Feb. 6, 2013

Signing Day Central | Signing Day Special | 2013 Season Ticket Info | 2013 Schedule | News Stand

EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette football has signed 20 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, it was announced on Wednesday as part of National Signing Day.

The Leopards' coaching staff recruited 10 offensive players, nine defensive players and one special teamer for the Class of 2017 which marks the first scholarship class in the Patriot League era.

Offensively, there are four linemen and two players each at quarterback, tailback and wide receiver. On the defensive side of the ball, four linemen have inked their commitment along with three linebackers and two defensive backs. The offensive linemen average 6-5, 276 pounds and the defensive linemen will check in at an average of 6-3, 259.

The members of the Class of 2017 come to College Hill from nine states, with five players from New Jersey and New York, two each from Pennsylvania, Colorado and Tennessee and one apiece from Florida, Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina.

"With the first scholarship class, it was certainly a different, much more intense process from start to finish. Our recruiting pool automatically expanded and much of what we had to deal with were timing and logistical differences from the previous recruiting cycle," said Lafayette head coach Frank Tavani. "Scholarships are not a magic wand, by any means, because we have to put much more time into each evaluation and be correct on 15 scholarships."

"We added some size and strength on the defensive line and really met our staff targets at all of the positional areas," Tavani said. "With this class and the past two, the focus for us has been to combat the depth issues created by a couple of smaller recruiting classes. We are getting back to where the program needs to be in terms of depth."

The Leopard football program has been a consistent winner, with seven winning seasons in the last 11. Lafayette lays claim to Patriot League titles in 1992, 1994, 2004, 2005 and 2006. The Leopards are coming off a 5-6 mark which followed a 3-0 start to 2012.

On Saturday, April 20, the 2013 Leopards will see their first action in the annual Maroon-White Spring Game at Fisher Stadium. Lafayette will open the 2013 regular season on Sept. 7, hosting Sacred Heart followed by a matchup with William & Mary a week later. Patriot League play opens with Bucknell on Oct. 5 in Easton and the regular season concludes at Lehigh in the 149th meeting of College Football's Most Played Rivalry.