Four Named Preseason All-League, Lehigh picked third at Patriot League Media Day
8/2/2016 2:29:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With Lehigh's season-opener just over a month away, Tuesday marked the unofficial start to football season as the Patriot League held its annual media day at Green Pond Country Club.
Lehigh head coach Andy Coen was joined by senior offensive lineman Zach Duffy and fifth-year senior rover LaQuan Lambert as head coaches and student-athletes from the seven league schools were in attendance to chat with media members and discuss the upcoming season.
The Mountain Hawks enter the 2016 season with the positive push from last year's 6-5 campaign that culminated in a 49-35 win over rival Lafayette.
(8/2/2016) 2016 Patriot League Football Media Day
"Our offensive football team was pretty dominant towards the end of (last) season but unfortunately we couldn't get it done (win the Patriot League Championship) in the end," Coen explained. "I think we'll lean on our offense early on in camp but I really expect our defense to step up and improve."
Lehigh tied for third in the Patriot League Preseason Poll unveiled Tuesday. The Mountain Hawks and Holy Cross both garnered 47 points, with the Crusaders capturing one of the 14 possible first place votes.
"We made some significant improvements this past year but we obviously haven't achieved our goals yet," Duffy explained. "We haven't earned it yet. We had an opportunity to get a share of the championship and we didn't. It should motivate our guys and motivate all of us to work harder to pursue that championship."
Defending champion and 2015 FCS quarterfinalist Colgate topped the poll with 70 points and 10 first place votes, while at-large playoff participant Fordham posted 63 points and the other three first place votes to finish second in the poll. Following Lehigh and Holy Cross, Bucknell was picked fifth with 31 points, while Lafayette and Georgetown were sixth and seventh, respectively.
"I've run into a lot of our kids walking through the halls," Coen said. "They're looking great and they're fired up to get things going. There's a lot of talent in the Patriot League and a lot of good football teams in this league."
The Mountain Hawks return five All-Patriot League performers from the 2015 season, four of who were named to the Preseason All-League team. Lehigh's offense is represented by junior wide receiver Troy Pelletier and linemen Duffy and junior Tim O'Hara. Senior linebacker Colton Caslow is the lone Lehigh defender on the preseason All-League team.
"We have a tremendous amount of talent on offense and defense," Duffy said. "The biggest thing is trying to preach consistency at all ends on offense and defense. We need to be able to score points and stop the opponent. Everybody knows that we are capable of being a contender for a Patriot League championship, we just need to go out there and execute."
Bookend tackles Duffy and O'Hara were both second team All-Patriot League selections in 2015. O'Hara started all 11 games, while Duffy started 10 for a line in which the five starters started together in 54 of 55 possible games. The two tackles helped Lehigh rush for 188.2 yards per game and pass for 274.3 yards per game. They also paved the way for 1,000 yard rusher and Patriot League Rookie of the Year Dominick Bragalone and provided protection for a Lehigh offense that generated 32.3 points per game.
Pelletier is a two-time All-Patriot League selection, earning first team honors last season. He followed a sensational freshman season in 2014 by leading a deep Lehigh receiving corps with 78 catches for 831 yards and eight touchdowns. He set a school record with 15 receptions last September at Princeton.
Caslow enters his senior campaign as a two-time all-league performer who made the first team as a junior. The leader of Lehigh's defense, Caslow paced the Mountain Hawks with 95 tackles, despite missing two games due to injury. He had eight tackles for loss, one sack and finished with five double-digit tackle games, including a career-high 17 at Central Connecticut State.
Lambert admitted that he and his teammates are excited to open camp next week.
"The offseason saw us put in a lot of work as a team both with the older guys and the younger guys," he explained. "We've got that camaraderie together and we're very excited. Camp is a very long process, but we're all excited to get better and take that next step and try to win a championship."
With a deep and talented offense returning, Lambert knows the pressure is mounting for a Lehigh defense to bounce back from several tough seasons.
""We're really motivated to change our image as a defense," he said. "There was a time when we were known as having the (top) defense in the Patriot League and we're working to get back to that point. Guys are working extremely hard every day to change our image. There's a lot of work to be done but we're excited for it."
"It's important to put the right personnel in the right positions and we've done a better job of that this past spring and into the summer," Coen added. "In spring practice we really dominated defensively. Some of that was due to a bunch of injuries but we've got some really good players. So it's a combination of things and our coaches have tweaked blitz packages and different coverage looks and those types of things. So I'm excited to get back on the field in a couple of days and see how it looks."
Reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, running back Chase Edmonds of Fordham, was named the league's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Colgate senior linebacker Kyle Diener was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
The preseason poll, awards and all-league team were voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors, who are not permitted to vote for their own teams or student-athletes.
Lehigh reports for preseason camp on Sunday with its opening practice set for Monday evening.
The Mountain Hawks will open the 2016 season on Saturday, September 3 when they host Monmouth at Goodman Stadium, with game time set for 12:30 p.m. Tickets for all Lehigh home games can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by visiting LehighTickets.com.
2016 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll
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 Timothy 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.)
