Rackley and Cohen named AP All-Americans

12/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A pair of Mountain Hawks in senior Matt Cohen and junior Will Rackley were named to the 2009 FCS Associated Press All-America Teams, it was announced on Wednesday.  Cohen garnered a spot on the Second Team while Rackley was a Third Team pick.  For Cohen this is his second All-America selection of the week after earning a spot on the Walter Camp All-America Team on Monday.  The selections to the AP All-America Team are the first for Lehigh since the 2004 season.

 

With his selection to the Walter Camp All-America Team earlier this week, Cohen became Lehigh’s first First Team All-America since 2004.  A native of Allentown, Cohen led the Patriot League in sacks (9.0) and tackles-for-loss (13.5) marking the second consecutive season he has accomplished that feat. 

 

The 2009 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, Cohen was the first Mountain Hawk to win a major award from the Patriot League since Jason Leo in 2006 and the first Lehigh player to earn the Defensive Player of the Year honor since Abdul Byron in 2001.  He garnered Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week honors on October 12 following his performance in Lehigh’s win over league rival Georgetown where he totaled six tackles, including four-for-loss and three sacks.  Cohen finished this season with 63 total tackles, including a season-best ten versus Central Connecticut State in the opener, and he registered two or more sacks in three games.

 

Cohen wrapped up his Lehigh career with 177 total tackles, 18.5 sacks and 44 tackles-for-loss.  He was a Second-Team All-League pick in 2007 and a First-Team selection each of the last two seasons.

 

One of the most dominant offensive linemen in the entire Patriot League, Will Rackley has been a First Team All-League pick the past two seasons.  The 310-pounder helped clear the way for a Mountain Hawks’ offense which rushed for 100+ yards in eight straight games for the first time since 2001 and passed for more than 193 yards per game.  Rackley’s selection to the First Team makes it six consecutive seasons in which Lehigh has placed an offensive lineman on the All-League First Team.  He has started nearly every game he’s been healthy for over the last three seasons and is Lehigh’s first All-American offensive lineman since John Reese in 2007.

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