May 1, 2006
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Following standout careers as members of two Patriot League championship teams, Lafayette linebackers Maurice Bennett (Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington) and Blake Costanzo (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Ramapo) have been offered opportunities to continue their football careers in the National Football League.
Costanzo agreed to a three-year deal with the New York Jets late Sunday night following the conclusion of the NFL Draft and will participate in their mini-camp May 12-14. Bennett attracted strong interest from three NFL teams and has accepted an offer from the Chicago Bears to attend their mini-camp this weekend at their Lake Forest, Ill. complex.
The duo combined to make 710 tackles and 62 tackles for a loss, including 33 sacks, in their careers as four-year letterwinners and three-year starters for the Lafayette defense. Bennett and Costanzo led the Leopards to the Patriot League championship and consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs in their last two years, and played on a unit that ranked in the top 20 in the nation in five defensive categories as seniors.
Costanzo was a disruptive force at strong side linebacker for the Leopards. He capped his career with 86 tackles, 9.0 TFL and 6.5 sacks, along with two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 2005. He recorded 94 and 93 stops as a sophomore and junior, respectively, and finished with 307 tackles, 30.5 TFL and 18 sacks in four years in the Maroon and White.
A two-time All-Patriot League second team selection, Costanzo was also named third team All-Region by the Football Gazette. He was the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week following Lafayette's 23-19 win over Lehigh, in which he made 10 tackles and a career-high three sacks.
Bennett was named First Team All-America by The Sports Network and the Associated Press, and was eighth in the voting for the Buchanan Award for the top defensive player in I-AA football, after recording 133 tackles, 13 TFL and seven sacks in his final season at Lafayette. He finished his career with 403 tackles, 31.5 TFL and 15 sacks. Bennett increased his productivity each year, beginning with 43 tackles as a freshman. He made 108 stops in his first year as the starting middle linebacker as a sophomore and was a first team All-Patriot League selection as a junior, sharing the league lead with 119 tackles.
Bennett garnered a number of academic accolades as well. He was the Patriot League Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year, an Academic All-District II selection, a semi-finalist for the Draddy Trophy (known as the "Academic Heisman"), and a member of the I-AA Athletic Directors Academic All-Star Team. He was presented with Lafayette's Charles L. Albert '08 Trophy as the most outstanding male athlete in the Class of 2006 on Monday.
