2024 Football Roster
DeNucci, Mike
Jersey Number 41
Mike DeNucci
- Position:
- LB
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 225
- Class:
- Graduate Student
- Hometown:
- Denville, N.J.
- High School:
- Pope John XXIII Regional
- Major:
- Business Analytics (BS in Finance)
Bio
Why Lehigh?: “I chose Lehigh not just what it can offer in athletics, but also for the academics. The first time I visited campus it felt like home.”
As a graduate student (2024): First team All-Patriot League… finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award… ranked second on team in tackles (80) despite missing both playoff games due to injury… started all 11 regular season games at linebacker… had three double-digit tackle games, with season-high 12 against Bucknell (9/28)… named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 28 after monster game against Fordham that included 11 tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks… totaled 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in key road wins at Georgetown (11/2) and Holy Cross (11/9)… selected as game captain for season-opener at Army… named to Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
As a senior (2023): Second team All-Patriot League for second consecutive season… team captain… started all 11 games at linebacker… finished second on team with 87 tackles… added six tackles for loss to rank second on team… had 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack in road win against Merrimack (9/9)… season-high 12 tackles at Fordham (10/7)… shared a sack against Georgetown (10/14)… blocked a field goal in win at Bucknell (10/21)… had four pass breakups… named to Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
As a junior (2022): Second team All-Patriot League… started all 11 games at linebacker… led Lehigh in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks… in October named to watch list for Buck Buchanan Award, given to top defensive player in the FCS… named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week following 11-tackle, three-sack effort at Princeton (9/24)… had four double-digit tackle games and three games with multiple sacks… had career-high 14 tackles plus 1.5 tackles for loss in win over Colgate (11/12).
As a sophomore (2021): Appeared in 10 games, with seven starts at linebacker… opened season with five tackles and first career interception against Villanova (9/4)… made career-high seven tackles at Penn (10/9)… named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week after five tackle, two sack effort at Bucknell (11/6)… had five QB hurries on the season.
As a freshman (spring 2021): Saw time in all three games at linebacker and on special teams… finished with two tackles… registered a sack against Holy Cross (3/13).
In high school: First Team All-Conference and second team All Non-Public as a senior… finished senior season with 103 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 interception and a fumble recovery… also scored a defensive touchdown… played some running back as season progressed… played baseball as a freshman.
Personal: Son of Nicholas and Pam DeNucci… brother Nicholas played football at Boston College.
CAREER STATISTICS (DEFENSE)
Tackles
CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 14, vs. Colgate, 11/12/22
Tackles for loss: 4, vs. Fordham 10/26/24
Sacks: 3, 2x, vs. Fordham, 10/26/24
Interceptions: 1, vs. Villanova, 9/4/21
As a graduate student (2024): First team All-Patriot League… finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award… ranked second on team in tackles (80) despite missing both playoff games due to injury… started all 11 regular season games at linebacker… had three double-digit tackle games, with season-high 12 against Bucknell (9/28)… named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 28 after monster game against Fordham that included 11 tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks… totaled 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in key road wins at Georgetown (11/2) and Holy Cross (11/9)… selected as game captain for season-opener at Army… named to Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
As a senior (2023): Second team All-Patriot League for second consecutive season… team captain… started all 11 games at linebacker… finished second on team with 87 tackles… added six tackles for loss to rank second on team… had 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack in road win against Merrimack (9/9)… season-high 12 tackles at Fordham (10/7)… shared a sack against Georgetown (10/14)… blocked a field goal in win at Bucknell (10/21)… had four pass breakups… named to Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
As a junior (2022): Second team All-Patriot League… started all 11 games at linebacker… led Lehigh in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks… in October named to watch list for Buck Buchanan Award, given to top defensive player in the FCS… named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week following 11-tackle, three-sack effort at Princeton (9/24)… had four double-digit tackle games and three games with multiple sacks… had career-high 14 tackles plus 1.5 tackles for loss in win over Colgate (11/12).
As a sophomore (2021): Appeared in 10 games, with seven starts at linebacker… opened season with five tackles and first career interception against Villanova (9/4)… made career-high seven tackles at Penn (10/9)… named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week after five tackle, two sack effort at Bucknell (11/6)… had five QB hurries on the season.
As a freshman (spring 2021): Saw time in all three games at linebacker and on special teams… finished with two tackles… registered a sack against Holy Cross (3/13).
In high school: First Team All-Conference and second team All Non-Public as a senior… finished senior season with 103 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 interception and a fumble recovery… also scored a defensive touchdown… played some running back as season progressed… played baseball as a freshman.
Personal: Son of Nicholas and Pam DeNucci… brother Nicholas played football at Boston College.
CAREER STATISTICS (DEFENSE)
Tackles
| Year | G | UA | A | Tot | TFL | Sacks | INT |
| S2021 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 11 | 27 | 11 | 38 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 1 |
| 2022 | 11 | 62 | 31 | 93 | 16.5 | 8.5 | 0 |
| 2023 | 11 | 55 | 32 | 87 | 6.0 | 1.5 | 0 |
| 2024 | 11 | 37 | 43 | 80 | 10.0 | 5.5 | 0 |
| Total | 47 | 183 | 117 | 300 | 37.5 | 18.5 | 1 |
CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 14, vs. Colgate, 11/12/22
Tackles for loss: 4, vs. Fordham 10/26/24
Sacks: 3, 2x, vs. Fordham, 10/26/24
Interceptions: 1, vs. Villanova, 9/4/21
Lehigh Sports Central: Football
Wednesday, August 27
2025 Lehigh Football Season Preview: Special Teams
Thursday, August 21
2025 Lehigh Football Season Preview: Defense
Thursday, August 21
2025 Lehigh Football Season Preview: Offense
Wednesday, August 20
