Oct. 13, 2011

Center Valley, Pa. - The Patriot League continues its coverage of the Football 25th Anniversary season with a look at the history and top players at each position on the field. The series starts with a look at the defense, including defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs.

The accomplishments of top players at each position are broken down into categories including Patriot League Football 25th and 15th Anniversary Teams, Defensive Player of the Year honors, three or four-time All-Patriot League status and All-Americans.

Players with one or more of the above accomplishments were automatically placed on the ballot for the Patriot League Football 25th Anniversary Team over the summer. To view the full listing of those candidates and their achievements, click here

Read all of the accomplishments of the defensive positions below, then vote for the top defensive player in Patriot League history here

For more coverage, go to the Patriot League Football 25th Anniversary page

Patriot League Defensive Records
Career Sacks: 43 - Andrew Hollingsworth, Towson (1997-00)
Season Sacks: 18 - Andrew Hollingsworth, Towson (2000)
Careet Tackles: 425 - Lee Picariello, Lehigh (1988-91); David Streeter, Holy Cross (1993-96)
Season Tackles: 182 - Rob McGovern, Holy Cross (1988)
Career Interceptions: 28 - Dave Murphy, Holy Cross (1986-89)
Season Interceptions: 9 - Dave Murphy, Holy Cross (1987)

For the full Patriot League record book through the 2010 season, go here

Defensive Line

The Patriot League has featured its share of standout defensive linemen over the years, beginning with a dominant run from Holy Cross in the early seasons of the League. Six different Crusaders posted an All-America season from 1986-92, with Corey Vincent (1991) and Tom McDonald (1992) also named Patriot League Defensive Players of the Year. Bucknell's Adam Lord (1999-02) is the only player to earn the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year award, three-time All-Patriot League status and All-America honors, where he is also the only player to earn All-America honors in two different seasons.

There have been eight Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year winners on the defensive line, with seven three-time All-Patriot League selections and 16 individual All-Americans. Towson's Andrew Hollingsworth is the Patriot League's all-time sacks leader (43), and also set the single-season mark with 18 in 2000 when he won the Defensive Player of the Year award and became the only defensive lineman in Patriot League history to earn consensus first-team All-America honors. He also became the only defensive player to ever win the Patriot League Player of the Year award in its final season of existence in 2000.

25th Anniversary Team (1986-2010): Corey Vincent, Holy Cross (1988-91); Nick Martucci, Lehigh (1995-98); Hunter Adams, Bucknell (1995-98); Andrew Hollingsworth, Towson (1997-00)
15th Anniversary Team (1986-00): Corey Vincent, Holy Cross (1988-91); Ed Burman, Bucknell (1993-96); Nick Martucci, Lehigh (1995-98); Hunter Adams, Bucknell (1995-98)
Patriot League Player of the Year (1): Andrew Hollingsworth, Towson (2000)
Patriot League Defensive Players of the Year (8): Corey Vincent, Holy Cross (1991); Tom McDonald, Holy Cross (1992); Ed Burman, Bucknell (1995); Nick Martucci, Lehigh (1998); Andrew Hollingsworth, Towson (2000); Adam Lord, Bucknell (2002); Sean Conover, Bucknell (2004); Zach Smith, Colgate (2010)
Three-time All-Patriot League (7): Hunter Adams, Bucknell (1995-98); John Green, Lafayette (1995-98); David Puloka, Holy Cross (1997-00); Adam Lord, Bucknell (1999-02); Michael Ononibaku, Georgetown (2002-05); Alex Buzbee, Georgetown (2003-06); Royce Morgan, Lehigh (2003-06)
All-Americans (16): Steve Southard, Holy Cross (1986); Andy Martin, Holy Cross (1987); Tom Smith, Holy Cross (1988); Matt Fras, Holy Cross (1990); Corey Vincent, Holy Cross (1991); Tom McDonald, Holy Cross (1992); Ed Burman, Bucknell (1995); Nick Martucci, Lehigh (1998); Andrew Hollingsworth, Towson (2000); Adam Lord, Bucknell (2001, 2002); Josh Sabo, Colgate (2003); Sean Conover, Bucknell (2004); Tom Alfsen, Lehigh (2004); Michael Ononibaku, Georgetown (2005); Pat Nolan, Colgate (2007); Brian Jackson, Lehigh (2007)

Linebackers

The linebackers have earned most of the glory in the Patriot League over the years, with 15 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year awards going to the position. Thirteen different players have received the honor, with Colgate's Tem Lukabu (2002 and 03) and Lafayette's Andy Romans (2007 and 08) each repeating as the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.

Romans is among the most accomplished player in the group, as he made the Patriot League Football 25th Anniversary Team, made three All-Patriot League squads and earned All-America status in addition to his pair of Defensive Player of the Year awards. Another 25th Anniversary selection, Lehigh's Ian Eason, stands as the only Patriot League linebacker to earn four All-League honors while also earning the League's Defensive Player of the Year honor and All-America recognition as a senior in 1999. He was the only 15th Anniversary selection to also make the 25th Anniversary Team at the position.

Eason, Romans, Lafayette's Dan Bengele (1994-97) and Lehigh's Matt Cohen (2006-09) were the only linebackers to earn the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year award, three-time All-Patriot League status and be named an All-American in their careers. Cohen also made the 25th Anniversary Team along with Eason, Romans and Colgate's Greg Manusky (1986-87).

