HERO Sports welcomes you to "Three-a-Days" where we will preview every single one of the 126 FCS programs and all 13 conferences. Today, we present … the Patriot League.
We'll leave no stone left unturned when it comes to giving the FCS diehards all they could ask for this offseason. Learn about every program in the country with HERO Sports.
[divider]MORE FCS FOOTBALL:
- FCS Home
- FCS Preview Schedule – Conference Links
- The HERO Sports Preseason Top 25 Poll
- Preseason All-American Teams
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Patriot League
(NOTE: Team-by-team previews in this conference are below)
NAMES TO KNOW
THE NFL PROSPECT: P Alex Pechin, Bucknell
Pechin is the ninth-best small-school pro prospect by Draft Scout. He had a 44.5 punting average last year with 28 punts landing inside the 20-yard line.
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYER: QB Grant Breneman, Colgate
As a sophomore last year, Breneman threw for 1,605 yards and six touchdowns with a passing efficiency of 133.6.
TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER: DL Nick Wheeler, Colgate
The HERO Sports Preseason First Team All-American had 17 tackles for loss and nine sacks last year.
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OUR TAKE
SUM IT UP: Colgate impressively ran through the Patriot League last year, going 6-0 and not allowing an offensive touchdown in four of those games. The Raiders were pushed by Holy Cross in the season opener, though, and narrowly won 24-17. From the squad that made the quarterfinals, Colgate loses 25 seniors, 10 All-Conference players, the Patriot League Offensive (RB James Holland) and Defensive (LB T.J. Holl) Players of the Year.
Expect the Raiders to reload in 2019. But that doesn't mean the other teams in this conference shouldn't be licking their chops for a chance to knock off the defending champs.
THE FAVORITE: Colgate – A lot of production is gone from last year, but stars are coming back. Colgate brought home the conference's Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2018. Even with those two players no longer on the team, the Raiders might win those two awards again with quarterback Grant Breneman and defensive end Nick Wheeler. Add in guys like All-American defensive back Abu Daramy-Swaray and All-American offensive lineman Jack Badovinac, and this team is still loaded with talent.
THE THREAT: Holy Cross – The Crusaders went 4-2 in conference play last year, but do lose a good chunk of their starters. This program has brought in highly-ranked recruiting classes in recent years, though, which tells us there are a lot of wins coming.
THE DARK HORSE: Georgetown – Something special is building at Georgetown. The Hoyas went 1-10 overall and 0-6 in the conference two years ago. Last year saw a 5-6 record and a 4-2 mark in the Patriot League. With seven starters back on offense and eight returning on a tremendous defense, watch out for this team.
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FCS 2020 NFL PROSPECTS: The List
BEST FCS TRADITIONS: The List
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TEAM PREVIEWS
Bucknell | Colgate | Fordham
Georgetown | Holy Cross | Lafayette | Lehigh
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CONFERENCE PREVIEWS
Big Sky | Big South | CAA
Ivy | MEAC | MVFC
NEC | OVC | Patriot
Pioneer | SoCon | Southland | SWAC
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