Milford's Asam Earns Top Rookie Defensive Honors In NEFC's Bogan Division
By Marvin Pave, Globe West Notebook
November 27, 2011
After graduating from Milford High last spring, Tyler Asam arrived at Worcester State University's preseason football camp hoping to crack the lineup as a special-teams player.
"I was just looking for a chance to show the coaches what I could do,'' he said. "I figured that if I'm hitting someone, I must be doing something right.''
Asam exceeded his own expectations. Making a successful transition from high school linebacker and fullback to defensive end, he was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year in the New England Football Conference's Bogan Division.
The 6-foot, 215-pound Asam registered 43 tackles, including 12 for losses and three quarterback sacks, and forced a pair of fumbles to help propel the Lancers (8-3) to their first winning season since 2004.
"Getting the award was a shocker,'' said Asam, whose only previous experience at defensive end was during his freshman year of high school. "I didn't see it coming.''
In the third game of the season against Nichols, Asam had a breakthrough performance: seven tackles (four for losses) and 1.5 sacks in a 49-3 victory.
"Tyler has what you call a good motor: He just keeps going,'' said Worcester State coach Brien Cullen, whose squad advanced to the ECAC Division 3 Northeast Bowl last weekend, where it lost to Salve Regina, 26-6. Cullen's brother, Tom, coached Asam at Milford High.
"With injuries to our defensive line, he made the most of his opportunities, and we have been really pleased with the attitude he has brought to our defense.''
Other area players were recognized by the conference after the Lancers' turnaround season.
Senior defensive end Ray St. Laurent of Shrewsbury was a first-team selection after leading the conference with 10.5 sacks. He was second on the team with 65 tackles and was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week after a 10-tackle, two-sack performance in a 27-13 win over division champ Framingham State.
"Ray was our big run-stopper up front,'' added Cullen, whose wide-receiver tandem of senior A.J. Scerra of Marlborough and sophomore Kenny Russell of Bedford were second-team picks.