Fourteen members of the Holy Cross football team were named to the Preseason All-Patriot League team, the conference announced on Tuesday, July 26.
 
The Crusaders, who have won three consecutive Patriot League championships, were selected to defend their league title, earning 71 points and 11 out of a possible 14 first-place votes.
 
Holy Cross' 14 selections were the most of any Patriot League school, ahead of Fordham's seven honorees. Fordham quarterback Tim DeMorat was named the league's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and Lafayette defensive lineman Malik Hamm was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Six of Holy Cross' selections were on defense, headlined by the 2021 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, senior linebacker Jacob Dobbs. Dobbs, a three-time All-Patriot League honoree, was named a first team All-American by Stats Perform in 2021, along with earning additional All-America honors from the AFCA, HERO Sports and the Associated Press. He was a finalist and finished in the top 10 in voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, presented to the nation's best defensive player at the FCS level. In 2021, he had 137 tackles, including 75 solo tackles and 17.5 tackles for loss. He additionally recorded 9.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries and three pass breakups. He ranked in the top 10 in FCS last season in solo tackles and total tackles, and paced a Holy Cross defense that led the nation in total defense, allowing just 254.5 yards per contest.
 
Senior linebacker Liam Anderson was also recognized after earning an All-Patriot League first team nod in 2021. Last season, he totaled 81 tackles, along with 15 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, three interceptions, three pass breakups, five quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
 
Senior cornerback John Smith, who has earned All-Patriot League first team honors twice, was named to the preseason team. He led the Patriot League with five interceptions in 2021; he additionally totaled seven pass breakups, 36 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a quarterback hurry.
 
Senior defensive lineman Dan Kuznetsov, a two-time All-Patriot League honoree, totaled 33 tackles in 2021, along with 7.0 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
 
Senior punter Patrick Haughney was named to the preseason team after earning All-Patriot League honors for the second straight season in 2021. Last season, he punted 57 times for a total of 2,250 yards, averaging 39.4 yards per punt. Twenty-one of his punts fell inside the 20-yard line, and six were 50 yards or longer.
 
Senior Terrell Prince earned preseason honors as a special teams non-specialist. A two-time All-Patriot League selection, Prince finished the 2021 season with 46 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.
 
Eight Crusaders were named to the Preseason All-Patriot League team on offense. Junior quarterback Matthew Sluka earned a spot on the team; in 2021, he totaled 1,512 passing yards and 868 rushing yards, passing for 11 touchdowns and rushing for 14 more. He was a three-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week selection.
 
Senior running back Peter Oliver led the Patriot League in 2021 with an average of 65.0 rushing yards per game, averaging 5.2 yards per carry and totaling 797 yards and four touchdowns. He is a two-time All-Patriot League selection.
 
Junior wide receiver Jalen Coker, an All-Patriot League honoree in 2021, led the Crusaders with 691 receiving yards on 51 receptions, catching four touchdowns on the season. His biggest touchdown of the season came in the Crusaders' first-round NCAA playoff game against Sacred Heart on Nov. 27, when he caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Sluka with 14 seconds remaining to clinch Holy Cross' first playoff win in program history. He was additionally named a Sophomore All-American by HERO Sports.
 
Senior tight end Sean Morris is a preseason honoree after earning an All-Patriot League nod in 2021. He started in 12 games at tight end last season, and caught a touchdown in an NCAA second-round playoff game against Villanova.
 
A trio of Crusader offensive linemen received preseason honors: senior Nick Olsofka, senior Pat McMurtrie and junior Luke Newman. All three were All-Patriot League selections in 2021, after paving the way for Holy Cross to average 32.2 points per game, 405.6 total yards of offense per game and 203.8 rushing yards per contest. Newman additionally earned Sophomore All-America honors from HERO Sports.
 
Senior placekicker Derek Ng, a two-time All-Patriot League first team selection, earns Patriot League preseason honors. He kicked the longest field goal in the Patriot League in 2021, a 50-yarder at Lehigh on Oct. 30; he also connected on a 49-yarder at Monmouth on Sept. 25. He made 51 of his 52 PAT attempts last year, and owns the three longest field goals in program history, connecting on a 51-yard kick during the Spring 2021 season.
 
The Crusaders open the 2022 season on Sept. 2 with a non-conference contest at Merrimack. Season tickets for Holy Cross' home contests are available for purchase starting at just $65; to reserve your tickets, call 1-844-GO-CROSS or visit goholycross.com/tickets.
 
2022 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll
1. Holy Cross, 71 points (11 first-place votes)
2. Fordham, 61 points (2)
3. Colgate, 50 (1)
4. Lafayette, 42
5. Lehigh, 35
6. Georgetown, 21
7. Bucknell, 14
 
2022 Patriot League Football Preseason Major Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Tim DeMorat, Fordham, Gr., QB
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Malik Hamm, Lafayette, Gr., DL
 
OFFENSE (15)
QB: Tim DeMorat, Fordham, Gr.
QB: Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross, Jr.
RB: Peter Oliver, Holy Cross, Sr.
RB: Trey Sneed, Fordham, Gr.
WR: Dequece Carter, Fordham, Sr.
WR: Fotis Kokosioulis, Fordham, Sr.
WR: Jalen Coker, Holy Cross, Jr.
TE: Sean Morris, Holy Cross, Sr.
OL: AJ DeSantis, Colgate, Sr.
OL: Nick Olsofka, Holy Cross, Sr.
OL: Pat McMurtrie, Holy Cross, Sr.
OL: Luke Newman, Holy Cross, Jr
OL: Phil Saleh, Fordham, Sr.
PK: Derek Ng, Holy Cross, Sr.
RS: Joshua Tomas, Georgetown, 5th
 
DEFENSE (14)
DL: John Coste, Fordham, Gr.
DL: Dan Kuznetsov, Holy Cross, Sr.
DL: Malik Hamm, Lafayette, Sr.
DL: Mikhari Sibblis, Lehigh, Sr.
LB: Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, Sr.
LB: Liam Anderson, Holy Cross, Sr.
LB: Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham, Gr.
LB: Marco Olivas, Lafayette, Sr.
DB: Gavin Pringle, Bucknell, Sr.
DB: John Smith, Holy Cross, Sr.
DB: TyGee Leach, Lehigh, Sr.
DB: LaTreil Wimberly, Lehigh, Jr.
P: Patrick Haughney, Holy Cross, Sr.
STNS: Terrell Prince, Holy Cross, Sr.
 
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