Post by KY Crusader 75 on Mar 3, 2021 12:15:22 GMT -5
SIX CRUSADERS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-PATRIOT LEAGUE
STORY LINKS
PATRIOT LEAGUE RELEASE
Six members of the Holy Cross football earned Preseason All-Patriot League honors, the conference announced on Wednesday, March 3.
On offense, sophomore wide receiver Ayir Asante and senior offensive lineman Brian Foley were honored. Defensively, senior defensive lineman Benton Whitley, sophomore linebacker Jacob Dobbs and senior defensive back Joe Lang earned spots on the preseason team. In addition, junior placekicker Derek Ng was recognized on special teams.
Holy Cross was also selected as the preseason favorite to win the Patriot League, earning five first-place votes. The Crusaders earned 45 points in the poll, finishing ahead of second-place Colgate (two first-place votes, 36 points) and third-place Fordham (four first-place votes, 35 points).
As a freshman in 2019, Asante was named second team All-Patriot League while also earning an honorable mention Freshman All-America nod from Hero Sports. He saw action in all 13 games with eight starts, leading the team with 48 receptions for 697 yards and six touchdowns.
Foley is a two time All-Patriot League first team honoree, also earning second team All-ECAC honors in 2019. Last season, he led an offensive line that put up 409.0 total yards, 189.0 rushing yards and 28.2 points per game against Patriot League opponents.
A first team All-Patriot League and second team All-ECAC selection in 2019, Whitley started all 13 games for Holy Cross last year. He totaled 33 tackles on the season, including 28 solo stops, five quarterback sacks and seven tackles for loss, along with two pass breakups.
Dobbs was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award in 2019 while also earning first team Freshman All-America honors from Hero Sports and second team All-Patriot League recognition. He started all 13 games at linebacker in 2019, leading the team with 93 tackles, seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss.
Lang started 12 games at safety during his junior season, ranking fourth on the team and 14th in the Patriot League with 72 total tackles, including 62 solo stops, a quarterback sack and three tackles for loss.
Ng appeared in all 13 games for Holy Cross as a sophomore in 2019, leading the team in scoring with 67 points and connecting on 11 of 16 field goal attempts and 34 of 36 extra points. He enters his junior season ranked fourth all-time at Holy Cross in career extra point percentage (.957, 66 of 69) and 10th in career field goals made (17).
The Crusaders' season is set to get underway on March 13 at Lehigh.
2021 Patriot League Spring Football Preseason Poll
1. Holy Cross (5 first-place votes), 45
2. Colgate (2), 36
3. Fordham (4), 35
4. Lafayette (1), 28
5. Lehigh, 19
6. Bucknell, 16
STORY LINKS
PATRIOT LEAGUE RELEASE
Six members of the Holy Cross football earned Preseason All-Patriot League honors, the conference announced on Wednesday, March 3.
On offense, sophomore wide receiver Ayir Asante and senior offensive lineman Brian Foley were honored. Defensively, senior defensive lineman Benton Whitley, sophomore linebacker Jacob Dobbs and senior defensive back Joe Lang earned spots on the preseason team. In addition, junior placekicker Derek Ng was recognized on special teams.
Holy Cross was also selected as the preseason favorite to win the Patriot League, earning five first-place votes. The Crusaders earned 45 points in the poll, finishing ahead of second-place Colgate (two first-place votes, 36 points) and third-place Fordham (four first-place votes, 35 points).
As a freshman in 2019, Asante was named second team All-Patriot League while also earning an honorable mention Freshman All-America nod from Hero Sports. He saw action in all 13 games with eight starts, leading the team with 48 receptions for 697 yards and six touchdowns.
Foley is a two time All-Patriot League first team honoree, also earning second team All-ECAC honors in 2019. Last season, he led an offensive line that put up 409.0 total yards, 189.0 rushing yards and 28.2 points per game against Patriot League opponents.
A first team All-Patriot League and second team All-ECAC selection in 2019, Whitley started all 13 games for Holy Cross last year. He totaled 33 tackles on the season, including 28 solo stops, five quarterback sacks and seven tackles for loss, along with two pass breakups.
Dobbs was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award in 2019 while also earning first team Freshman All-America honors from Hero Sports and second team All-Patriot League recognition. He started all 13 games at linebacker in 2019, leading the team with 93 tackles, seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss.
Lang started 12 games at safety during his junior season, ranking fourth on the team and 14th in the Patriot League with 72 total tackles, including 62 solo stops, a quarterback sack and three tackles for loss.
Ng appeared in all 13 games for Holy Cross as a sophomore in 2019, leading the team in scoring with 67 points and connecting on 11 of 16 field goal attempts and 34 of 36 extra points. He enters his junior season ranked fourth all-time at Holy Cross in career extra point percentage (.957, 66 of 69) and 10th in career field goals made (17).
The Crusaders' season is set to get underway on March 13 at Lehigh.
2021 Patriot League Spring Football Preseason Poll
1. Holy Cross (5 first-place votes), 45
2. Colgate (2), 36
3. Fordham (4), 35
4. Lafayette (1), 28
5. Lehigh, 19
6. Bucknell, 16