25th Anniversary Team (1986-2010): Greg Manusky, Colgate (1986-87); Ian Eason, Lehigh (1996-99); Andy Romans, Lafayette (2005-08); Matt Cohen, Lehigh (2006-09)
15th Anniversary Team (1986-00): Craig Callahan, Holy Cross (1987-90); Mark Blazejewski, Fordham (1988-91); Ian Eason, Lehigh (1996-99)
Patriot League Defensive Players of the Year (13): Jerry McCabe, Holy Cross (1986); Greg Manusky, Colgate (1987); Rob McGovern, Holy Cross (1988); Craig Callahan, Holy Cross (1990); Mark Blazejewski, Fordham (1992); Aaron Dougherty, Fordham (1993); Dan Bengele, Lafayette (1997); Ian Eason, Lehigh (1999); Tem Lukabu, Colgate (2002, 03); Jared Nepa, Colgate (2005); Marcus Taylor, Fordham (2006); Andy Romans, Lafayette (2007, 2008); Matt Cohen, Lehigh (2009)
Four-Time All-Patriot League (1): Ian Eason, Lehigh (1996-99)
Three-Time All-Patriot League (9): Rob Milanette, Holy Cross (1990-93); David Streeter, Holy Cross (1993-96); Dan Bengele, Lafayette (1994-97); Jack Pieracini, Fordham (1994-97); Bryant Appling, Lehigh (1997-00); NaQuinton Gainous, Fordham (2001-04); Andy Romans, Lafayette (2005-08); Matt Cohen, Lehigh (2006-09); Mark Leggiero, Lafayette (2006-09)
All-Americans (19): Jerry McCabe, Holy Cross (1986); Greg Manusky, Colgate (1987); Rob McGovern, Holy Cross (1988); Craig Callahan, Holy Cross (1990); Mark Blazejewski, Fordham (1991); Rob Milanette, Holy Cross (1993); Brandon Little, Bucknell (1996); Adam Sofran, Colgate (1996); David Streeter, Holy Cross (1996); Willie Hill, Bucknell (1997); Dan Bengele, Lafayette (1997); Ian Eason, Lehigh (1999); Tem Lukabu, Colgate (2003); Jared Nepa, Colgate (2005); Maurice Bennett, Lafayette (2005); Marcus Taylor, Fordham (2006); Mike Gallihugh, Colgate (2006, 2007); Andy Romans, Lafayette (2008); Matt Cohen, Lehigh (2009)

Defensive Backs

When a conference has a 25-year history, there can always be a debate about which players have been the best of the best, the all-time greats. But it's hard to argue that anyone but Holy Cross' Dave Murphy has been the most accomplished defensive back in Patriot League history.

Murphy played in the first four years of the Patriot League from 1986-89, and turned in a career that has not been approached since. He remains the only defensive back to earn four All-Patriot League selections, with each coming on the first team. Murphy earned All-America recognition in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons, making him the only defensive player in League history to earn All-America honors in three different years. He is one of only four defensive backs to win the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year award, made both the 25th and 15th Anniversary Teams and still holds Patriot League records for interceptions in both a career (28) and season (nine, 1997).

While Murphy's greatness may be unsurpassed, the remaining members of the Patriot League Football 25th Anniversary Team defensive backfield hold impressive career resumes as well. Lafayette's B.J. Gallis made the 15th Anniversary Team as well and was also named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and an All-American as a senior in 1996. Lehigh's Abdul Byron was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2001 and received All-America honors in both his junior and senior seasons, while Fordham's Tad Kornegay became the only Patriot League defensive back to earn consensus first-team All-America honors with an outstanding senior season in 2004.

25th Anniversary Team (1986-2010): Dave Murphy, Holy Cross (1986-89); B.J. Gallis, Lafayette (1993-96); Abdul Byron, Lehigh (1998-01); Tad Kornegay, Fordham (2001-04)
15th Anniversary Team (1986-00): Dave Murphy, Holy Cross (1986-89); Matt Cope, Lafayette (1992-95); B.J. Gallis, Lafayette (1993-96)
Patriot League Defensive Players of the Year (4): Dave Murphy, Holy Cross (1989); Pat Smith, Holy Cross (1994); B.J. Gallis, Lafayette (1996); Abdul Byron, Lehigh (2001)
Four-time All-Patriot League (1): Dave Murphy, Holy Cross (1986-89)
Three-time All-Patriot League (7): Matt Cope, Lafayette (1992-95); Mark Miller, Bucknell (1992-95); Angel Colon, Lafayette (1996-99); Jabarri Garrett, Towson (1997-99); Elijah Beamon, Lafayette (1997-00); Casey Gough, Holy Cross (2004-07); Jarard Cribbs, Lehigh (2007-10)
All-Americans (9): Dave Murphy, Holy Cross (1987, 88, 89); Tom Estep, Holy Cross (1987); Mike Augsberger, Bucknell (1990); Chris Kovath, Holy Cross (1991); B.J. Gallis, Lafayette (1996); Kevin Eiben, Bucknell (2000); Abdul Byron, Lehigh (2000, 01); Tad Kornegay, Fordham (2004); Jarard Cribbs, Lehigh (2010)