Dec. 16, 2005
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Lafayette placed a league-leading 14 players on the All-Patriot League team as selected by the staff of nfldraftscout.com, a subsidiary of The Sports Xchange.
Senior linebacker Maurice Bennett headlines the list as the league's Defensive Player of the Year. Bennett was also named to the All-America Second Team, which was released on Thursday.
Lafayette had nine players selected to the first team, including five on the offensive side of the ball. Senior wide receiver Brandon Stanford and offensive linemen Drew Buettner and Mike Saint Germain were also first-team choices by the league's coaches. The Leopards' offensive backfield was well-represented, with junior tailback Jonathan Hurt and senior fullback David Nelson earning recognition. Stanford was the second-team return specialist.
Senior linebacker Dion Witherspoon, junior defensive end Marvin Snipes and junior safety Torian Johnson are teammates with Bennett on the first-team defense. Seniors Andrew Brown (defensive line), Blake Costanzo (linebacker) and Tye Murphy (corner back) were named to the second team, and junior defensive tackle Daniel Liseno and senior corner Larry Johnson were Honorable Mention.
Senior tight end Chad Walker is Lafayette's lone representative on the second-team offense, while junior quarterback Brad Maurer and senior center Robert Stroble garnered Honorable Mention status.
Holy Cross running back Steve Silva was named the Offensive Player of the Year. Colgate claimed the other two major honors, as running back Jordan Scott (Rookie of the Year) and Dick Biddle (Coach of the Year) were recognized.
First Team Offense
WR: Gerran Walker, Lehigh; Brandon Stanford, Lafayette
TE: Luke Dugan, Holy Cross
OL: OT - Mike Saint Germain, Lafayette; Tom Toth, Lehigh . . OG - Adam Selmasska, Lehigh; Drew Buettner, Lafayette . . C - Dave Cannon, Holy Cross
QB: John O'Neil, Holy Cross
RB: Steve Silva, Holy Cross; Jonathan Hurt, Lafayette
FB: David Nelson, Lafayette
Second Team Offense
WR: DeWayne Long, Colgate; Sean Gruber, Holy Cross
TE: Chad Walker, Lafayette
OL: OT - Andrew Schoepfer, Holy Cross; Mike Sabatini, Fordham . . OG - Jeremy Wurst, Colgate; Mark Mushel, Colgate . . C - Jake Sulvoski, Colgate
QB: Mike Saraceno, Colgate
RB: Jordan Scott, Colgate; Eric Rath, Lehigh
FB: Josh DeStefano, Bucknell
First Team Defense
DL: Michael Ononibaku, Georgetown; Sean Conover, Bucknell; Marvin Snipes, Lafayette; Royce Morgan, Lehigh
LB: Maurice Bennett, Lafayette; Jared Nepa, Colgate; Dion Witherspoon, Lafayette; Marcus Taylor, Fordham
DB: Chris Williams, Colgate; Kaloma Cardwell, Lehigh; Geoff Bean, Colgate; Torian Johnson, Lafayette
Second Team Defense
DL: Andrew Brown, Lafayette; Alex Buzbee, Georgetown; Ed Gordon, Fordham; Josh Wurst, Colgate
LB: Anthony Graziani, Lehigh; Blake Costanzo, Lafayette; Dorian Peterson, Bucknell; Dan Adams, Holy Cross
DB: Tye Murphy, Lafayette; Andrew Nelson, Lehigh; Casey Gough, Holy Cross; Maurice Banks, Georgetown
First Team Special Teams
K: Micah Clukey, Fordham
P: Anthony DiFino, Fordham
RS: Steve Silva, Holy Cross
Second Team Special Teams
K: Justin Musiek, Lehigh
P: Ryan McManaway, Holy Cross
RS: Brandon Stanford, Lafayette
