MINNEAPOLIS— D3football.com today released its All-region lists for the 2025 season. The definitive online resource for Division III football tabbed seven Eastern players and Head Coach Billy Crocker for All-Region 1 Honors. Linebacker Jason Bateman was named Region I Defensive Player of the Year.

Hired in Dec. of 2021, Crocker built the Eastern program from scratch. After serving in coordinator roles at the FBS and FCS levels, he took on his first head coaching job at a school with no players, no staff, no equipment, and a facility that needed a complete overhaul.

From the start, his vision drove the program forward as he recruited a staff and a roster. In just four short years, he and his staff built the program into a MAC Championship program. After earning a bye into the second round,  Eagles picked up a tenth win on the season with an NCAA Tournament victory at Franklin & Marshall College. This year's squad included over 20 players from the 'Year Zero' group that Crocker brought to Eastern in that first fall. The Eagles finished the regular season with the 11th-ranked rushing offense and a defensive group that ranked 13th in total defense. Crocker also earned MAC Coach of the Year Honors.

Bateman leads a group of four defensive honorees. The junior from Upper Darby finished the year with a team-best 97 total tackles. He added seven forced fumbles and six sacks. His ability to play sideline-to-sideline and rush or drop into coverage helped the Eagles to be ranked a the top of the MAC in rushing, passing, scoring, and total defense. He was the MAC Defensive Player o the Year.

Gashawn Moody Sr. earned a third-straight nod from D3football. The senior safety delivered big plays in critical moments and finished the year with 90 tackles, three sacks, and a pair of interceptions. His second interception stopped a late F & M drive to complete Eastern's 28-24 win in the NCAA Tournament. The Philadelphia native finishes his career with 302 total tackles.

Salif Nikiema also claimed a spot on the First Team. The senior from Newark, N.J. led a defensive line that generated 28 sacks in the regular season. While playing all across the defensive line, he had six sacks and finished fourth on the team with 44 tackles. He had an important fumble recovery late in the game at Misericordia to help secure a 28-21 win and move the Eagles into the driver's seat in the MAC standings.

Tahjere Jackson-Alston earned Second-Team All-Region honors as a corner-back. As Eastern's top cover corner, the Philadelphia native broke up 12 passes and finished with 54 total tackles. As a group, the Eagles gave up only 11 passing touchdowns and held opponents to an average of 152 yards through the air.

Senior guard Justin McNulty was the only Eagle on offense to earn a spot on the First Team. His mobility and ability to get to into the second level played a critical role in helping the Eagles to run the ball effectively. For a second-straight year, the Eagles finished near the top of the national standing in sacks allowed. The Absecon, N.J. native also spent time and excelled at tackle after injuries at that position required him to move.

Brett Nabb and Alvin Carpenter both earned spots on the Second Team. Nabb, the MAC Offensive Player of the Year, excelled as a team leader and as dual-threat quarterback. He scored ran for 194 yards and scored four rushing touchdowns in Eastern's NCAA Tournament win. This year, the graduate student from Avalon, N.J. ran for a career-best and program-record 1341 yards and threw for 1305 yards. He threw for 11 touchdowns and ran for 11 more.

Coming off a very productive offseason, Carpenter started all twelve games. The center from Philadelphia was tasked with making checks and calls at the line of scrimmage. The Eagles ran for over 300 yards five times.

All-Region Players will be considered for D3football.com All-America Honors. Those teams will be announced on Dec. 22.

For a complete list of all-region honorees and all other NCAA Division III Football news, go to D3football.com.