Lehigh head coach Andy Coen was joined by senior offensive lineman Zach Duffy and fifth-year senior rover LaQuan Lambert as head coaches and student-athletes from the seven league schools were in attendance to chat with media members and discuss the upcoming season.
The Mountain Hawks enter the 2016 season with the positive push from last year's 6-5 campaign that culminated in a 49-35 win over rival Lafayette.
"Our offensive football team was pretty dominant towards the end of (last) season but unfortunately we couldn't get it done (win the Patriot League Championship) in the end," Coen explained. "I think we'll lean on our offense early on in camp but I really expect our defense to step up and improve."
Lehigh tied for third in the Patriot League Preseason Poll unveiled Tuesday. The Mountain Hawks and Holy Cross both garnered 47 points, with the Crusaders capturing one of the 14 possible first place votes.
"We made some significant improvements this past year but we obviously haven't achieved our goals yet," Duffy explained. "We haven't earned it yet. We had an opportunity to get a share of the championship and we didn't. It should motivate our guys and motivate all of us to work harder to pursue that championship."
Defending champion and 2015 FCS quarterfinalist Colgate topped the poll with 70 points and 10 first place votes, while at-large playoff participant Fordham posted 63 points and the other three first place votes to finish second in the poll. Following Lehigh and Holy Cross, Bucknell was picked fifth with 31 points, while Lafayette and Georgetown were sixth and seventh, respectively.
"I've run into a lot of our kids walking through the halls," Coen said. "They're looking great and they're fired up to get things going. There's a lot of talent in the Patriot League and a lot of good football teams in this league."
The Mountain Hawks return five All-Patriot League performers from the 2015 season, four of who were named to the Preseason All-League team. Lehigh's offense is represented by junior wide receiver Troy Pelletier and linemen Duffy and junior Tim O'Hara. Senior linebacker Colton Caslow is the lone Lehigh defender on the preseason All-League team.
"We have a tremendous amount of talent on offense and defense," Duffy said. "The biggest thing is trying to preach consistency at all ends on offense and defense. We need to be able to score points and stop the opponent. Everybody knows that we are capable of being a contender for a Patriot League championship, we just need to go out there and execute."
Bookend tackles Duffy and O'Hara were both second team All-Patriot League selections in 2015. O'Hara started all 11 games, while Duffy started 10 for a line in which the five starters started together in 54 of 55 possible games. The two tackles helped Lehigh rush for 188.2 yards per game and pass for 274.3 yards per game. They also paved the way for 1,000 yard rusher and Patriot League Rookie of the Year Dominick Bragalone and provided protection for a Lehigh offense that generated 32.3 points per game.
Pelletier is a two-time All-Patriot League selection, earning first team honors last season. He followed a sensational freshman season in 2014 by leading a deep Lehigh receiving corps with 78 catches for 831 yards and eight touchdowns. He set a school record with 15 receptions last September at Princeton.
Caslow enters his senior campaign as a two-time all-league performer who made the first team as a junior. The leader of Lehigh's defense, Caslow paced the Mountain Hawks with 95 tackles, despite missing two games due to injury. He had eight tackles for loss, one sack and finished with five double-digit tackle games, including a career-high 17 at Central Connecticut State.
Lambert admitted that he and his teammates are excited to open camp next week.
"The offseason saw us put in a lot of work as a team both with the older guys and the younger guys," he explained. "We've got that camaraderie together and we're very excited. Camp is a very long process, but we're all excited to get better and take that next step and try to win a championship."
With a deep and talented offense returning, Lambert knows the pressure is mounting for a Lehigh defense to bounce back from several tough seasons.
""We're really motivated to change our image as a defense," he said. "There was a time when we were known as having the (top) defense in the Patriot League and we're working to get back to that point. Guys are working extremely hard every day to change our image. There's a lot of work to be done but we're excited for it."
"It's important to put the right personnel in the right positions and we've done a better job of that this past spring and into the summer," Coen added. "In spring practice we really dominated defensively. Some of that was due to a bunch of injuries but we've got some really good players. So it's a combination of things and our coaches have tweaked blitz packages and different coverage looks and those types of things. So I'm excited to get back on the field in a couple of days and see how it looks."
Reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, running back Chase Edmonds of Fordham, was named the league's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Colgate senior linebacker Kyle Diener was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
The preseason poll, awards and all-league team were voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors, who are not permitted to vote for their own teams or student-athletes.
Lehigh reports for preseason camp on Sunday with its opening practice set for Monday evening.
The Mountain Hawks will open the 2016 season on Saturday, September 3 when they host Monmouth at Goodman Stadium, with game time set for 12:30 p.m. Tickets for all Lehigh home games can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by visiting LehighTickets.com.
2016 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll
| Team (# of first place votes) | Points |
| 1. Colgate (10) | 70 |
| 2. Fordham (3) | 63 |
| T3. Holy Cross (1) | 47 |
| T3. 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 Timothy 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.)
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
WR
/ FootballLehigh Sports Central: Football
Tuesday, December 02
MHT EP6 - Football
Thursday, November 20
Brown & Flight - Episode 4
Friday, November 14
Football Blitz
Friday, October 31
