Philip Lanieri Selected for RPI Football Team Award

2016 Feb 18

Philip Lanieri of Port Jefferson has been chosen for a year-end award from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) after helping the Engineers to a 9-2 overall record, a share of the Liberty League Championship and a victory in the ECAC Asa S. Bushnell Bowl Championship.

A third-year starter at defensive back, Lanieri (Earl L. Vandermeulen HS) was named the co-Defensive Player of the Year. He had a team-high five interceptions with 19 return yards in 11 games. He also broke up nine passes and registered 42 tackles, including 23 unassisted and 2.0 for lost yards (3). He had multiple tackles in 10 games and at least one interception in four contests. He finished third in the Liberty League in interceptions per game (0.45) and fourth in passes defended (1.27 per game) on his way to earning All-Liberty League First Team, AFCA National All-America and AP Little All-America honors.