Lehigh University Athletics
Yoder Named Preseason OPOY; Lehigh Lands Four on All-League Teams
7/29/2026 7:15:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh senior running back Luke Yoder was named Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and was one of four Mountain Hawks to garner preseason all-league recognition as the Patriot League announced its Preseason Football Poll and Honors Wednesday evening.
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Yoder is joined on the Preseason All-Patriot League team by junior quarterback Hayden Johnson, fifth-year offensive lineman Aidan Palmer and junior punter Connor Poole.
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All four Lehigh honorees were first-team All-Patriot League selections in 2025.
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Yoder was the league's Offensive Player of the Year last fall, rushing for 1,409 yards and 15 touchdowns in Lehigh's 12-1 campaign. The 1,409 yards ranked eighth in the FCS and second in Lehigh's single-season history. Yoder was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award and earned All-America recognition from Stats Perform and the Associated Press. This summer, Yoder has been named a Preseason All-American by Stats Perform and has been named to the Preseason Watch List for the Walter Payton Award.
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Johnson completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,510 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, while adding 451 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. He has started Lehigh's last 17 games at quarterback, going 15-2 overall and 14-0 in regular season action.
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Palmer was an honorable mention Associated Press All-American in 2025 was named a Stats Perform Preseason All-American earlier this month. Last year, Palmer moved from left tackle to left guard, where he was a key member of an offensive line that paved the way for the nation's No. 5 rushing attack, while ranking fourth in the FCS in fewest sacks allowed.
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Poole averaged 42.1 yards per punt last season, while placing 17 of 46 kicks inside the opponents' 20-yard line. He added placekicking duties for Lehigh's final four games, going 3-for-4 on field goals and 17-for-17 on extra points.
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The two-time defending Patriot League champion Mountain Hawks were picked second in the preseason poll, with a New Era of Patriot League football ushered in with the expansion to 10 teams with the additions of Villanova and William & Mary for the 2026 season.
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Lehigh garnered 75 points and three first-place votes in the preseason poll. Villanova tops the poll with 79 points and seven first-place votes. Richmond and William & Mary tied for third in the poll with 57 points, with Lafayette rounding out the top five at 55.
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The Preseason All-Patriot League team, major awards and poll are voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
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The Mountain Hawks reported for preseason camp on Tuesday and will hold their first official practice ahead of the 2026 season on Thursday. The 2026 campaign begins with back-to-back Patriot League road games at Holy Cross (Aug. 29) and Georgetown (Sept. 5) before Lehigh opens its home schedule against William & Mary, Sept. 12 at 2 p.m.
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Season and single game tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased at LehighTickets.com.
2026 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll
1. Villanova, 79 points (7 first-place votes)
2. Lehigh, 75 (3)
T3. Richmond, 57
T3. William & Mary, 57
5. Lafayette, 55
6. Holy Cross, 38
7. Colgate, 36
T8. Fordham, 19
T8. Georgetown, 19
10. Bucknell, 15
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2026 Patriot League Football Major Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Luke Yoder, Lehigh, Sr., RB
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Camden Byrd, Richmond, Gr., DL
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2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Football Team
OFFENSE (14)*
QB: Hayden Johnson, Lehigh, Jr.
RB: Luke Yoder, Lehigh, Sr.
RB: Aziz Foster-Powell, Richmond, Sr.
RB: Ja'briel Mace, Villanova, Jr.
WR: Sam Milligan, Bucknell, Sr.Â
WR: Winston Moore, Colgate, Sr.
WR: Carson Persing, Lafayette, Sr.
WR: Braden Reed, Villanova, So.
TE: Sean McElwain, William & Mary, Sr.
OL: Cam Nolan, Holy Cross, 5th-year
OL: Sean Wilson, Lafayette, Sr.
OL: Aidan Palmer, Lehigh, 5th-year
OL: Ronald Anderson, Richmond, Sr.
OL: Chris McCullers, Villanova, Jr.
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DEFENSE (13)*
DL: Chigozie Oge-Evans, Georgetown, Sr.Â
DL: Camden Byrd, Richmond, Gr.
DL: Capri Martin, Villanova, Sr.
DL: Davin Dzidzienyo, William & Mary, Gr.
LB: Brandon Biagiarelli, Bucknell, Jr.
LB: Trooper Price, Colgate, Sr.
LB: Andrew Osmun, Fordham, Sr.
LB: Carter Glassmyer, Richmond, Gr.
LB: Omari Bursey, Villanova, So.
DB: Tymir Wynn, Colgate, Sr.Â
DB: Jordan Allen, Richmond, Gr.
DB: Tayshaun Burney, Richmond, Jr.
DB: Bryce Barnes, William & Mary, Sr.
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SPECIAL TEAMS: (5)
PK: Luke Vogeler, Colgate, Sr.
P: Connor Poole, Lehigh, Jr.
RS: Ja'briel Mace, Villanova, Jr.
LS: Mike Doctor, Fordham, Sr.
Special Teams Non-Specialist (STNS): Stephon Hicks, William & Mary, Jr.
