The five-time defending Patriot League champion Holy Cross football team had four players named to the 2024 Preseason All-Patriot League team, the league office announced on Wednesday, July 24.
Senior running back
Jordan Fuller and senior wide receiver
Justin Shorter were the offensive selections for Holy Cross, while senior linebacker
Frankie Monte and sophomore defensive lineman
William Robinson were the defensive honorees.
Holy Cross was also picked for a second place finish in the preseason poll collecting 56 points. Lafayette took the top slot with 72 points and 12 of the 14 first place votes.
Fuller, a 2023 Associated Press third team All-American is the program's career rushing touchdown leader (40). Last season he ran for 1,046 yards and a nation-leading 19 touchdowns, including a school single-season record 18 rushing touchdowns, en route to first team All-League honors. He was named the National Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 4 following a five touchdown and 134 yard performance in a 42-20 win against Merrimack.
Shorter was named to the preseason squad as a return specialist in 2023 and is a wide receiver preseason selection for 2024. The two-time All-Patriot League selection started all 11 games at receiver for the Crusaders in 2024, ranking second on the team with 443 yards and 34 catches. He totaled three touchdowns and also handled kickoff return duties for Holy Cross, tallying 288 yards on 14 returns.
A team captain, Monte started in 11 games at linebacker for Holy Cross last year. He ranked second on the team with 66 tackles and totaled two sacks, two pass breakups and four quarterback hurries. In 2023, he captured the team Hammer Award presented to the player with the largest number of "big hits" for the year or the biggest hit overall. He was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 13 following a career-high 13 tackle performance at Army West Point.
Robinson earns preseason All-League accolades after being named an FCS Football Central Freshman All-American in 2023. He appeared in all 11 games for Holy Cross as a reserve defensive lineman, racking up 28 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
The Crusaders went 7-4 overall and 5-1 in conference play in the 2023 season, earning a No. 24 postseason national ranking. They look to earn their sixth consecutive title under new head coach,
Dan Curran, who arrives from Merrimack as the all-time winningest coach in Merrimack history.
Voting for the Preseason All-Patriot League Football Team, the offensive and defensive player of the year, and preseason poll was completed by Patriot League football head coaches and sports information directors from the seven League schools. They cannot vote for their team or student-athletes.
2024 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll
1. Lafayette, 72 (12 first-place votes)
2. Holy Cross, 56
3. Fordham, 53 (1)
4. Colgate, 46 (1)
5. Georgetown, 27
6. Lehigh, 24
7. Bucknell, 16
2024 Patriot League Football Preseason Major Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Jamar Curtis, Lafayette, Jr., RB
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Matt Jaworski, Fordham, Sr., DL
2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Football Team
Offense (13)
QB: C.J. Montes, Fordham, Jr.
QB: Dean DeNobile, Lafayette, So.
RB: Jamar Curtis, Lafayette, Jr.
RB: Jordan Fuller, Holy Cross, Sr.
WR: Treyvhon Saunders, Colgate, Jr.
WR: Justin Shorter, Holy Cross, Sr.
WR: Eli Steward, Lafayette, Jr.
TE: Dallas Holmes, Lafayette, Jr.
OL: Bardhyl Gashi, Colgate, 5th
OL: Chance Niesner, Colgate, Sr.
OL: Ryan Joyce, Fordham, Gr.
OL: Ryder Langsdale, Lafayette, Sr.
OL: Brian Baucia, Lafayette, Jr.
Defense (13)*
DL: Matt Jaworski, Fordham, Sr.
DL: Claudy Robinson, Fordham, Jr.
DL: William Robinson, Holy Cross, So.
DL: Jaylon Joseph, Lafayette, So.
LB: Christian Sweeney, Colgate, 5th
LB: Frankie Monte, Holy Cross, Sr.
LB: James Conway, Fordham, Sr.
LB: Mike DeNucci, Lehigh, 5th
DB: Nahil Perkins, Fordham, Gr.,
DB: Wedner Cadet, Georgetown, Jr.
DB: Saiku White, Lafayette, Sr.
DB: A.T. Ntantang, Lafayette, 5th
DB: Nick Peltekian, Lehigh, Jr.
Special Teams (6)*
K: Matt Schearer, Bucknell, Jr.
P: Shelby Pruett, Colgate, Sr.
RS: Nicholas Dunneman, Georgetown, Jr.
STNS: John Scott, Fordham, So.
LS: Walker Adkinson, Fordham, Jr.
LS: Sebastian Alonso, Georgetown, Gr.
*Additional student-athletes selected due to ties in the voting.
Season tickets are now on sale to watch the five-time defending Patriot League champion Holy Cross football team during the upcoming 2024 season. Full season ticket packages for Holy Cross' five home games at Fitton Field begin at just $88 and provide fans access to a number of exclusive benefits. To renew or purchase season tickets, fans can visit the Holy Cross ticket website, call or text 1-844-GO-CROSS, or email tickets@holycross.edu.
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