Lehigh University Athletics
Defending Champion Lehigh tops Patriot League Preseason Poll; Seven Named Preseason All-League
7/27/2017 11:21:00 AM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After claiming its league-leading 11th Patriot League football title in 2016, the Lehigh football team tops the 2017 preseason poll, announced Thursday morning. In addition, seven Mountain Hawks earned a league-best nine spots on the preseason All-Patriot League team.
Lehigh gained 11 of a possible 14 first-place votes to earn 70 points in the preseason poll. The Mountain Hawks are coming off a 9-3 campaign in 2016 that saw them post a perfect 6-0 league mark on the way to Lehigh's first championship since 2011.
All seven of Lehigh's preseason all-league selections were recognized at the end of the 2016 season, led by senior wide receiver Troy Pelletier, a 2016 third-team All-American, who will bid to become a four-time All-Patriot League selection in 2017 after earning first team honors following each of the last two seasons.
Junior running back Dominick Bragalone earned first-team all-league honors in each of his first two seasons and was the league's Rookie of the Year in 2015.
Senior Gatlin Casey was named to the preseason all-league team as both a wide receiver and a return specialist, after earning first team honors at both positions last season.
On the offensive line, Lehigh is represented by its two tackles, fifth-year senior Zach Duffy and senior Tim O'Hara. Both players are two-time All-Patriot League selections with Duffy earning a first team nod in 2016.
After earning second team All-Patriot League honors last season, senior defensive lineman Tyler Cavenas is the lone member of Lehigh's defense named to the preseason all-league team.
Junior Ed Mish is the preseason all-league placekicker and punter after doubling up on first team honors at both positions last season.
Fordham garnered the three remaining first-place votes and took second place in the poll with 61 points. Colgate was picked third with 54 points, followed by Holy Cross (39) and Bucknell (36). Lafayette and Georgetown tied for sixth place with 17 points.
The Patriot League's preseason major awards went to Fordham running back Chase Edmonds (Offensive Player of the Year) and Colgate defensive lineman Pat Afriyie (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, August 6 with the opening practice set for the following afternoon.
The Mountain Hawks will open the 2017 season on Saturday, September 2 when they host Villanova in a battle of should-be nationally-ranked regional rivals at Goodman Stadium. Game time is set for 12:30 p.m. Lehigh will play three of its first four games in 2017 at home with Ivy League foes Yale and Penn visiting on September 16 and 23, respectively. Tickets for all Lehigh home games can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by visiting LehighTickets.com.
2017 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll
2017 Patriot League Football Preseason All-League Team
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Chase Edmonds, RB, Fordham (Sr.)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Pat Afriyie, DL, Colgate (Sr.)
Offense#
QB: Kevin Anderson, Fordham (Gr.)
RB: Chase Edmonds, Fordham (Sr.)
RB: Dom Bragalone, Lehigh (Jr.)
WR: Austin Longi, Fordham (Jr.)
WR: Troy Pelletier, Lehigh (Sr.)
WR: Gatlin Casey, Lehigh (Sr.)
TE: Dylan Wadsworth, Lafayette (Sr.)
OL: Ryan Paulish, Colgate (Sr.)
OL: Anthony Coyle, Fordham (Sr.)
OL: Ben Hartman, Fordham (Sr.)
OL: Zach Duffy, Lehigh (Sr.)
OL: Tim O'Hara, Lehigh (Sr.)
Defense
DL: Abdullah Anderson, Bucknell (Sr.)
DL: Pat Afriyie, Colgate (Sr.)
DL: Manny Adeyeye, Fordham (Gr.)
DL: Tyler Cavenas, Lehigh (Sr.)
LB: Ben Richard, Bucknell (Sr.)
LB: J'V'on Butler, Georgetown (Jr.)
LB: Nick McBeath, Holy Cross (Sr.)
LB: Brandon Bryant, Lafayette (Sr.)
DB: Bryan Marine, Bucknell (Jr.)
DB: Tyler Castillo, Colgate (Jr.)
DB: Abu Daramy, Colgate (So.)
DB: Caleb Ham, Fordham (Sr.)
Special Teams
PK: Ed Mish, Lehigh (Jr.)
P: Ed Mish, Lehigh (Jr.)
RS: Gatlin Casey, Lehigh (Sr.)
Non-Specialist Player: Khristian Tate, Georgetown (So.)
*Offense has 12 players due to no FB/H-Back nomination.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Lehigh gained 11 of a possible 14 first-place votes to earn 70 points in the preseason poll. The Mountain Hawks are coming off a 9-3 campaign in 2016 that saw them post a perfect 6-0 league mark on the way to Lehigh's first championship since 2011.
All seven of Lehigh's preseason all-league selections were recognized at the end of the 2016 season, led by senior wide receiver Troy Pelletier, a 2016 third-team All-American, who will bid to become a four-time All-Patriot League selection in 2017 after earning first team honors following each of the last two seasons.
Junior running back Dominick Bragalone earned first-team all-league honors in each of his first two seasons and was the league's Rookie of the Year in 2015.
Senior Gatlin Casey was named to the preseason all-league team as both a wide receiver and a return specialist, after earning first team honors at both positions last season.
On the offensive line, Lehigh is represented by its two tackles, fifth-year senior Zach Duffy and senior Tim O'Hara. Both players are two-time All-Patriot League selections with Duffy earning a first team nod in 2016.
After earning second team All-Patriot League honors last season, senior defensive lineman Tyler Cavenas is the lone member of Lehigh's defense named to the preseason all-league team.
Junior Ed Mish is the preseason all-league placekicker and punter after doubling up on first team honors at both positions last season.
Fordham garnered the three remaining first-place votes and took second place in the poll with 61 points. Colgate was picked third with 54 points, followed by Holy Cross (39) and Bucknell (36). Lafayette and Georgetown tied for sixth place with 17 points.
The Patriot League's preseason major awards went to Fordham running back Chase Edmonds (Offensive Player of the Year) and Colgate defensive lineman Pat Afriyie (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, August 6 with the opening practice set for the following afternoon.
The Mountain Hawks will open the 2017 season on Saturday, September 2 when they host Villanova in a battle of should-be nationally-ranked regional rivals at Goodman Stadium. Game time is set for 12:30 p.m. Lehigh will play three of its first four games in 2017 at home with Ivy League foes Yale and Penn visiting on September 16 and 23, respectively. Tickets for all Lehigh home games can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by visiting LehighTickets.com.
2017 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll
| Team (# of first place votes) | Points |
| 1. LEHIGH (11) | 70 |
| 2. Fordham (3) | 61 |
| 3. Colgate | 54 |
| 4. Holy Cross | 39 |
| 5. Bucknell | 36 |
| T6. Lafayette | 17 |
| T6. Georgetown | 17 |
2017 Patriot League Football Preseason All-League Team
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Chase Edmonds, RB, Fordham (Sr.)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Pat Afriyie, DL, Colgate (Sr.)
Offense#
QB: Kevin Anderson, Fordham (Gr.)
RB: Chase Edmonds, Fordham (Sr.)
RB: Dom Bragalone, Lehigh (Jr.)
WR: Austin Longi, Fordham (Jr.)
WR: Troy Pelletier, Lehigh (Sr.)
WR: Gatlin Casey, Lehigh (Sr.)
TE: Dylan Wadsworth, Lafayette (Sr.)
OL: Ryan Paulish, Colgate (Sr.)
OL: Anthony Coyle, Fordham (Sr.)
OL: Ben Hartman, Fordham (Sr.)
OL: Zach Duffy, Lehigh (Sr.)
OL: Tim O'Hara, Lehigh (Sr.)
Defense
DL: Abdullah Anderson, Bucknell (Sr.)
DL: Pat Afriyie, Colgate (Sr.)
DL: Manny Adeyeye, Fordham (Gr.)
DL: Tyler Cavenas, Lehigh (Sr.)
LB: Ben Richard, Bucknell (Sr.)
LB: J'V'on Butler, Georgetown (Jr.)
LB: Nick McBeath, Holy Cross (Sr.)
LB: Brandon Bryant, Lafayette (Sr.)
DB: Bryan Marine, Bucknell (Jr.)
DB: Tyler Castillo, Colgate (Jr.)
DB: Abu Daramy, Colgate (So.)
DB: Caleb Ham, Fordham (Sr.)
Special Teams
PK: Ed Mish, Lehigh (Jr.)
P: Ed Mish, Lehigh (Jr.)
RS: Gatlin Casey, Lehigh (Sr.)
Non-Specialist Player: Khristian Tate, Georgetown (So.)
*Offense has 12 players due to no FB/H-Back nomination.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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