CENTER VALLEY - Defending Patriot League champion Colgate topped the preseason poll, while Raiders' junior quarterback Grant Breneman and senior defensive lineman Nick Wheeler were selected as the Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively when the League announced preseason football honors on Tuesday.
Voting for the 29-member All-Patriot League team, Preseason Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year and, the preseason poll was completed by the Patriot League football head coaches and sports information directors. They cannot vote for their own team or student-athletes.
2019 Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Grant Breneman, Colgate, Jr., QB
*Breneman led the Patriot League in pass efficiency (133.6), completing 126-of-204 pass attempts for 1,605 yards and six touchdowns with four interceptions in 10 games during the 2018 season.
*With Breneman behind center the Raiders' offense led the Patriot League's in scoring offense (27.0), total offense (344.3), time of possession (32:57) and committed the fewest turnovers (11).
*The two-time All-Patriot League selection also rushed for 307 yards and seven touchdowns on 132 carries, while finishing third in the League in total offense per game (191.2).
2019 Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Nick Wheeler, Colgate, Sr., DL
*Wheeler finished second in the Patriot League in sacks (9.0) and tackles for loss (17.0), while compiling 51 tackles in 12 games during the 2018 season.
*The two-time First Team All-Patriot League selection helped the Raiders' defense tie an NCAA FCS record with five shutouts and lead the nation in total defense (237.7) and scoring defense (9.3) in 2018.
*Wheeler enters the 2019 season ranked among active FCS student-athletes in career sacks per game (2nd, 0.78), career sacks (3rd, 23.5) and career tackles for loss per game (3rd, 1.22).
Defending Champion Raiders Picked Atop the 2019 Patriot League Preseason Poll
Colgate (10-1, 6-0 PL in '18) received 72 points and 12 first-place votes to finish the atop the 2019 Patriot League Preseason Poll. The Raiders claimed the Patriot League title during a historic 2018 season that saw them tie the FCS single-season record with five shutouts and lead the nation in total defense (237.7) and scoring defense (9.3) on their way to an FCS Quarterfinal matchup against eventual national champion North Dakota State. Colgate Head Coach Dan Hunt, the 2018 Dick Biddle Coach of the Year, graduated a significant number of starters on offense and defense, but returns Breneman, Wheeler and three-time All-Patriot League defensive back Abu Daramy-Swaray.
Holy Cross (5-6, 4-2 PL in '18) finished second in the preseason poll with 58 points and two first-place votes. The Crusaders went 4-2 in League play last season, including a dramatic - 32-31 - comeback victory over Georgetown to cap Head Coach Bob Chesney's first season in Worcester, Mass. Senior running back Domenic Cozier (64.3 rush yds/gm.), senior offensive lineman Brett Boddy and junior offensive lineman Brian Foley return for a Crusaders' offense that finished second in the League in scoring offense (24.4) and total offense (327.3).
The Hoyas (5-6, 4-2 PL in '18) received 51 points in the preseason poll to place third after Head Coach Rob Sgarlata led the League's biggest turnaround in 2018; improving by five wins - four in League play. Georgetown returns four All-League selections, including senior defensive lineman Khristian Tate, who led the League in sacks (10.0) in 2018. Juniors Duval Paul (DL), Wes Bowers (LB) and Ahmad Wilson (DB) all return to a defense that ranked second in the League in scoring defense (21.1) and total defense (298).
Fordham (2-9, 2-4 PL in '18) received 39 points in the preseason poll, good for fourth. Head Coach Joe Conlin enters his second season in the Bronx and returns All-League junior linebacker Glenn Cunningham, the FCS's active leader in tackles for loss per game (1.48). Junior defensive back Jesse Bramble returns after tying for the League lead in passes defended (13) and finishing second in interceptions (4).
Lehigh (3-8, 2-4 PL in '18) finished behind the Rams with 38 points in the preseason poll and will begin a new era as under Head Coach Tom Gilmore, who returns to the Patriot League after 14 seasons at the helm of the Holy Cross program from 2004-17. Junior receiver Jorge Portorreal led the League in receiving yards per game (72.2) last season and will be counted on to help offset the loss of four-time All-League running back Dom Bragalone. Senior linebacker Keith Woetzel also returns after finishing third in the League with 89 tackles.
Lafayette (3-8, 2-4 PL in '18) placed sixth in the preseason poll with 21 points. Third-year Head Coach John Garrett will return a pair of all-League selections on both sides of the ball with senior offensive lineman Jake Marotti and senior receive Nick Pearson on offense, in addition to senior defensive back Yasir Thomas and sophomore defensive lineman Malik Hamm - the 2018 Patriot League Rookie of the Year - who provided an instant impact with 9.0 sacks and 15.0 tackles for loss during his freshman campaign.
Bucknell (1-10, 1-5 PL in '18) received 15 points to finish seventh in the preseason poll. Dave Cecchini enters his first season as head coach in Lewisburg with two-time All-League junior linebacker Simeon Page - the FCS active leader in sacks per game (0.84) - back in the fold. The Bison also features All-American fifth-year punter Alex Pechin, who finished fourth in the FCS in punting average (44.5).
2019 Patriot League Preseason Poll
1. Colgate, 72 points (12 first-place votes)
2. Holy Cross, 58 (2)
3. Georgetown, 51
4. Fordham, 39
5. Lehigh, 38
6. Lafayette, 21
7. Bucknell, 15
Raiders Place a League-High 10 on the Preseason All-League Team
Breneman and Wheeler were among Colgate's League-leading 10 student-athletes named to the 29-member Preseason All-Patriot League squad. Georgetown received seven spots on the preseason team, while Lafayette earned four selections. Holy Cross placed three student-athletes on the team, Bucknell and Fordham had two apiece and Lehigh had one member.
Overall, 25 of the 29 Preseason All-Patriot League selections were named first- or second-team All-League in 2018. Nine of the 13 preseason selections on offense were named to the 2018 All-League team, while Colgate senior offensive lineman Jovaun Woolford and running back Alex Mathews, along with Georgetown senior receiver Michael Dereus were 2017 All-League picks.
All 12 members of the preseason defense claimed All-League honors in 2018, led by Tate, a three-time All-League selection. Daramy-Swaray - the 2017 Patriot League Rookie of the Year - Cunningham, Page and Wheeler are all two-time All-League honorees.
On special teams, all four selections made the 2018 All-League team. Bucknell's Pechin is a three-time All-League member. Daramy-Swaray, Wilson and Colgate senior placekicker Chris Puzzi are all two-time All-League picks.
2019 Patriot League Football Preseason All-League Team
Offense
QB: Grant Breneman, Colgate (Jr.)*
RB: Alex Mathews, Colgate (Sr.)
RB: Domenic Cozier, Holy Cross (Sr.)*
FB: Isaac Schley, Georgetown (Sr.)
WR: Michael Dereus, Georgetown (Sr.)
WR: Nick Pearson, Lafayette (Sr.)*
WR: Jorge Portorreal, Lehigh (Jr.)*
TE: Nick Diaco, Colgate (Sr.)*
OL: Jack Badovinac, Colgate (Jr.)*
OL: Jovaun Woolford, Colgate (Sr.)
OL: Brett Boddy, Holy Cross (Sr.)*
OL: Brian Foley, Holy Cross (Jr.)*
OL: Jake Marotti, Lafayette (Sr.)*
Defense
DL: Nick Wheeler, Colgate (Sr.)*
DL: Duval Paul, Georgetown (Jr.)*
DL: Khristian Tate, Georgetown (Sr.)*
DL: Malik Hamm, Lafayette (So.)*
LB: Simeon Page, Bucknell (Jr.)*
LB: Nick Ioanilli, Colgate (Sr.)*
LB: Glenn Cunningham, Fordham (Jr.)*
LB: Wes Bowers, Georgetown (Jr.)*
DB: Abu Daramy-Swaray, Colgate (Sr.)*
DB: Jesse Bramble, Fordham (Sr.)*
DB: Ahmad Wilson, Georgetown (Jr.)*
DB: Yasir Thomas, Lafayette (Sr.)*
Special Teams
PK: Chris Puzzi, Colgate (Sr.)*
P: Alex Pechin, Bucknell (5th)*
Return Specialist: Abu Daramy-Swaray, Colgate (Sr.)*
Non-Specialist Player: Ahmad Wilson, Georgetown (Jr.)*
2019 PATRIOT LEAGUE MEDIA DAY COVERAGE
Utica Observer Dispatch
Colgate football picked top team in Patriot League
https://www.uticaod.com/sports/20190730/colgate-football-picked-top-team-in-patriot-league
Sunbury Daily Item
Colgate picked to win Patriot League grid title
https://www.dailyitem.com/sports/colgate-picked-to-win-patriot-league-grid-title/article_c0495daf-699c-543e-867a-cb557997e704.html
The Morning Call
Lehigh football: Tyler Monaco ‘fired up’ by Mountain Hawks’ preseason ranking
https://www.mcall.com/sports/college/mc-spt-lehigh-football-teleconference-20190731-jtvcq6x3dvaj3a4hrrhz3esymy-story.html
Milton Daily Standard
Bucknell football preview: Cecchini era begins
http://www.standard-journal.com/sports/article_8585e592-b43c-11e9-b981-4fdbb4ff0455.html
Milton Daily Standard
Bison punter picks up preseason accolades
http://www.standard-journal.com/sports/article_baf7cc3e-b371-11e9-8deb-47693c1db46b.html
The Morning Call
Lafayette football coach John Garrett says team ‘posted to be ready to break through’
https://www.mcall.com/sports/college/mc-spt-lafayette-football-teleconference-20190801-4zebtrr4efhwbp5olo6fqwrawu-story.html
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League's athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.