PITTSBURG, Kan. - University of New Haven freshman football student-athlete Najae Brown (Mount Vernon, N.Y./Mount St. Michael / Trinity Pawling) has been named the Don Hansen Division II National Freshman of the Year, while senior offensive lineman Chris Biondi (Manorville, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) was named to the Don Hansen All-America Third Team.

The award marks Brown's first national honor of his young career. The Mount Vernon, N.Y. native was the Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Year and a NE-10 First Team selection following his first season at corner back for UNH. Brown led the Chargers' defense with 78 total tackles, including 56 solo stops. He intercepted three passes and broke up nine passes.

Previously an All-Region First Team selection, Biondi led the Charger offensive line which helped to engineer the highest-scoring offense in Northeast-10 with 40.6 points per game and the second-most prolific attack in terms of yardage with 467.9 yards per contest. New Haven also ranked second in rushing with 209.7 yards on the ground per game.

New Haven finished the 2013 season with a record of 8-3 overall and in third place in the Northeast-10 at 7-2. The season marked the first time in program history the Chargers went four-straight years with eight-or-more wins.

Click here for the complete 2013 Don Hansen All-America Football Teams (PDF)