MANHATTAN — Six Staten Islanders will be front and center during the 12th annual NYC “Elite Eleven” Scholar-Athlete Award Dinner next month at the New York Athletic Club.
The red-carpet event, which is sponsored by the New York City Chapter of the National Football Foundation, will take place on March 5. The dinner is slated to begin at 7 p.m.
The event will be emceed by ex-Syracuse University football star Don McPherson.
Two Staten Islanders will receive the gala’s most prestigious awards.
Four-year varsity player and running back Tyshawn Bent will receive the chapter’s Rudy J. Riska NYC Player of the Year Award, which is sponsored by the Heisman Trophy Trust. Bent is being recognized as the city’s Most Outstanding HS Football Player from New York City for the 2025 season.
Bent, of course, produced over 6,000 yards from scrimmage during his career, including 5,269 rushing and 815 receiving. In 2025, the hard-nosed running back rushed for 1,214 yards and 17 touchdowns while averaging 8.2 yards per carry.
Bent led the Pirates to a 12-1 mark and spot in the PSAL 4A city title game last November.
Tyshawn Bent (1) of Tottenville is being recognized for his outstanding play, which included over 1,200 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns during the 2025 campaign.(Advance/SILive.com | Jason Paderon)
Monsignor Farrell varsity head coach Rocco Del Priore, meanwhile, earned the Vincent O’Connor NYC Coach of the Year Award for 2025.
Del Priore, who is a Farrell alum, led the Lions to a 9-2 mark and into the school’s first CHSFL AAA regular-season championship title in 30 years. The fourth-year HC also led the Lions into the CHSFL AAA championship game against Iona Prep for the first time in four seasons.
The local chapter’s committee, which includes local coaches and business leaders, also selected 11 exceptional scholar-athletes to make up the 2025-26 NYC “Elite Eleven” football team.
The committee judged the candidates based on their combined achievements on the field, in the classroom and for their leadership contributions in their respective communities..
This year’s “Elite Eleven” includes Susan Wagner senior offensive tackle Phil Dalgin; Farrell senior linebacker Andrew Doyle; Curtis senior linebacker Anthony Gambardella and Tottenville senior linebacker Omar Mendez.
Each honoree will receive a $1,000 college scholarship and commemorative plaque.