MANSFIELD, Massachusetts - American International College quarterback Connor Dietz was named the Northeast-10 Conference's Rookie of the Year and to the All-Rookie Team for the 2024 campaign, leading five AIC student-athletes who were selected to the league's All-Conference team.

Dietz started the 2024 campaign fourth on AIC's depth chart at quarterback, but injuries forced the Point Pleasant, New Jersey native into action against Franklin Pierce University on October 12, and the rookie electrified the home crowd with a pair of touchdown runs, including a 31-yard rush around the left edge. That was a preview of his ability to dazzle; two weeks later, he rushed for 110 yards and helped lead the Yellow Jackets to a 14-7 win at Pace University, and followed that with a brilliant game in a 28-27 win against Assumption, rushing for a touchdown and then finding Fatir Bell in the end zone on fourth-and-six from the 31 yard line with 22 seconds left as the Yellow Jackets upended the regionally-ranked Greyhounds. He quarterbacked AIC to another win the following week at Post University, earning NE10 Rookie of the Week honors following all three victories.

The Rookie of the Year honor gives AIC's teams three such selections in fall 2024, with Dietz joining Frederique den Hartog of field hockey and Aleksandra Lucic of women's volleyball in being named the NE10's top first-year athletes. It is also the second time in three years that a Yellow Jacket has won Rookie of the Year in football, with Dahvey Hicks taking the honor two seasons ago. Dietz joins an illustrious list of seven other Yellow Jackets to take the accolade, including conference championship-winning quarterbacks Tom Guy in 2000, Rob Parent in 2007, and Kevin Arduino in 2011 as well as Harlon Hill Finalist Marlon Beckles, who earned the honor in 2003. AIC's other honorees are Terrence Holley in 2006 and Justin Tervo in 2010; Holley went on to multiple First-Team All-Conference selections at linebacker, while Tervo did the same on the defensive line. 

Joining Dietz on the All-Rookie team was Edward Craig Jr., a linebacker and defensive back from St. Johns, Florida. He racked up 40 tackles in 10 games, including a career-best seven in the season finale against Southern Connecticut State University. He also made his first career interception against Post, ending a late-half drive and keeping AIC tied with the Eagles in the eventual win.

Michael Grant was AIC's lone First-Team All-Conference winner, garnering a selection on the defensive line. The junior from Hackensack, New Jersey made 37 tackles, 7.5 of which were behind the line of scrimmage as he played nearly every defensive down of all 11 games for the Yellow Jackets. The honor is Grant's second in a row, having been named to the 2023 NE10 Second-Team All-Conference roster on the defensive line as well.

Sidiki Kone picked up a Second-Team All-Conference selection at running back. The senior from the Bronx, New York missed significant time with injury, and his return coincided with AIC going on a three-game win streak. He scored at least one touchdown in all six games he was able to complete, and racked up over 100 yards in the conference victories, scoring the winning touchdown at Pace and crushing Post for 167 yards on the ground. The honor is Kone's second, with a 2023 NE10 Second-Team All-Conference running back selection as well. 

Bell was AIC's final selection, at Second-Team All-Conference wide receiver. The senior from Hillside, New Jersey was at the forefront of AIC's passing offense, logging a career-best 454 yards receiving including a season-best 89 with two touchdowns against Shippensburg and the winning 31-yard catch against Assumption. It is Bell's first All-Conference honor.