice chosen as CACC Rookie of the Week. He completed 70 of 139 passes on the season for 708 yards and six touchdowns, while also rushing for 446 yards and five touchdowns and recording four receptions for 38 yards. He also served as the Cougars' primary punter, averaging 35.6 yards including three inside the 20 yard line. His biggest games came against Mansfield on 10/12, when he passed for 172 yards and three touchdowns, Army on 10/18, when he passed for 135 and rushed for 144, Penn on 10/26, when he aired it out for 172 yards and two TDs, and STAC on 11/1, when he rushed for a career-best 191 yards and three TDs.

Petgrave had 31 catches for a CSFL-best 454 yards and five touchdowns, including a five-catch, 106-yard, three touchdown game vs. Mansfield on 10/12 that earned him CSFL Player of the Week honors. He grabbed a career-best nine receptions for 106 yards vs. Navy on 11/9.

Murray, an All-CSFL Second Team pick in 2022 and 2023, ranked tied for third in the CSFL with 61 tackles, including 14 for loss. He also recorded two interceptions, five pass deflections, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick. 

Chudkowski, a National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society and CSFL All-Academic selection in 2023, and Lohrmann, an All-CSFL Second Team honoree last year, helped anchor an offensive line that compiled 2,278 yards of total offense, split nearly evenly between rushing and passing, and 23 touchdowns. 

Bonsu was third on the Cougars with 33 tackles, also breaking up two passes and forcing a fumble. He posted a career-best eight tackles, including 4.5 for loss and four sacks, earning CSFL Defensive Player of the Week. He had five or more stops in three other contests.

Tavares set a school record with 22 tackles against Pennsylvania on 10/26, including two for loss, to earn CSFL Rookie of the Week. He tied for third in the league with 61 tackles on the season, also collecting 12 at Army on 10/18 and eight in two other games.

Readus, making his fourth appearance in four years on the CSFL All-Tournament teams (2nd Team 2023, 1st Team 2022, Honorable Mention 2021), nabbed four interceptions and six pass breakups as the team's top defensive back. He also had two fumble recoveries, including a pivotal 89-yard scamper after picking one up in the end zone at the end of the first half vs. Mansfield on 10/12, leading to a touchdown.

The Cougars finished the season at 3-4 under first-year Head Coach Louie Matsakis.

2024 CSFL CO-ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Josh Smith (Caldwell)

2024 CSFL ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
WR – Arjun Petgrave (Caldwell)

2024 CSFL ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
DB – Amajuwan Murray (Caldwell)

2024 CSFL ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
OL – Micah Chudkowski (Caldwell)
OL – Christopher Lohrmann (Caldwell)

2024 CSFL ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
DL – Michael Bonsu (Caldwell)
LB – Damian Tavares (Caldwell)
DB – Kyle Readus (Caldwell)

2024 CSFL ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE-MENTION OFFENSE
QB – Josh Smith (Caldwell)