2016 FCS Preview: Patriot League
Here at CSJ, we are previewing the upcoming 2016 season, and we are counting up from 7 to 1 as to who we think how the Patriot League football season will shake itself out.
Last season, Colgate overcame an 0-3 start and won seven of their next eight regular season games, including a shock 31-29 win over Fordham. That win over the nationally-ranked Rams contributed to their Patriot League title and got them an invitation to the FCS playoffs, where the Raiders proceeded to knock off two heavily favored CAA teams on the road, New Hampshire (27-20) and James Madison (44-38). Even though they would lose in the quarterfinal to Sam Houston State 48-21, by any measure 2015 was an epic season to remember for Colgate football.
Despite the loss to Colgate, the Fordham Rams also had a season to remember as well, spending the entire season in the FCS Top 25 and knocking off an FBS team, Army, to start the season. Their 9-2 record was worthy of an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs as well, where they would fall to Chattanooga 50-20.
In the coming week, you’ll see here links to all of CSJ’s Patriot League preview capsules, CSJ’s preseason order of finish, and CSJ’s preseason all-Patriot League team.
Predicted Order of Finish:
- Colgate Raiders
- Fordham Rams
- Holy Cross Crusaders
- Lehigh Mountain Hawks
- Bucknell Bison
- Lafayette Leopards
- Georgetown Hoyas
CSJ Preseason All-Patriot League team
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: RB Chase Edmonds, Fordham
Preseason Defensive Player of the Yar: DE Pat Afriyie, Colgate
QB: Peter Pujals, Sr., Holy Cross
RB: Chase Edmonds, Jr. Fordham
RB: James Holland, Jr., Colgate
WR: Brendan Flaherty, Sr., Holy Cross
WR: Troy Pelletier, Jr., Lehigh
WR: John Maddaluna, Sr. Colgate
TE: Phazahn Odom, Sr., Fordham
TE/HB: Matt Buckman, Sr., Georgetown
OL: Julie’n Davenport, Sr., Bucknell
OL: Ryan Paulish, Jr., Colgate
OL: Zach Duffy, Sr., Lehigh
OL: Jordi Dalmau, Sr., Colgate
OL: Anthony Coyle, Jr., Fordham
DL: Pat Afriyie, Sr., Colgate
DL: Ben Schumacher, Sr., Bucknell
DL: Brett Field, Sr., Colgate
DL: Abdullah Anderson, Jr., Bucknell
LB: Kyle Diener, Sr., Colgate
LB: Colton Caslow, Sr., Lehigh
LB: Ben Richard, Jr., Bucknell
LB: Niko Thorpe, Jr., Fordham
DL/LB: LB Brandon Bryant, Jr., Lafayette
DB: Jihaad Pretlow, Sr., Fordham
DB: Bryan Marine, So. Bucknell
DB: Quentin Jones, Jr. Lehigh
DB: Luke Ford, Sr. Holy Cross
K: Jake Bissell, So., Lafayette
P: Alex Pechin, So., Bucknell
RS: Jihaad Pretlow, Sr. Fordham
Official Patriot League Media Day Releases:
- Coming Soon!
Chuck has been writing about Lehigh football since the dawn of the internet, or perhaps it only seems like it. He’s executive editor of the College Sports Journal and has also written a book, The Rivalry: How Two Schools Started the Most Played College Football Series.
Reach him at: this email or click below:
