Defending Champs Selected as Repeat Favorite; Five from Colgate Land on Preseason Team
Colgate Football starts 2016 where it left off in 2015.
The Raiders are the preseason pick to repeat as Patriot League champions, according to the votes of conference head coaches and sports information directors. The predicted order of finish and Preseason All-Patriot League Team were released here Tuesday in association with the league’s annual Football Media Day.
Colgate was picked to finish third a year ago but completed a perfect 6-0 record to win its eighth Patriot League title. The Raiders used that momentum to win twice in the NCAA FCS Playoffs and advance to the quarterfinals — joining the 2003 Raiders (finalist) as the only Patriot League football teams to reach that level of the national championship tournament.
Defensive Player of the Year Nod to Diener
Kyle Diener was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The senior linebacker was an All-Patriot League First Team selection a year ago after leading the Raiders with 129 tackles, Colgate’s best season total since 2006. His pass breakup on the final play of the game against Fordham sealed a 31-29 victory that sparked the Raiders on their conference title and playoff run.
Joining Diener on the preseason defensive team were Pat Afriyie and Chris Morgan.
Afriyie was an ECAC FCS All-Star and All-Patriot League First Team choice in 2015 after leading the conference with 9½ sacks and 17½ tackles-for-loss. The junior defensive end on Monday was named to the STATS Preseason All-America Second Team.
Morgan was Colgate’s second-leading tackler last year with 93 while playing a hybrid position between the secondary and linebacking corps. The senior wound up second on the team with two interceptions – including a 60-yard TD return at Holy Cross – and third with three pass breakups.
Jordi Dalmau and James Holland were Colgate’s two offensive preseason selections.
Dalmau joined Afriyie on the ECAC FCS All-Star squad and also made All-Patriot League First Team in 2015. The senior offensive lineman started at both center and guard last season while helping the Raiders lead the conference in rushing yards. Colgate also was among the top 10 nationally in fewest sacks and fewest TFLs allowed.
Holland earned All-Patriot League Second Team honors last season after leading the Raiders and finishing seventh nationally with 16 touchdowns for 96 points. The junior tailback set Colgate playoff records by scoring four TDs for 24 points in the 27-20 Raider upset at New Hampshire in the NCAA’s opening round.
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
2016 Patriot League Football Preseason All-League Team
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Chase Edmonds, RB, Fordham (Jr.)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Kyle Diener, LB, COLGATE (Sr.)
Offense
QB Peter Pujals, Holy Cross (Sr.)
RB Chase Edmonds, Fordham (Jr.)
RB James Holland, COLGATE (Jr.)
FB/HB Matt Buckman, Georgetown (Sr.)
WR Will Carter, Bucknell (Sr.)
WR Brendan Flaherty, Holy Cross (Sr.)
WR Troy Pelletier, Lehigh (Jr.)
TE Phazahn Odom, Fordham (Gr.)
OL Anthony Coyle, Fordham (Jr.)
OL Jordi Dalmau, COLGATE (Sr.)
OL Julie’n Davenport, Bucknell (Jr.)
OL Zach Duffy, Lehigh (Sr.)
OL Tim O’Hara, Lehigh (Jr.)
Defense
DL Pat Afriyie, COLGATE (Jr.)
DL Abdullah Anderson, Bucknell (Jr.)
DL Dewayne Cameron, Holy Cross (Sr.)
DL Ben Schumacher, Bucknell (Sr.)
LB Colton Caslow, Lehigh (Sr.)
LB Kyle Diener, COLGATE (Sr.)
LB Mark Pyles, Bucknell (Jr.)
LB Ben Richard, Bucknell (Jr.)
LB Niko Thorpe, Fordham (Jr.)
DB Luke Ford, Holy Cross (Sr.)
DB Chris Morgan, COLGATE (Sr.)
DB Alim Muhammad, Holy Cross (Jr.)
DB Jihaad Pretlow, Fordham (Sr.)
Special Teams
PK Henry Darmstadter, Georgetown (Sr.)
P Alex Pechin, Bucknell (So.)
RS Jihaad Pretlow, Fordham (Sr.)
Non-Specialist Player Jethro Francois, Georgetown (So.)
#One extra linebacker due to tie in voting.