EASTON, Pa. -- The Lafayette football program took the next step on its path toward a Patriot League championship by inking the commitments of 15 student-athletes for the Class of 2022.

Eight offensive and seven defensive players signed National Letters of Intent in the new early signing period which covers three days. Previously, recruits could not make their commitments official until February.

On offense, Lafayette head coach John Garrett added a quarterback, two wide receivers, three offensive linemen and two tight ends. On defense, the Leopards brought in four linemen, two defensive backs and a linebacker as part of the sixth scholarship class in the Patriot League era.

The early signees from the Class of 2022 come to College Hill from nine states, including five from Pennsylvania, two apiece from Georgia, Maryland and Virginia and one each from New Jersey, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Texas.

"What a day for the Lafayette Leopards as we signed 14 student-athletes as part of our 2018 recruiting class on this inaugural December signing day. The majority of our signees come from our recruiting footprint and epitomize the kind of student-athlete we want to bring to our program. They are a collection of smart, tough, dependable players who love football and want to be their best academically and athletically," said Garrett, the Fred M. Kirby '42 Head Football Coach. "We added some explosive players on offense and some disruptive players on defense who we anticipate making an immediate impact on the field in 2018. We are thrilled with this group of student-athletes and we look forward to adding a few more talented players to this class in February. Go Leopards! L's Up!"

Lafayette opens the 2018 schedule on Sept. 1 at Sacred Heart and plays its home opener vs. Monmouth two weeks later. The regular season concludes Nov. 17 when Fisher Stadium plays host to the 154th meeting of college's football's most-played and longest continuous rivalry.

NAME	POS.	HT	WT	HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL/LAST SCHOOL	HIGHLIGHTS
Jordan Anderson	DB	5-10	170	Temple, Ga./South Paulding
Aziz Diomande	WR	5-10	185	Rockville, Md./Walter Johnson
Joe Egan	DB	5-10	175	Atlanta, Ga./Westminster School
Troy Fisher	QB	6-4	215	Cranberry Township, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic
Ian Grayson	DL	6-0	260	Cresskill, N.J./Don Bosco Prep
Joe Grundhoffer	OL	6-6	260	Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Assumption
Malik Hamm	DL	6-3	240	Baltimore, Md./Baltimore City College H.S.
Christian Hollar	LB	6-2	215	Wilmington, N.C./Hoggard
Colin Hurlbrink	DL	6-3	250	Swarthmore, Pa./Haverford School
Casey McCollum	OL	6-6	280	Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor
Tim Payne	WR	6-1	165	Newport News, Va./Heritage
Zadok Scott	TE	6-4	225	Aledo, Texas/All Saints Episcopal/Wyoming Seminary
Billy Shaeffer	DL	6-3	220	Warrington, Pa./Archbishop Wood
Steven Stilianos	TE	6-5	235	Hayes, Va./Christchurch School
Ben Wild	OL	6-6	305	Newtown, Pa./Berks Catholic/Hun School