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Neu on AFCA All-America First Team
TROY, N.Y. - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athlete Chris Neu, a senior offensive lineman, has been named a First Team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). A third-year starter, Neu (Mokena, IL / Culver Academy) helped Rensselaer average 145.1 rushing yards, 214.7 passing yards and 27.0 points while posting a 10-2 record, winning a Liberty League Championship and a berth into the NCAA Playoffs, and advancing to the national quarterfinals. RPI was first in the conference in rushing offense and third down conversions (39.5%). The Engineers scored at least 40 points three times and had more than 500 yards of offense in two games, including 44 and 501 against Buffalo State College to help the offensive line to the D3football.com Team of the Week for its efforts. During the regular season, Neu did not allow a sack from his left tackle position on his way to being selected All-Liberty League First Team and D3football.com All-Region Second Team. A D3football.com Preseason All-America Second Team selection, Neu helped the Engineers average 177.7 rushing yards, 167.7 passing yards and 29.2 points in posting an 8-3 record, a Liberty League Championship and a berth into the NCAA Playoffs in 2017. The team led the conference in rushing offense and ranked second in scoring offense. At season's end, he garnered All-Liberty League First Team, All-ECAC Second Team, D3football.com All-East Region Third Team and the team's Offensive Lineman of the Year. Nue, a Business and Management and Economics dual major, was an All-Liberty League Second Team choice in 2016 when he helped the team to a win in the ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl. RPI averaged 22.8 points with 228.4 rushing yards and 299.5 total yards per game. Rensselaer, which is coached by Ralph Isernia, registered the second most wins in a season this year and played in the NCAA Quarterfinals for the just the second time in program history. Neu and his fellow seniors set the school record for wins by a class with 33.
