Silver took home the CAA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024, as well as First Team All-CAA and All-New England Team honors. He was also a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, presented to the FCS national defensive player of the year. He was also a semifinalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, which honors the top defensive end among all levels of college football.

Plain and simple, Silver could be a game wrecker for a team that takes a chance on him.

Silver was also a captain and named an FCS First Team All-American by the AP. He finished first on the team in sacks with 11.5, first in tackles for loss (17.5) and third in tackles (58).

For those that don’t know the name, get to know him a little bit here: 

NEFJ: When did you start playing football?

JS: “I started playing at the age of five.”

NEFJ: What do you love about the game of football?

JS: “Honestly, I fell in love with football at a young age. I love the excitement it brings, the lessons it teaches and being around people from different backgrounds with different personalities.”

NEFJ: What made you decide to commit to UNH and more importantly, stay?

JS: “Out of high school, I only had two offers — UNH and Fordham. I visited UNH in January of my senior year and immediately loved the coaches and the community. A lot of schools didn’t believe in my talent, but UNH did. That’s the biggest reason I stayed — I believed in the coaching staff and my teammates. I also stayed because I saw my teammate Dylan Laube get drafted last year. That showed me it’s possible. If he could do it from UNH, I know I can too.”

NEFJ: How much has UNH prepared you for the opportunity to play in the NFL?

JS: “UNH has helped me a lot in getting ready for the NFL. The coaches pushed me to work hard, stay focused and keep getting better every day. I learned how to watch film, understand the game and play at a high level. Being here also taught me how to lead, stay disciplined and bounce back from tough times. Nothing was handed to me — I had to earn it all. That’s made me ready for the next step.”

NEFJ: When you are not playing football or doing anything football related, what do you like to do off the field?

JS: “I play a lot of video games, especially 2K. But, if I’m not doing that, I’m probably hanging out with my friends and family.”

NEFJ: What is your favorite pregame meal and hype song?

JS: “A couple of pancakes, bacon, eggs, and sausage, with some pineapple and a banana on the side. My go-to song changes every year, but this year it was ’85 Cutlass’ by Rylo.”

NEFJ: What is an NFL team getting in you if they draft or sign you?

JS: “If an NFL team drafts or signs me, they’re getting a player who has overcome adversity and come out stronger every time. I’m a fierce competitor with a relentless work ethic, someone who shows up every day ready to get better. I take pride in being coachable, learning from every experience and doing whatever it takes to help the team succeed.”