Football | 9/1/2025 11:00:00 AM
SUNY Cortland will look to earn its fifth straight Empire 8 title, as the 2025 season begins on Sept. 4-6, with all eight teams in action. The Empire 8 will welcome newcomer Alfred State College as a new league member. Empire 8 league play starts on Sept. 20 with one game between Cortland and Hartwick, while the rest of league play begins on Sept. 27. The regular season Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2025 NCAA Division III Football Championship.
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the Empire 8 Network.
2025 Empire 8 Football Players to Watch
(Sorted Alphabetically by Institution)
Alfred University - Head Coach Bob Rankl
Chris Kelly, Sr., QB, Sachem, NY/Lake Ronkonkoma - Kelly, a 2024 second team All-Empire 8 Conference selection, went 155-for-268 passing with 2,071 passing yards and 23 passing touchdowns. He rushed for 283 yards and brought in one touchdown with his legs.
Tommy Welch, Sr., FS, Avon, NY/Avon - Welch, on defense, made five solo tackles in 2024. On special teams, Welch was the main punt returner. He averaged 4.25 yards per return.
Alfred State College - Head Coach Scott Linn
Chris Bergman, Jr., DB, Akron, NY/Akron - Bergman earned first team All-Eastern Collegiate Football Conference honors in 2024. He had six interceptions, 12 pass deflections, 43 solo and 11 assisted tackles for a total of 54 stops.
Noah Currier, Jr., RB, Oakfield, NY/Oakfield-Alabama - Currier earned first team All-ECFC in 2024 as a running back. He had 101 carries for 545 yards with three touchdowns. He also had 38 receptions for 360 yards and three receiving touchdowns.
SUNY Brockport - Head Coach Jason Mangone
Ben Gocella, Jr., QB, Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park - Gocella was a third team All-Conference selection in 2024 after he had his career-best output. He went 157-for-258 passing with 2,090 passing yards and 19 passing touchdowns.
Isaiah Simmons, Sr., RB, Buffalo, NY/West Seneca West - Simmons racked up the accolades in 2024. He was a first team All-Conference selection, a first team All-ECAC pick and recorded third team nod for D3football.com All-Region honors. He totaled 1,258 rushing yards, averaging 6.7 yards per carry and ran for 19 touchdowns.
SUNY Cortland - Head Coach Tom Blumenauer
Ethan Gallo, Jr., RB, Slate Hill, NY/Minisink Valley - Gallo, a 2024 first team All-Conference and second team D3football.com All-Region selection, had 1,159 rushing yards with 22 touchdowns on the season. He has also been named a D3football.com 2025 Preseason second team All-American.
Nazair Jean-Lubin, Jr., CB, Freeport, NY/Freeport - Jean-Lubin, a 2024 first team All-Conference and D3football.com All-Region selection. He earned a third team defense D3football.com All-America nod in 2024 as well. He had four interceptions with six pass breakups on the season. He was named a 2025 D3football.com second team Preseason All-American.
Hartwick College - Head Coach Matt Rogers
Benjamin Kirkland, Sr., LB, Buffalo, NY/Amherst - Kirkland led the Hawks in tackles in 2024. He had 26 solo and 43 assisted tackles for a total of 69 on the season. He had 7.5 tackles for loss with 2.5 sacks and added three pass breakups.
Haven Marascio, Sr., WR, Cape Canaveral, FL/Satellite - Marascio was a receiving leader for the Hawks in 2024. He had 30 receptions for 342 yards. He averaged 11.4 yards per reception and caught one touchdown pass.
SUNY Morrisville - Head Coach Eric Jendryaszek
Camerin Camacho, So., LB, Cape Coral, FL/Island Coast - Camacho, in his debut season, was a 2024 third team All-Conference selection at linebacker. He had 24 solo and 65 assisted tackles for a total of 89 on the season with two pass breakups.
Isaac Sylvain, Jr., RB, Schnectady, NY/Green Tech High Charter - Sylvain was a third team All-Conference pick at running back in 2024. He rushed for 800 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He ran in eight touchdowns and added seven receptions for 61 yards.
St. John Fisher University - Head Coach Ed Raby Jr.
Jaylen Brantley, Sr., WR, Syracuse, NY/Fowler - Brantley had 333 receiving yards in 2024 and averaged 27.8 yards per reception and caught two touchdown passes before suffering a season-ending injury in late September.
Tim Vanderbrink, Jr., DB, Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West - Vanderbrink had 39 solo and 26 assisted tackles with a total of 65 tackled in 2024. He added four tackles for loss, one interception and two pass breakups and one touchdown.
Utica University - Head Coach Blaise Faggiano
Antonio Cianfarani, Sr., WR, Scotia, NY/Scotia Glenville - Cianfarani was a 2024 third team All-Conference pick for the offense. He led the Pioneers with 394 receiving yards and averaged 14.1 yards per reception. He added three receiving touchdowns on the year.
Eli Douglas, Sr., DB, Ausable Forks, NY/Ausable Valley - Douglas was a second team All-Conference selection in 2024 as a defensive back. He had 30 solo and 26 assisted tackles totaling 56 on the season. He added 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, four interceptions and six pass breakups. He also brought home three touchdowns for the Pioneers.
Final 2024 Empire 8 Football Standings
Cortland (11-1, 7-0 E8) - League Champions
Brockport (8-3, 5-2 E8)
Morrisville (7-4, 5-2 E8)
Alfred (7-4, 5-2 E8)
Utica (5-5, 3-4 E8)
St. John Fisher (3-7, 2-5 E8)
Hartwick (2-8, 1-6 E8)
* Hilbert (0-10, 0-7 E8)
*Hilbert is no longer in the Empire 8 Conference
**Alfred State played in the ECFC in 2024
2024 Empire 8 Football Returning All-Americans, All-Region & Major Award Winners
- Mike Baloga, Cortland, Sr., K/P, New Windsor, NY/Cornwall - 2024 Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Year, 2024 D3football.com first team All-Region (as a kicker)
- Connor Cosgrove, Hartwick, So., Warwick, NY/Don Bosco Prep - 2024 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
- Sam Cotton, Cortland, So., WR, Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley - 2023 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
- Nicholas DeForrest, Utica, Jr., Rome, NY/Holland Patent - 2024 D3football.com second team Specialist All-American, 2024 D3football.com first team Special Teams All-Region
- Ethan Gallo, Cortland, Jr., RB, Slate Hill, NY/Minisink Valley - 2024 D3football.com second team Running Back All-Region
- Nazair Jean-Lubin, Cortland, Jr., CB, Freeport, NY/Freeport - 2024 D3football.com third team Defense All-American, 2024 D3football.com first team Defense All-Region
- Adam Montalvo, Brockport, Sr., OL, Mahopac, NY/Mahopac - 2024 D3football.com third team Offensive Tackle All-Region
- Isaiah Simmons, Brockport, Sr., RB, Buffalo, NY/West Seneca West - 2024 D3football.com third team Running Back All-Region