Seven Mountain Hawks Earn All-America Recognition From Associated Press
12/16/2025 9:13:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Seven members of the Lehigh football team were recognized when the Associated Press announced its FCS All-America teams on Tuesday. Senior offensive lineman Langston Jones and senior linebacker Tyler Ochojski earned second team All-America recognition, while five others were named honorable mention All-Americans, a group that includes junior running back Luke Yoder, senior offensive lineman Aidan Palmer, senior defensive linemen Matt Spatny and TJ Burke and sophomore safety Mekhai Smith.
All seven of Lehigh's AP All-Americans were first team All-Patriot League honorees. Ochojski was the league's Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award. Yoder earned Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year honors and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award.
Ochojski was Lehigh's first Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year in 16 years. He led the Mountain Hawks with 11 sacks, contributed 13 tackles for loss and finished third on the team with 60 tackles. Ochojski was a two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week during the regular season.
Jones started all 48 games Lehigh played over the last four seasons, settling in at right guard over the last two seasons. He and Palmer were key performers on an offensive line that paved the way for a rushing attack that led the Patriot League and ranks fifth nationally, averaging 230.9 yards per game. Lehigh also led the Patriot League and ranks fourth nationally in fewest sacks allowed (0.69). Palmer moved from left tackle to left guard in 2025 and earned his second straight first team all-league honor.
With Jones and Palmer paving the way, Yoder delivered one of the top rushing campaigns in program history. Yoder rushed for 1,409 yards in 2025, averaging 7.1 yards per carry, becoming the third rusher in program history with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons. The 1,409 yards rank second on Lehigh's single-season list, with Yoder rushing for 15 touchdowns.
Spatny and Burke joined Ochojski as key members of the top rushing defense in the FCS, with Lehigh allowing 70.1 yards per game, and a unit that led the Patriot League and ranked fourth nationally in sacks (3.31). Burke finished with 37 tackles, seven tackles for loss and four sacks, while Spatny registered 26 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and nine sacks on the way to his second straight AP honorable mention All-America honor.
Smith enjoyed a breakout season at safety, leading Lehigh with four interceptions and ranking fourth on the team with 56 total tackles.
Earlier this week six Mountain Hawks landed on FCS Football Central's All-America teams. Jones and Ochojski were second team honorees, while Yoder, Burke, Smith and senior wide receiver Geoffrey Jamiel garnered third team honors. Jamiel led Lehigh with 73 receptions for 1,067 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025.
The Mountain Hawks won their league-leading 14th Patriot League championship and second straight in 2025 posting a 12-1 overall record.
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
All seven of Lehigh's AP All-Americans were first team All-Patriot League honorees. Ochojski was the league's Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award. Yoder earned Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year honors and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award.
Ochojski was Lehigh's first Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year in 16 years. He led the Mountain Hawks with 11 sacks, contributed 13 tackles for loss and finished third on the team with 60 tackles. Ochojski was a two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week during the regular season.
Jones started all 48 games Lehigh played over the last four seasons, settling in at right guard over the last two seasons. He and Palmer were key performers on an offensive line that paved the way for a rushing attack that led the Patriot League and ranks fifth nationally, averaging 230.9 yards per game. Lehigh also led the Patriot League and ranks fourth nationally in fewest sacks allowed (0.69). Palmer moved from left tackle to left guard in 2025 and earned his second straight first team all-league honor.
With Jones and Palmer paving the way, Yoder delivered one of the top rushing campaigns in program history. Yoder rushed for 1,409 yards in 2025, averaging 7.1 yards per carry, becoming the third rusher in program history with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons. The 1,409 yards rank second on Lehigh's single-season list, with Yoder rushing for 15 touchdowns.
Spatny and Burke joined Ochojski as key members of the top rushing defense in the FCS, with Lehigh allowing 70.1 yards per game, and a unit that led the Patriot League and ranked fourth nationally in sacks (3.31). Burke finished with 37 tackles, seven tackles for loss and four sacks, while Spatny registered 26 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and nine sacks on the way to his second straight AP honorable mention All-America honor.
Smith enjoyed a breakout season at safety, leading Lehigh with four interceptions and ranking fourth on the team with 56 total tackles.
Earlier this week six Mountain Hawks landed on FCS Football Central's All-America teams. Jones and Ochojski were second team honorees, while Yoder, Burke, Smith and senior wide receiver Geoffrey Jamiel garnered third team honors. Jamiel led Lehigh with 73 receptions for 1,067 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025.
The Mountain Hawks won their league-leading 14th Patriot League championship and second straight in 2025 posting a 12-1 overall record.
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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