Aug. 4, 2015
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EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette secured six spots on the 2015 Preseason All-Patriot League Football Team announced on Tuesday at Patriot League Football Media Day. The Leopards were picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll of league coaches and sports information directors.
For the second straight season, senior Matt Smalley earned multiple places on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team, tabbed as a return specialist and at defensive back. Smalley is a two-time All-Patriot League First-Team selection, coming off a 2014 season in which he finished third on the team in tackles and led the team with 11 pass breakups.
Smalley led the Patriot League with 23.5 yards per kick return, a year removed from finishing eighth in the nation in that category with 29.6 yards per return. In July, Smalley was named to the 2015 STATS FCS Preseason All-America Team, securing a spot on the defensive third team.
Smalley was joined on the team by fellow defensive back Jared Roberts. Roberts, too, was an All-Patriot League First-Team selection in 2014 after a pair of second-team namings in 2012 and 2013 as the team's starting strong safety. Roberts, who has started 31 games in his career, finished fourth on the team with 57 tackles in 2014 and has nine career interceptions.
Fellow senior Mark Dodd completes the Leopards' defensive selections on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team. Dodd is the team's leading returning tackler after registering 89 stops in 2014 from his middle linebacker spot.
On the offensive side of the ball, senior tackle Nick Zataveski and junior guard Connor Staudle represent the Leopards. Zataveski started six of the seven games in which he played in 2014 while Staudle started all 11. The duo will lead an inexperienced front five in 2015.
In the preseason poll, the Leopards, who had 44 points, were picked fourth behind reigning champ Fordham (66 points,10 first-place votes), Bucknell (63 points, 4 first-place votes) and Colgate (48 points). Lafayette sat ahead of Lehigh (31), Holy Cross (29) and Georgetown (13). The last time Lafayette was picked fourth in the preseason poll was 2013 when the Leopards captured the Patriot League title.
In all, the Preseason All-Patriot League squad features 19 players who earned All-Patriot League status last season. Thirteen players are entering their senior season, while 11 juniors and three sophomores are on the squad. Fordham linebacker Stephen Hodge and Fordham tailback Chase Edmonds were the Preseason Defensive and Offensive Player of the Year, respectively.
Lafayette reports to camp report to camp on Aug. 8 and opens the season on Sept. 5 when it hosts William & Mary at 6 p.m.
