Hatboro, PA - Lehigh senior tight end Adam Bergen has been named to the Walter Payton Award watch list, as announced by The Sports Network on Monday. The Payton Award is given annually to the top player in I-AA football, as voted on by members of the media and I-AA sports information directors.
Bergen led Lehigh and ranked third in the Patriot League with 70 catches for 840 yards in 2003. The tight end averaged 12 yards per catch, and he posted a team-high six touchdown receptions last season.
Following the 2003 season, Bergen was named an All-America tight end by CSTV. He was also selected to The Sports Network’s All-America team, the Associated Press All-America Second Team, the ECAC All-Star squad, and the All-Patriot League first team (as voted on by the Patriot League’s head coaches).
In addition to Bergen, Colgate running back Jamaal Branch was one of 16 players named to the initial Payton Award list for the 2004 campaign. Branch is the 2003 PL Offensive Player of the Year and the 2004 PL Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
Lehigh opens its 2004 season on Saturday, when the Mountain Hawks host Stony Brook at Goodman Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:00.
