Lycoming College

From his first game, when he rushed eight times for 91 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Westminster to his last, when he ran for a school-record 299 yards against FDU-Florham, Needhammer was a difference maker for the Lycoming College football team.
 
A physics major that was named a Second Team Capital One Academic All-American in 2014, Needhammer also earned the Sol "Woody" Wolfe Award in 2014 and the College's Most Outstanding Male Athlete award in 2015.
 
He finished his career in 2014 by earning D3football.com All-East Region honors for a second time, placing third in the MAC with 1,242 rushing yards and second with 13 touchdowns. His 186.7 all-purpose yards per game led the conference and finished sixth nationally. He posted the first two 300-all-purpose-yard games in program history as a senior, earning USA College Football Offensive Player of the Week honors after his effort against Misericordia and then earning D3football.com Team of the Week and USA College Football Running Back of the Week accolades after his 339-yard effort against FDU-Florham. The team captain rushed for a school-record 299 yards in his last game at FDU-Florham, breaking Josh Kleinfelter's record of 3,664 career rushing yards with his final rush – a 50-yard touchdown run to give him 3,713 career yards.
 
As a junior, Needhammer was a Third Team D3football.com All-East Region and Capital One Academic All-District selection. The First Team All-MAC running back finished third in the MAC, averaging 118.4 yards per game, and he tied the school record with 14 touchdowns scored. He also averaged 153.9 all-purpose yards per game and ran for 100 yards seven times, one less than the school record set by Brian Thompson over a 13-game campaign en route to the national championship game in 1997.
 
The Lansdale, Pa., native was a three-time member of the MAC Academic Honor Roll, a two-time Academic All-MAC honoree and a two-time Capital One Academic All-District pick.
 
His teams posted a 31-9 overall record during his career, winning the program's final MAC Championship in 2013.
 
After graduation, Needhammer earned a Master's of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. He is the branch manager of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division. He married, wife, Laura, in March 2024, and the couple are expecting a baby girl this March. He enjoys golf with his Lycoming teammates and his mom, and playing tennis and paddleboard with his wife.
 
Nominated by: Joe Guistina, Associate Director of Athletics