EASTON, Pa. – The Lafayette football team has been selected as unanimous choice to capture the 2024 Patriot League title, it was announced on Wednesday, ahead of Thursday's Patriot League football media day.
 
Lafayette (72 points) collected all 12 of the possible first-place votes, positioned ahead of Holy Cross (56), Fordham (53), Colgate (46), Georgetown (27), Lehigh (24) and Bucknell (24). The preseason poll and Preseason All-Patriot League Team were determined by a vote of the conference head coaches and sports information directors.
 
The Leopards, who return eight starters on each side of the ball, were tagged for a league-best nine preseason all-conference selections, led by Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Jamar Curtis.  
 
The junior running back is the nation's returning leading rusher, averaging 132.7 yards per game in 2023 while on his way to All-America honors from four media organizations. Curtis set a Lafayette single-season rushing record with 1,460 yards, despite missing a game and a half due to injury.
 
An All-Patriot League First-Team honoree, Curtis finished with 15 rushing touchdowns and brought in two more through the air. The Waldorf, Md. native's high-water mark came Oct. 21, a 229-yard performance in a road victory over No. 11 Holy Cross that helped push the Leopards to a Patriot League title.
 
Curtis joined five other players on the offensive side of the ball, including backfield complement Dean DeNobile. The junior signal caller was an All-Patriot League Second-Team honoree in 2023 after starting all but the season opener. DeNobile completed 170-of-254 for 2,005 yards and 20 touchdowns through the air while punching in six rushing scores. The Economics major finished with four games with 200-plus yards and was ranked 14^th in the nation in passing efficiency.
 
Two more juniors join the Preseason All-Patriot League team in wide receiver Elijah Steward and tight end Dallas Holmes. Like DeNobile, Steward was an All-Patriot League Second-Team selection, finishing seventh in the conference in receiving. The Galloway, N.J. native led the team with 52 receptions for 738 yards and five scores.
 
Holmes played in 11 games in 2023, making eight catches for 160 yards and two touchdowns, including scores in triumphs over Holy Cross and Lehigh. Well-established as a run blocker, the Mathematics and Economics major from the Lehigh Valley will play in increased role in the offensive game plan following the graduation of three-time All-PL First-Team tight end Mason Gilbert.
 
The Leopards' offensive line also received preseason plaudits, as senior Ryder Langsdale and junior Brian Baucia joined four offensive teammates. Langsdale has started every game at left tackle the last two seasons. The Ridgewood, N.J. native was a 2023 All-Patriot League Second-Team selection and earned FCS Football Central Third-Team All-America status while leading the front five.
 
Playing on the other side of the line for his first two seasons, Baucia has been just as reliable. The Economics major from Crofton, Md. started 23 games in 2022-23 and will make the move to left guard for 2024.
 
On defense, senior Saiku White and A.T. Ntantang represent the Lafayette secondary on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team.
 
White, a team captain for a second straight season, secured All-Patriot League First-Team laurels and AP All-America Third-Team honors in the Leopards' 2023 title season. The safety finished second on the team in tackles and added a Patriot League-best four interceptions (two of which helped seal a conference win over Georgetown).
 
Ntantang, an Economics major, has started 20 games at cornerback in the last two seasons. Hailing from Lawrenceville, Ga., Ntantang managed eight games with two or more tackles.
 
Sophomore Jaylon Joseph parlayed his 2023 naming as the Patriot League Rookie of the Year into 2024 Preseason All-Patriot League recognition. The Houston, Texas native was a 2023 All-PL Second-Team honoree while being tabbed for the Stats Perform Freshman All-America Team. He played in 12 games with 11 starts and made 28 stops with 5.5 tackles for loss.
 
The Leopards officially report for camp on July 28 with their first practice slated for July 29 and their season opener set for a month later in a Thursday night game at Buffalo. Week three will mark Lafayette's 2024 home debut when the Maroon and White host Marist.