Six Mountain Hawks named to All-Patriot League football teams
11/26/2019 11:05:00 AM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Six members of the Lehigh football program have been named to All-Patriot League teams as the league announced its postseason football awards on Tuesday. Senior wide receiver Devon Bibbens and senior linebacker Keith Woetzel garnered first team honors, along with freshman defensive back Jack Bush, who was recognized as the first team non-specialist special teams performer. Lehigh's three second-team all-league selections were junior wide receiver Jorge Portorreal, junior linebacker Pete Haffner and fifth-year defensive back Sam McCloskey.
The All-Patriot League teams and major awards were voted on by the league's head coaches. Portorreal and McCloskey were honored for the second consecutive year, while the Mountain Hawks' other four honorees, received so for the first time.
Woetzel's first career honor comes one day after he was named one of 26 finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the FCS. He spearheaded the resurgence of Lehigh's defense in 2019, ranking at or near the top of the league and among the national leaders in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks. Woetzel finished his senior season with 118 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and a school single-season record 12 sacks. He also picked off two passes. Woetzel leads the Patriot League and ranks 10th nationally in tackles per game; tops the league and ranks second nationally in sacks per game and leads the Patriot League and ranks fourth nationally in tackles for loss per game. He also ranks second nationally in solo tackles per game (7.4).
The owner of seven double-digit tackle games this season, Woetzel was a two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week and won national honors following a 15 tackle, four-sack, one-interception performance in a win at Fordham on October 19.
Bibbens also saved his best for his senior campaign. The Patriot League's leader in receiving yards per game, Bibbens finished with 859 yards on 67 receptions with six touchdowns. Bibbens also ranked second in the Patriot League in receptions per game. He finished with three 100-yard receiving games, highlighted by a career-high 133-yard effort against Merrimack that included an 80-yard reception. Bibbens had a career-high 11 receptions for 92 yards at Bucknell and was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week after catching 10 passes for 83 yards and scoring two touchdowns at Fordham. He showed his well-roundedness as a receiver by delivering the key block on freshman Zaythan Hill's Patriot League-record 94-yard touchdown run and also by catching the game-winning touchdown in overtime.
Bush was honored as a freshman for his prowess on Lehigh's special teams units. He played in all 11 games as a cornerback and as a key member of Lehigh's kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return units. Six of Bush's nine tackles in 2019 came on special teams, with four stops on kickoffs and two on punt returns. The Lehigh coaches noted Bush's selfless attitude and competitive nature in one-on-one situations as keys to his special teams success.
Portorreal earned his second consecutive all-league honor, making the second team after earning first-team recognition last season. In 10 games, Portorreal hauled in 52 passes for 575 yards and a touchdown. He ranked third in the Patriot League with 5.2 receptions per game. Portorreal caught a touchdown pass at Villanova, tied a career-high with nine receptions at UC Davis and enjoyed a 100-yard receiving day with 103 yards on eight receptions against Georgetown.
Haffner joined his inside linebacker partner Woetzel in earning all-league accolades. He finished second on the Mountain Hawks with 97 tackles and ranked second on the team with 4.5 sacks and third with 10 tackles for loss. Haffner picked off a pair of passes in Lehigh's November 2 game versus Holy Cross and was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts. The following week at Bucknell, Haffner established a new career high with 16 tackles and added a pair of sacks and three tackles for loss.
McCloskey wrapped up his Lehigh career with a second straight second-team honor. A three-year team captain, McCloskey started all 11 games at safety, finishing fifth on the Mountain Hawks with 36 tackles. He added 2.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and recovered two fumbles, both in Lehigh's season-opener against Saint Francis, the second of which was returned for a touchdown. McCloskey made eight tackles at UC Davis and had five tackles and a tackle for loss in wins over Merrimack and Georgetown.
Patriot League champion Holy Cross split the major awards with Lafayette. Crusader running back Domenic Cozier was named Offensive Player of the Year and Bob Chesney won Coach of the Year. Lafayette had the Defensive Player of the Year (defensive end Malik Hamm) and the Rookie of the Year (quarterback Keegan Shoemaker).
