CENTER VALLEY, Pa. -- Four senior football players have secured spots on the 2018 Preseason All-Patriot League Team announced via conference call on Wednesday.

Linebacker Jerry Powe (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) heads the list for the Leopards. He has been a mainstay in the Leopards' lineup, entering his fourth season as a starter in the 4-3 defense. Powe is coming of a 2017 season in which he garnered All-Patriot League Second-Team honors at SAM linebacker. Powe made 70 tackles, including six for loss with 2.5 sacks, and picked off a pass. He has played in 32 games in his time on College Hill.

Joining Powe on the defensive side of the ball is senior defensive tackle Tony Giudice (Monroe Township, N.J./Avon Old Farms). He started nine games in his junior season with the Leopards, making at least one tackle in eight games and three or more tackles in six contests.

Offensively, the Leopards were represented by senior fullback Will Eisler (Scarsdale, N.Y./Scarsdale). Eisler's 2017 campaign saw him play in 11 games with four starts, including the final three games. He collected All-Patriot League First-Team honors, working as a run blocker, pass protector and receiving threat in the backfield.

Like Eisler, the Leopards' final Preseason All-Patriot selection, C.J. Amill (Youngstown, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney), was a conference first-team honoree in 2017. The team's return specialist averaged 29.4 yards per kick return in 19 chances and 31.6 yards per attempt in conference and his 558 kick return yards are the eighth most in a season at Lafayette. Amill ran back a kick 96 yards vs. Lehigh, the fourth longest return in school history. For the season, he finished third on the team in rushing and receiving.

Of the 30 Preseason All-Patriot selections, 22 are seniors while the junior and sophomore classes have four representatives apiece. Lehigh running back Dom Bragalone was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Colgate's Nick Wheeler was slotted as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

In the preseason poll selected by the conference coaches and sports information directors, Lafayette (31 voting points) was picked fifth behind Colgate (71 points, 11 first-place votes), Lehigh (63 points, 3 first-place votes), Fordham (45 points) and Holy Cross (40) and was tied with Bucknell which landed ahead of Georgetown (13).

The Leopards report to training camp on Aug. 2 and open the season on Sept. 1 at Sacred Heart. Fans can get a first glimpse of the squad at the Football Forum on Aug. 18.