Upcoming Event: Football versus New Hampshire on September 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM
1:00 PM
Football
vs New Hampshire
Photo by: Doug Austin
Di Leo Receives Weekly Gold Helmet Award
10/24/2018 12:30:00 PM | Football
Senior defensive end adds another honor this week
HANOVER, N.H. — The New England Football Writers' Association office honored its weekly Gold Helmet Award winners at a luncheon at Harvard University's Dillon Field House today with Dartmouth senior Rocco Di Leo the winner from the Division I (both FBS and FCS) regional teams. This honor comes on the heels of Di Leo being named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week and earning honorable mention for the STATS FCS National Defensive Player of the Week.
The 6-3, 285-pound defensive end from Elmhurst, Illinois, registered a career-high three sacks against the Lions as part of his season- and team-high seven tackles, six solo. His first sack came on a Columbia third-down play during its first drive at the Big Green 4-yard line, forcing the Lions to settle for a 33-yard field goal. He collected his second on the next Columbia possession after Dartmouth had taken a 7-3 lead, while his third sack proved pivotal early in the third quarter with the Green holding a 14-6 lead. The Lions had pushed into Dartmouth territory but faced a 4th-and-3 only to be denied by Di Leo, who dropped the Columbia QB back 10 yards to allow the Big Green offense to take over.
This is the 12th Gold Helmet earned by a Big Green player in the past decade. Running back Nick Schwieger '12 took home the honor three times — once in each of his final three years — quarterbacks Dalyn Williams '16 (2014, '15) and Jack Heneghan (2016, '17) each garnered the award twice, and linebacker Will McNamara '16 (2013), wide receiver Victor Williams '16 (2015), safety Charlie Miller '17 (2016) and running back Miles Smith '19 (2016) earned it once apiece.
Dartmouth (6-0, 3-0 Ivy), ranked 20th in the AFCA FCS Coaches' Poll, will have its homecoming game this Saturday when Harvard (3-3, 1-2 Ivy) comes to Hanover for kickoff at 1:30 p.m. The Big Green have not beaten the Crimson since 2003, and are looking for their first win at home over Harvard in 25 years. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Tyler Murray and Matt Goldstein in the booth. Fans will also be able to listen to the showdown on the radio in the Upper Valley on 94 ESPN Radio (94.3 and 94.5 FM) as well as worldwide online at 945.espn.com with Brett Franklin and Wayne Young '72 calling the action.
The 6-3, 285-pound defensive end from Elmhurst, Illinois, registered a career-high three sacks against the Lions as part of his season- and team-high seven tackles, six solo. His first sack came on a Columbia third-down play during its first drive at the Big Green 4-yard line, forcing the Lions to settle for a 33-yard field goal. He collected his second on the next Columbia possession after Dartmouth had taken a 7-3 lead, while his third sack proved pivotal early in the third quarter with the Green holding a 14-6 lead. The Lions had pushed into Dartmouth territory but faced a 4th-and-3 only to be denied by Di Leo, who dropped the Columbia QB back 10 yards to allow the Big Green offense to take over.
This is the 12th Gold Helmet earned by a Big Green player in the past decade. Running back Nick Schwieger '12 took home the honor three times — once in each of his final three years — quarterbacks Dalyn Williams '16 (2014, '15) and Jack Heneghan (2016, '17) each garnered the award twice, and linebacker Will McNamara '16 (2013), wide receiver Victor Williams '16 (2015), safety Charlie Miller '17 (2016) and running back Miles Smith '19 (2016) earned it once apiece.
Dartmouth (6-0, 3-0 Ivy), ranked 20th in the AFCA FCS Coaches' Poll, will have its homecoming game this Saturday when Harvard (3-3, 1-2 Ivy) comes to Hanover for kickoff at 1:30 p.m. The Big Green have not beaten the Crimson since 2003, and are looking for their first win at home over Harvard in 25 years. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Tyler Murray and Matt Goldstein in the booth. Fans will also be able to listen to the showdown on the radio in the Upper Valley on 94 ESPN Radio (94.3 and 94.5 FM) as well as worldwide online at 945.espn.com with Brett Franklin and Wayne Young '72 calling the action.
Players Mentioned
2025 Dartmouth Football Positional Preview: Quarterbacks
Saturday, September 06
Dartmouth Football: Assistant Coach Kevin Bracken Mic'd Up
Friday, September 05
Dartmouth Football Completes Scrimmage #1 - Sept. 3, 2025
Thursday, September 04
2025 Dartmouth Football Positional Preview: Running Backs
Wednesday, September 03
