Aug. 2, 2016
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After winning the Patriot League title and advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Football Championship last season, Colgate enters 2016 with high expectations as the favorite in the League’s preseason poll announced on Tuesday at Green Pond Country Club.
The Raiders notched 70 points and had 10 first-place selections in the voting, with Fordham coming in second place with 63 points and three first-place votes. The Rams also made the postseason last year, qualifying for the third consecutive season. Holy Cross and Lehigh tied for third place in the voting with 47 points, followed in order by Bucknell (31), Lafayette (19) and Georgetown (17). Patriot League football head coaches and sports information directors participated in the voting, and could not select their own teams.
Colgate won close game after close game to finish a perfect 6-0 in the Patriot League and win its eighth League title, and the Raiders became just the second League squad to win two playoff games in a season when they defeated both New Hampshire and James Madison on the road. Quarterback Jake Melville (1,073 yards, 11 TD) and running back James Holland (732 yards, 16 TD) are back after leading the way for the Raiders on the ground, while Melville also threw for 2,552 yards and 11 touchdowns with just two interceptions. John Maddaluna (62 rec., 910 yards, 2 TD) and Alex Greenawalt (27 rec., 454 yards, 3 TD) are back at wide receiver along with an offensive line led by Jordi Dalmau, Ryan Paulish and Grant Siegel. Pat Afriyie (49 TT, 9.5 TFL) is on the preseason All-Patriot League squad, on the defensive line, where Alex Campbell (70 TT, 7.5 TFL) and Brett Field (64 TT, 8 TFL) coming off second-team All-Patriot League seasons. Linebacker Kyle Diener (129 TT, 6.5 TFL) is the Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year while Charles Cairnie (79 TT, 9 TFL) is also a standout at the position. The defensive backfield will be led by Chris Morgan (93 TT, 2 INT), who was second on the team in tackles last season.
With former offensive coordinator Andrew Breiner now promoted to head coach and most of the players back from last season’s squad, Fordham hopes for another offensive outburst to lead the way for a fourth-straight postseason spot. It all starts with running back Chase Edmonds (1,648 yards, 20 TDs), who has established himself as one of the top players in the nation after two spectacular seasons. Quarterback Kevin Anderson (3,183 yards, 32 TDs) had a strong year in his first season as the starter, while a young group of wideouts gained experience last year with Corey Caddle (36 rec., 466 yards, 5 TD) and Austin Longi (34 rec., 463 yards, 6 TD) leading the way. Phazahn Odom (37 rec., 492 yards, 7 TD) is back as one of the top tight ends in the nation and juniors Anthony Coyle and Ben Hartman lead the way on the offensive line. Linebacker Niko Thorpe (78 TT, 9.5 TFL) and defensive back Jihaad Pretlow (65 TT, 2 INT) are preseason All-Patriot League picks on defense, and both Justin Vaughn (2.5 sacks) and Marlon Crook (2.5 sacks) return on the line. The unit will have to account for the loss of three of last season’s top four tacklers, including first-team All-Patriot League linebacker Stephen Hodge.
The Holy Cross offense averaged 31.9 points per game last season, and many of the same pieces are back to try and duplicate that success. It all starts with senior quarterback Peter Pujals, who threw for 3,195 yards and 28 touchdowns last season and is in line to finish as one of the top players at the position in Patriot League history. Pujals will throw to a receiver coming off one of the best seasons in League history in Brendan Flaherty (106 rec., 1,082 yards, 12 TD), as well as another big-play threat in Jake Wieczorek (31 rec., 415 yards, 4 TD). Leading rusher Gabe Guild (402 yards, 4 TD) also returns along with senior offensive linemen James Murray and Hunter Hudgins. The defense made strides last season, posting a pair of shutouts and holding opponents to only seven points on two other occasions. First-Team All-Patriot League standout Dewayne Cameron (47 TT, 7 sacks) returns on the line. The two leading tacklers return at linebacker with Kyle Young (76 TT, 8 TFL) and Nick McBeath (59 TT) back in the fold, while Luke Ford (43 TT, 3 INT) and Alim Muhammad (14 TT, 1 INT) are standouts in the defensive backfield who join Cameron on the Preseason All-League Team.
