December 13, 2023

Nassau Lions Compete in NCAA Football
National Championship

Garden City, NY – Five Nassau Community College Football Lions will compete in this year’s NCAA Division III National Championship game. Defensive lineman Junius Keys, a 2021 graduate of Nassau, linebacker Jaden Martinez, pursuing an A.A. in Liberal Arts, wide receiver Rashad Tucker, studying for an A.A. in Liberal Arts, linebacker Jack Winey, majoring in the A.S. in Health Studies program, and tight end Connor Mahunik, pursuing an A.S. in Criminal Justice, will play for the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons as they face the North Central College of Illinois Cardinals on December 15, 2023.

All five players excelled on the field as NCC Lions under Head Coach Jamel Ramsay, who said, "I'm delighted to share the achievements of our Nassau Community College stars. To Junius, Rashad, Jack, Jaden, Connor and the entire SUNY Cortland team: Go out there and make us proud once again. Your journey inspires us, and we'll be cheering for your success in the championship game.”

The former NCC football stars took their experience as Lions and built on it to achieve outstanding success at Cortland. On the road to the 2023 championship game defensive lineman Junius Keys had 22 tackles and 3.5 sacks and linebacker Jaden Martinez led the Cardinals with 11 tackles in the NCAA semifinal win. Wide receiver Rashad Tucker earned first team All-Empire 8 honors as a return specialist, while linebacker Jack Winey compiled impressive stats including leading the Red Dragons with 124 tackles through 13 games while posting double-figure tackles five times. 

Nassau Lions Coach Ramsay said, “As Cortland advances to the National Championship with a stellar 13-1 record, I extend our best wishes to our exceptional students and alumni. Your dedication and skill have brought you to this pinnacle, and the Nassau community is incredibly proud.”

About Nassau Community College

Nassau Community College, a campus of the State University of New York, provides a comprehensive public college experience designed to transform lives through higher education. Serving 14,000 full-time, part-time and continuing education students, NCC offers more than 80 programs that lead to the associate’s degree or certificate. Through on-campus and online offerings, the College educates local and international students, and boasts 160,000 alumni. Situated on 225 acres in Garden City, Long Island, the college grounds reside in historic Nassau County, one of the most desirable locations to live in the United States and an epicenter for business and careers. Since 1959, NCC has earned a nationwide reputation for academic excellence, affordability, and ease of transferability to four-year schools.