Patriot League Announces Preseason Honors; Awards, Poll, and All-League Team

Patriot League football kicks off the 2018 season on Saturday, September 1. All seven teams will be in action, with one league matchup.

On Thursday, the Patriots League announced it’s preseason honors.

Colgate received 11 first place votes and was named the league favorite. Lehigh followed behind, receiving the remaining three first place votes. Fordham came in at third, followed by Holy Cross, Bucknell, Lafayette, and Georgetown. Colgate and Lehigh were co-champions in 2017.

Colgate returns nine starters on both offense and defense, including 2017 Patriot League Rookie of the Year in quarterback Grant Breneman. Lehigh returns All-American running back Dominick Bragalone and last season’s league-leading passer Brad Mayes.

Bragalone was named 2018 Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. The senior led NCAA FCS and the Patriot League with 1,388 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns during his junior season, en-route to becoming the 13th consensus All-American in Patriot League history.

Colgate DL Nick Wheeler was named 2018 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year. Now a junior, Wheeler led the league in sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss (15.5) last season. He was a major piece to Colgate having the best defense in the league in 2017.

Colgate led the league with 10 Preseason All-League selections. Fordham had five players named to the team. Overall, the Patriot League has a strong nucleous returning as 22 of the 30 Preseason All-League selections were named first or second-team All-League members in 2017.

2018 Patriot League Preseason Poll

1. 1. Colgate, 71 points (11 first-place votes)
   2. Lehigh, 63 (3)
   3. Fordham, 45
   4. Holy Cross, 40
   5. Bucknell, 31
   6. Lafayette, 31
   7. Georgetown, 13

2018 Patriot League Football Preseason All-League Team

Offense                       
QB: Brad Mayes, Lehigh (Sr.)*
RB: Dom Bragalone, Lehigh (Sr.)*
RB: James Holland, Jr, Colgate (Sr.)*
FB: Will Eisler, Lafayette (Sr.)*
WR: Thomas Ives, Colgate (Sr.)*
WR: Austin Longi, Fordham (Sr.)*
WR: Blaise Bell, Holy Cross (Sr.)*
TE: Isaiah Searight, Fordham (Sr.)*
OL: Pat Finn, Bucknell (Sr.)
OL: Max Hartzman, Colgate (Sr.)
OL: Jovaun Woolford, Colgate (Sr.)*
OL: Dominic Lombard, Fordham (Sr.)
OL: Chris Fournier, Lehigh (So.)

Defense#                                  
DL: Nick Wheeler, Colgate (Jr.)*
DL: Khristian Tate, Georgetown (Jr.)*
DL: Teddy Capsis, Holy Cross (Sr.)*
DL: Neil Vorster, Holy Cross (Sr.)
DL: Anthony Giudice, Lafayette, (Sr.)
LB: T.J. Holl, Colgate (Sr.)
LB: Glenn Cunningham, Fordham (So.)*
LB: Ryan Brady, Holy Cross (Sr.)
LB: Jerry Powe, Lafayette (Sr.)*
DB: Tyler Castillo, Colgate (Sr.)*
DB: Abu Daramy-Swaray, Colgate (Jr.)*
DB: Alec Wisniewski, Colgate (Sr.)*
DB: Dylan Mabin, Fordham (Sr.)*

Special Teams                                    
PK: Chris Puzzi, Colgate (Jr.)*
P: Alex Pechin, Bucknell (Sr.)*
RS: CJ Amill, Lafayette (Sr.)*
Non-Specialist Player: Ahmad Wilson, Georgetown (So.)*

*2017 All-Patriot League selection