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Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
McCareins Added To Buchanan Watch For National Defensive Player Of The Year Award
November 02, 2005 | Football
Nov. 2, 2005
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Senior defensive back Jay McCareins, a 2004 first-team All-Ivy selection and the 2005 Ivy League leader in interceptions and passes defensed, received national recognition for two of his finest games this season. On Wednesday, he received national recognition for the season itself, one that has helped send Princeton into a first-place showdown with Penn this weekend.
"It is a very deserving honor for Jay," head coach Roger Hughes said. "He is one of the best players in this league, and I think he could play and succeed at any level."
McCareins has recorded five interceptions and 13 passes defensed this season, and he has made three game-changing plays to help clinch a trio of Princeton's five victories. His 75-yard interception return for a touchdown helped the Tigers secure a 23-21 win at 2004 Patriot League champion Lafayette in the season opener.
The next weekend, McCareins earned the Sports Network National Defensive Player of the Week award after recording three interceptions in a 20-17 win over San Diego. His third pick came in the final two minutes and was returned 99 yards for a touchdown.
His most important play of the season didn't even come on defense. He earned the Sports Network National Special Teams Player of the Week by returning a kickoff 93 yards in the fourth quarter for the winning touchdown in a 27-24 victory at Harvard. It was Princeton's first win against Harvard since 1995 and started a two-game win streak that got the Tigers into a share of first place.
McCareins has 36 tackles on the season, including 22 solo stops, which is third best on the team. He also recovered a fumble in the win over Harvard.
McCareins' Ivy and National rankings
Category Total Ivy rank National rank INTs per game .71 1st 2nd Pass Def. per game 1.86 1st n/a Punt Return Avg. 12.9 1st 14th Kick Return Avg. 22.8 1st 40th
Official "Buchanan Battle" Candidates
Maurice Bennett, LB, Lafayette
Jeff Charleston, DE, Idaho State
Zak DeOssie, LB, Brown
Reed Doughty, S, Northern Colorado
Justin Durant, LB, Hampton
Brady Fosmark, DE, Weber State
William Freeman, LB, Furman
Chris Gocong, DE, Cal Poly
Brent Hawkins, DE, Illinois State
Brian Hulea, LB, Villanova
Shannon James, S, Massachusetts
*Jay McCareins, DB, Princeton
Marques Murrell, DE, Appalachian State
Chad Nkang, LB, Elon
*Cameron Siskowic, LB, Illinois State
Antonio Thomas, CB, Western Kentucky
* - new candidate