2019 Football Roster
Colton, Dean
Jersey Number 69
Dean Colton
- Position:
- DL
- Height:
- 6-3
- Weight:
- 255
- Class:
- First Year
- Hometown:
- Atlanta, Ga.
- High School:
- Marist
- Major:
- Management (BA in Economics)
Bio
Why Lehigh?: “Lehigh’s atmosphere on campus and in Bethlehem felt like home. The athletic and academic standard is almost unmatched around the country.”
As a fifth-year (2023): Second team All-Patriot League honoree… team captain for second straight year… started all 11 games on the defensive line… ranked fifth on team with 42 tackles… second on Mountain Hawks with five sacks… had career-high 10 tackles at Fordham (10/7)… four tackles and a sack in Patriot League win at Bucknell (10/21)… also registered sacks against Villanova (9/2) and at Colgate (11/11)… named to Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
As a senior (2022): Team captain… started all 11 games on the defensive line… had four tackles in each of Lehigh’s final three games… had 52-yard interception return touchdown at Princeton (9/24)… scored second touchdown of season on 39-yard fumble return against Fordham (10/8)… registered lone sack of season against Bucknell (10/22).
As a junior (2021): Appeared in seven games with five starts… mainstay in defensive line rotation for the Mountain Hawks… finished with 12 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss… had three tackles in each of first two games against Villanova (9/4) and Richmond (9/11)… shared a sack against Richmond.
As a sophomore (spring 2021): Saw time in all three games at defensive tackle… finished with three tackles… had two tackles and a forced fumble in opener versus Holy Cross (3/13).
As a freshman (2019): Appeared in seven games in defensive line rotation… finished with nine tackles… registered first career sack at Fordham (10/19)… added a tackle for loss versus Holy Cross (11/2)… career-high three tackles at Sacred Heart (11/16).
In high school: All-State defensive lineman in 2017 and 2018… 2018 Marist Captains Award… Marist Best Lineman Award as a senior… Marist Coach’s Award recipient… also lettered in baseball, where he was a two-time PG All-American honorable mention; and wrestling, where he was GHSA Traditional third place… team MVP in wrestling… team captain in both baseball and wrestling… four-time honor roll student.
Personal: Son of John and Tammy Merrihew… siblings Vernon and Heaven.
CAREER STATISTICS (DEFENSE)
Tackles
CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 10 (3-7), at Fordham, 10/7/23
Tackles for loss: 1.0, 10x, at Bucknell, 10/21/23
Sacks: 1, 5x, at Colgate, 11/11/23
Interceptions: 1, at Princeton, 9/24/22
As a fifth-year (2023): Second team All-Patriot League honoree… team captain for second straight year… started all 11 games on the defensive line… ranked fifth on team with 42 tackles… second on Mountain Hawks with five sacks… had career-high 10 tackles at Fordham (10/7)… four tackles and a sack in Patriot League win at Bucknell (10/21)… also registered sacks against Villanova (9/2) and at Colgate (11/11)… named to Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
As a senior (2022): Team captain… started all 11 games on the defensive line… had four tackles in each of Lehigh’s final three games… had 52-yard interception return touchdown at Princeton (9/24)… scored second touchdown of season on 39-yard fumble return against Fordham (10/8)… registered lone sack of season against Bucknell (10/22).
As a junior (2021): Appeared in seven games with five starts… mainstay in defensive line rotation for the Mountain Hawks… finished with 12 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss… had three tackles in each of first two games against Villanova (9/4) and Richmond (9/11)… shared a sack against Richmond.
As a sophomore (spring 2021): Saw time in all three games at defensive tackle… finished with three tackles… had two tackles and a forced fumble in opener versus Holy Cross (3/13).
As a freshman (2019): Appeared in seven games in defensive line rotation… finished with nine tackles… registered first career sack at Fordham (10/19)… added a tackle for loss versus Holy Cross (11/2)… career-high three tackles at Sacred Heart (11/16).
In high school: All-State defensive lineman in 2017 and 2018… 2018 Marist Captains Award… Marist Best Lineman Award as a senior… Marist Coach’s Award recipient… also lettered in baseball, where he was a two-time PG All-American honorable mention; and wrestling, where he was GHSA Traditional third place… team MVP in wrestling… team captain in both baseball and wrestling… four-time honor roll student.
Personal: Son of John and Tammy Merrihew… siblings Vernon and Heaven.
CAREER STATISTICS (DEFENSE)
Tackles
| Year | G | UA | A | Tot | TFL | Sacks |
| 2019 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 2.0 | 1.0 |
| S2021 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2021 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 3.5 | 0.5 |
| 2022 | 11 | 14 | 8 | 22 | 2.0 | 1.0 |
| 2023 | 11 | 19 | 23 | 42 | 5.0 | 3.0 |
| Total | 39 | 47 | 41 | 88 | 12.5 | 5.5 |
CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 10 (3-7), at Fordham, 10/7/23
Tackles for loss: 1.0, 10x, at Bucknell, 10/21/23
Sacks: 1, 5x, at Colgate, 11/11/23
Interceptions: 1, at Princeton, 9/24/22
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