MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — 

United States Coast Guard Academy football standouts Sean Burns (Absecon, N.J.) and Harrison Hensley (Riverview, Fla.) have been tabbed by the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) as two of league's ten "Players to Watch" for the 2026 season, as announced in a release this morning.

Burns is set to return for his junior season in New London and his second as the Bears' starting quarterback. The New Jersey native became the team's shot caller last year after winning the preseason battle for the position, and he took full advantage by earning NEWMAC Second Team All-Conference honors at the season's end. Burns finished last season second in the league in total passing yards (2009), tied for second in passing touchdowns (18), and led the conference with 223.2 passing yards per game.

Hensley enters his senior season as the reigning NEWMAC Offensive Player of the Year and a D3football.com Preseason First Team All-American. He was one of two Bears to earn All-American honors from the site last year alongside offensive lineman Jay Martin '26, with the duo becoming the program's first All-Americans since 2015. Last season, Hensley was fifth in the nation in all-purpose yards per game (181.5), second in rushing yards per game (156.5), and ninth in rushing touchdowns (18).

The NEWMAC's full football "Players to Watch" release can be viewed here. Burns, Hensley, and Coast Guard football will make their 2026 debuts on September 5th, hosting the Nor'Easters of the University of New England at Cadet Memorial Field for a noon time kickoff.