HERO Sports wraps up the previews with "Two-A-Days" for each FCS conference through Friday, Aug. 24 (see full schedule below). Today, we feature the Patriot League.
[divider]MORE: Compare Any Two FCS Players or Compare Any Two FCS Teams [divider]
FCS TEAM BY TEAM PREVIEW: The countdown
FCS PRESEASON TOP 25: The poll
FCS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA: The teams
The Patriot League
SUM IT UP
(NOTE: Team by team previews in this conference are below)
Is this still Colgate's league to lose? It feels that way, looking at the schedules and the rosters of the other six teams. The Raiders will have the best collection of talent in 2018 — in fact, they probably did in 2017, too, even if they lost the playoff tiebreaker to Lehigh.
Speaking of Lehigh, the Hawks should once again prove to be Colgate's biggest challenge in league play thanks to its dynamic offense. Brad Mayes and Dom Bragalone are a 1-2 punch unlike any other in the league; that firepower masked quite a few warts on defense in 2017.
Is anyone else in play here? Probably not, at least this season. But the Patriot League does have plenty of good up-and-coming players and coaches, so even if there are only two real title contenders this fall, there are plenty of other names to pay attention to.
Read on, as we preview the Patriot League.
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Nick Wheeler is the Patriot League's bona fide sack master. (Colgate Athletics)[/credit]
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NAMES TO KNOW
THE NFL PROSPECT: Dominick Bragalone, Lehigh
Just go watch him play. You don't have to be a scout to know he's going to get paid.
THE VETERAN COACH: Andy Coen, Lehigh
Coen, who is entering his 13th year at Lehigh, is the only current Patriot League head coach with a tenure longer than 10 years.
TOP PASSER: Brad Mayes, Lehigh
His 3,886 yards were a full thousand yards more than the next closest Patriot League quarterback.
TOP RUSHER: Dominick Bragalone, Lehigh
Bragalone has now posted three straight 1,000 yard rushing seasons.
TOP RECEIVER: Michael Dereus, Georgetown
Dereus averaged 63 yards per game in 2017 — only Troy Pelletier and Gatlin Casey (both gone) had more.
TOP TACKLER: Ryan Brady, Holy Cross
The rising senior is the only returning conference player who averaged 10 or more tackles per game last fall.
TOP SACK MAN: Nick Wheeler, Colgate
Posted 11.5 sacks in 2017, which led the league. Obviously.
TOP INTERCEPTION ARTIST: Antonio Jackson, Fordham
Fordham's All-Conference Safety is the only returning league player who had at least four picks last season.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Simeon Page, Bucknell
The rookie set a few records in Lewisburg last year on his way to 13 tackles for loss in only nine games.
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TOP FANBASE (*)
There are exciting things going on at both Holy Cross and Colgate, so it's no surprise to us that both previews crossed into four-digit territory. Colgate will finish inside our top 10.
(*) – Based on fan engagement with our previews this summer.
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RANKING THE Patriot LEAGUE
| RK | HERO SPORTS (CHASE) | COACHES POLL |
| 1 | Colgate | Colgate |
| 2 | Lehigh | Lehigh |
| 3 | Bucknell (up) | Fordham |
| 4 | Fordham | Holy Cross |
| 5 | Holy Cross | Bucknell |
| 6 | Lafayette | Lafayette |
| 7 | Georgetown | Georgetown |
[divider]THE DIFFERENCE: The first two seem pretty self-explanatory. After you slot Lehigh's offense in at No. 2, I think the best option is backing Bucknell, which should have a lot of strong talent along the line of scrimmage. Fordham should be in the mix, too.
After the Rams, I think there's a noticeable drop-off. Bob Chesney should build a hell of a program at Holy Cross, but 2018 will probably be a struggle. Lafayette needs to show me something on offense before I move them out of the basement. Georgetown likely isn't going anywhere.
HERO SPORTS FCS PODCAST: Subscribe here
BEST FCS PLAYER BY NUMBER: We count down, No. 99 through No. 1[divider]
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PREVIEWS: The Patriot League
Fordham | Georgetown | Holy Cross
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FCS PREVIEWS CONFERENCE BY CONFERENCE
Aug. 19 – Missouri Valley & Ohio Valley
Aug. 20 – Southland, SoCon & Big South
Aug. 21 – MEAC & SWAC
Aug. 22 – CAA & NEC
Aug. 23 – Big Sky & Pioneer
Aug. 24 – Patriot & Ivy