Lehigh finished the 2019 season with a 4-7 overall record and 3-3 Patriot League mark.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
The All-Patriot League teams and major awards were voted on by the league's head coaches. Portorreal and McCloskey were honored for the second consecutive year, while the Mountain Hawks' other four honorees, received so for the first time.
Woetzel's first career honor comes one day after he was named one of 26 finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the FCS. He spearheaded the resurgence of Lehigh's defense in 2019, ranking at or near the top of the league and among the national leaders in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks. Woetzel finished his senior season with 118 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and a school single-season record 12 sacks. He also picked off two passes. Woetzel leads the Patriot League and ranks 10th nationally in tackles per game; tops the league and ranks second nationally in sacks per game and leads the Patriot League and ranks fourth nationally in tackles for loss per game. He also ranks second nationally in solo tackles per game (7.4).
The owner of seven double-digit tackle games this season, Woetzel was a two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week and won national honors following a 15 tackle, four-sack, one-interception performance in a win at Fordham on October 19.
Bibbens also saved his best for his senior campaign. The Patriot League's leader in receiving yards per game, Bibbens finished with 859 yards on 67 receptions with six touchdowns. Bibbens also ranked second in the Patriot League in receptions per game. He finished with three 100-yard receiving games, highlighted by a career-high 133-yard effort against Merrimack that included an 80-yard reception. Bibbens had a career-high 11 receptions for 92 yards at Bucknell and was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week after catching 10 passes for 83 yards and scoring two touchdowns at Fordham. He showed his well-roundedness as a receiver by delivering the key block on freshman Zaythan Hill's Patriot League-record 94-yard touchdown run and also by catching the game-winning touchdown in overtime.
Bush was honored as a freshman for his prowess on Lehigh's special teams units. He played in all 11 games as a cornerback and as a key member of Lehigh's kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return units. Six of Bush's nine tackles in 2019 came on special teams, with four stops on kickoffs and two on punt returns. The Lehigh coaches noted Bush's selfless attitude and competitive nature in one-on-one situations as keys to his special teams success.
Portorreal earned his second consecutive all-league honor, making the second team after earning first-team recognition last season. In 10 games, Portorreal hauled in 52 passes for 575 yards and a touchdown. He ranked third in the Patriot League with 5.2 receptions per game. Portorreal caught a touchdown pass at Villanova, tied a career-high with nine receptions at UC Davis and enjoyed a 100-yard receiving day with 103 yards on eight receptions against Georgetown.
Haffner joined his inside linebacker partner Woetzel in earning all-league accolades. He finished second on the Mountain Hawks with 97 tackles and ranked second on the team with 4.5 sacks and third with 10 tackles for loss. Haffner picked off a pair of passes in Lehigh's November 2 game versus Holy Cross and was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts. The following week at Bucknell, Haffner established a new career high with 16 tackles and added a pair of sacks and three tackles for loss.
McCloskey wrapped up his Lehigh career with a second straight second-team honor. A three-year team captain, McCloskey started all 11 games at safety, finishing fifth on the Mountain Hawks with 36 tackles. He added 2.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and recovered two fumbles, both in Lehigh's season-opener against Saint Francis, the second of which was returned for a touchdown. McCloskey made eight tackles at UC Davis and had five tackles and a tackle for loss in wins over Merrimack and Georgetown.
Patriot League champion Holy Cross split the major awards with Lafayette. Crusader running back Domenic Cozier was named Offensive Player of the Year and Bob Chesney won Coach of the Year. Lafayette had the Defensive Player of the Year (defensive end Malik Hamm) and the Rookie of the Year (quarterback Keegan Shoemaker).
Lehigh finished the 2019 season with a 4-7 overall record and 3-3 Patriot League mark.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ FootballBrown & Flight 2025 - Episode 3
Friday, October 17
Brown & Flight 2025 - Episode Two
Friday, October 10
2025 Brown & Flight - Episode 1
Thursday, September 18
Lehigh Sports Central: Football
Wednesday, August 27