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*Additional student-athletes selected to offense and defense due to ties in the voting
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Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.Â
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Yoder is joined on the Preseason All-Patriot League team by junior quarterback Hayden Johnson, fifth-year offensive lineman Aidan Palmer and junior punter Connor Poole.
Â
All four Lehigh honorees were first-team All-Patriot League selections in 2025.
Â
Yoder was the league's Offensive Player of the Year last fall, rushing for 1,409 yards and 15 touchdowns in Lehigh's 12-1 campaign. The 1,409 yards ranked eighth in the FCS and second in Lehigh's single-season history. Yoder was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award and earned All-America recognition from Stats Perform and the Associated Press. This summer, Yoder has been named a Preseason All-American by Stats Perform and has been named to the Preseason Watch List for the Walter Payton Award.
Â
Johnson completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,510 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, while adding 451 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. He has started Lehigh's last 17 games at quarterback, going 15-2 overall and 14-0 in regular season action.
Â
Palmer was an honorable mention Associated Press All-American in 2025 was named a Stats Perform Preseason All-American earlier this month. Last year, Palmer moved from left tackle to left guard, where he was a key member of an offensive line that paved the way for the nation's No. 5 rushing attack, while ranking fourth in the FCS in fewest sacks allowed.
Â
Poole averaged 42.1 yards per punt last season, while placing 17 of 46 kicks inside the opponents' 20-yard line. He added placekicking duties for Lehigh's final four games, going 3-for-4 on field goals and 17-for-17 on extra points.
Â
The two-time defending Patriot League champion Mountain Hawks were picked second in the preseason poll, with a New Era of Patriot League football ushered in with the expansion to 10 teams with the additions of Villanova and William & Mary for the 2026 season.
Â
Lehigh garnered 75 points and three first-place votes in the preseason poll. Villanova tops the poll with 79 points and seven first-place votes. Richmond and William & Mary tied for third in the poll with 57 points, with Lafayette rounding out the top five at 55.
Â
The Preseason All-Patriot League team, major awards and poll are voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
Â
The Mountain Hawks reported for preseason camp on Tuesday and will hold their first official practice ahead of the 2026 season on Thursday. The 2026 campaign begins with back-to-back Patriot League road games at Holy Cross (Aug. 29) and Georgetown (Sept. 5) before Lehigh opens its home schedule against William & Mary, Sept. 12 at 2 p.m.
Â
Season and single game tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased at LehighTickets.com.
2026 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll
1. Villanova, 79 points (7 first-place votes)
2. Lehigh, 75 (3)
T3. Richmond, 57
T3. William & Mary, 57
5. Lafayette, 55
6. Holy Cross, 38
7. Colgate, 36
T8. Fordham, 19
T8. Georgetown, 19
10. Bucknell, 15
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2026 Patriot League Football Major Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Luke Yoder, Lehigh, Sr., RB
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Camden Byrd, Richmond, Gr., DL
Â
2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Football Team
OFFENSE (14)*
QB: Hayden Johnson, Lehigh, Jr.
RB: Luke Yoder, Lehigh, Sr.
RB: Aziz Foster-Powell, Richmond, Sr.
RB: Ja'briel Mace, Villanova, Jr.
WR: Sam Milligan, Bucknell, Sr.Â
WR: Winston Moore, Colgate, Sr.
WR: Carson Persing, Lafayette, Sr.
WR: Braden Reed, Villanova, So.
TE: Sean McElwain, William & Mary, Sr.
OL: Cam Nolan, Holy Cross, 5th-year
OL: Sean Wilson, Lafayette, Sr.
OL: Aidan Palmer, Lehigh, 5th-year
OL: Ronald Anderson, Richmond, Sr.
OL: Chris McCullers, Villanova, Jr.
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DEFENSE (13)*
DL: Chigozie Oge-Evans, Georgetown, Sr.Â
DL: Camden Byrd, Richmond, Gr.
DL: Capri Martin, Villanova, Sr.
DL: Davin Dzidzienyo, William & Mary, Gr.
LB: Brandon Biagiarelli, Bucknell, Jr.
LB: Trooper Price, Colgate, Sr.
LB: Andrew Osmun, Fordham, Sr.
LB: Carter Glassmyer, Richmond, Gr.
LB: Omari Bursey, Villanova, So.
DB: Tymir Wynn, Colgate, Sr.Â
DB: Jordan Allen, Richmond, Gr.
DB: Tayshaun Burney, Richmond, Jr.
DB: Bryce Barnes, William & Mary, Sr.
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SPECIAL TEAMS: (5)
PK: Luke Vogeler, Colgate, Sr.
P: Connor Poole, Lehigh, Jr.
RS: Ja'briel Mace, Villanova, Jr.
LS: Mike Doctor, Fordham, Sr.
Special Teams Non-Specialist (STNS): Stephon Hicks, William & Mary, Jr.
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*Additional student-athletes selected to offense and defense due to ties in the voting
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Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.Â
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Players Mentioned
Tuesday, December 02
Thursday, November 20
Friday, November 14
Friday, October 31
