Can East Islip's Sebastian Regis propel Stony Brook football to the top of the CAA this season?

As the Stony Brook football team prepares for the 2026 season, one of its biggest leaders also happens to be one of its closest to home.

East Islip native Sebastian Regis represented the Seawolves during the Coastal Athletic Association’s virtual media day on Tuesday after being named a team captain and a preseason all-conference selection.

“It definitely means a lot to me, but I’m really looking for that postseason award,” Regis said. “I’ve been working a lot on my pass rush this summer and I’m focused on getting our defense right. I want to get everyone on the same page and work on staying consistent.”

After wrapping up his East Islip football career in 2023, Regis became the first primarily interior defensive lineman in 38 years to win Newsday’s Hansen Award, presented annually to Suffolk’s most outstanding football player.

His dominance didn’t stop after high school. Regis has become one of the CAA’s premier defensive linemen since arriving at Stony Brook. Now entering his junior season, he’s still feeling the hometown love.

“The local support has been fantastic,” Regis said. “My friends, family, even people from my neighborhood and across Long Island want to come support the local team. The fans here are great, they bring awesome energy to games and, being from here, it’s really unique to play at home.”

Regis’s leadership role reflects a Stony Brook team intent on turning close losses into victories after another season of steady progress. He finished last season with 33 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and 3.5 quarterback hurries as the Seawolves finished 6-6.

Coach Billy Cosh acknowledged the frustration of last season’s missed opportunities but said those experiences have become part of the foundation the Seawolves are building.

“Those losses hurt, but you remember them,” Cosh said. “We’re building on it and we’ve done a lot of good things, but we have to go from good to great and that's a hard path we’re fighting through.”

Cosh joined the Seawolves following a winless season (0-10) in 2023 and immediately produced an 8-4 performance in 2024. Cosh said he attributes the turnaround to creating relentless competition throughout the program.

“Nobody is safe, everyone’s job is on the line every single day,” Cosh said. “Whether it’s in lifts, runs or practice, we need to have that competitive environment because that’s how we get better. That also creates physical toughness. You can’t coach it, but you have to have it.”

On the offensive side, Stony Brook will turn to redshirt sophomore quarterback Quinn Boyd, who started the last five games of the 2025 season. He completed 147 of 223 passes for 1,457 yards and eight touchdowns without throwing an interception.

Boyd said though he’s proud of his early success, he’s looking forward to making a full-season impact this year.

“Since I was a freshman, I was trying to get better, trying to understand the offense,” Boyd said. “I’ve been learning from past quarterbacks and looking at who’s had success, what worked, what hasn’t worked. I’m just trying to play within the system.”

The combination of experienced leadership and emerging talent will define the Seawolves’ outlook entering the fall. With Regis anchoring the defense, Boyd continuing to grow and Cosh emphasizing competition and toughness, the Seawolves believe they have the pieces to compete for more than individual honors. They were picked to finish fourth in the conference by CAA coaches.

Cosh said it’s these defining characteristics that separate good teams from championship contenders.

“Our next step is building mental toughness in critical moments and tough, tight games,” Cosh said. “Those are the non-negotiables for me: Competitiveness and toughness, both physically and mentally. You have to have those two things.”

By Tess Ferguson

tess.ferguson@newsday.comtessferg

Tess Ferguson is a reporter on Newsday's high school sports staff. She joined the team after graduating with a journalism degree from Ithaca College in 2025.