Lehigh appears set at the skill positions, where quarterback Nick Shafnisky (2,279 yards, 15 TD/674 rush yards, 12 TD), running back Dom Bragalone (1,008 yards, 7 TD) and wide receiver Troy Pelletier (78 rec., 831 yards, 8 TD) have all shown to be All-Patriot League level players at their positions. The offensive line features a trio of veterans in Zach Duffy, Tim O’Hara and Brandon Short, with both Duffy and O’Hara on the Preseason All-League squad after earning second-team honors last season. The defense will liook to take a step forward. Linebacker Colton Caslow (95 TT, 8 TFL) was a first-team All-League pick last year, and is joined by Pierce Ripanti (52 TT, 8.5 TFL) at the position. Quentin Jones (40 TT, 3 INT) and Brandon Leaks (31 TT) have experience in the secondary, with Tyler Cavenas (31 TT, 2 TFL) on the line.
The defense has been Bucknell’s strength in Head Coach Joe Susan’s tenure, and that looks to be the case again with four preseason All-League players among a strong returning group. Abdullah Anderson (46 TT, 4.5 sacks) and Ben Schumacher (43 TT, 6.5 sacks) earned the preseason honors on the defensive line with top tacklers Mark Pyles (95 TT, 7.5 TFL) and Ben Richard (79 TT, 8.5 TFL) doing so at linebacker. A solid secondary features Bryan Marine (53 TT, 4 INT), Connor Golden (60 TT, 2 INT) and Nick O’Brien (32 TT, 1 INT). Overall the unit brings back seven of the top eight and 12 of the top 14 tacklers from last season. On offense, R.J. Nitti enters his senior season at quarterback after starting the past two years, throwing for 2,477 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2015. He’ll have an opportunity to throw to Will Carter (60 receptions, 655 yards, 5 TD), one of the top wide receivers in the Patriot League. Preseason All-American Julie’n Davenport leads an offensive line that is poised to feature five seniors with a combined 62 career starts.
After a tough season, Lafayette will look for a bounce back on both sides of the ball in 2016. Drew Reed (2,008 yards, 11 TD) and Blake Searfoss (529 yards, 1 TD) both have experience at quarterback. DeSean Brown (580 yards, 5 TD) returns as the team’s top running back while both Joey Chenoweth (46 rec., 389 yards, 2 TD) and Matt Mrazek (44 rec., 495 yards, 2 TD) should be threats in the passing game. Connor Staudle is a senior leader on the offensive line. Brandon Bryant (114 tackles) is looking for another big season at linebacker. Seniors Matt Rothrock (27 TT, 4 TFL) and Collin Albershardt (24 TT, 3 TFL) lead the way on the line, while Jerry Powe (44 TT) will join Bryant at linebacker after a strong freshman season. Phillip Parham (22 TT) has the most experience in the defensive backfield. Four of last year’s top five tacklers have departed.
Georgetown had a better offensive season in 2015, but the Hoyas will have to replace two very key players with quarterback Kyle Nolan and running back Jo’el Kimpela departed. Tim Barnes has the most experience under center, while Isaac Ellsworth and Alex Valles both saw some time at running back last season. Two All-Patriot League performers are back in the passing game with wide receiver Justin Hill (46 rec., 636 yards, 6 TD) and tight end Matt Buckman (32 rec., 251 yards, 4 TD). Daniel Yankovich (88 TT) and Leo Loughrey (83 TT) return at linebacker, David Akere (79 TT) and Jelani Williamson (37 TT, 2 INT) are juniors in the defensive backfield and Hunter Kiselick (27 TT, 3.5 sacks) and Phil Novacki (45 TT, 4 sacks) will lead the way on the defensive line.
The Patriot League football season kicks off on the weekend of Sept. 2-3 with all seven teams in action. The first League contest will be played on Oct. 1 when Holy Cross visits Lafayette, with three League games in each of the final five weeks of the regular season. The Patriot League champion earns the League’s automatic berth to the FCS Playoffs.
2016 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll
1. Colgate, 70 points (10 first-place votes)
2. Fordham, 63 (3)
3T. Holy Cross, 47 (1)
3T. Lehigh, 47
5. Bucknell, 31
6. Lafayette, 19
7. Georgetown, 17