Oct. 19, 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 continues with a look at the offense, including quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight end and offensive line.

The accomplishments of top players at each position are broken down into categories including Patriot League Football 25th and 15th Anniversary Teams, Player of the Year and Offensive 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 offensive positions below, then vote for the top offensive player in Patriot League history here

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

Patriot League Offensive Records

Career Passing Yardage: 13,455 - Dominic Randolph, Holy Cross (2006-09)
Season Passing Yardage: 4,168 - Joe Lee, Towson (1999)
Career Rushing Yardage: 5,621 - Jordan Scott, Colgate (2005-08)
Season Rushing Yardage: 2,326 - Jamaal Branch, Colgate (2003)
Career Receiving Yardage: 4,197 - Javarus Dudley, Fordham (2000-03)
Season Receiving Yardage: 1,439 - Javarus Dudley, Fordham (2003)
Career Total Offense: 14,240 - Dominic Randolph, Holy Cross (2006-09)
Season Total Offense: 4,256 - Dominic Randolph, Holy Cross (2009)

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

Quarterbacks

All the glory, and all of the criticism. It's the life of a quarterback at any level. The Patriot League has had its share that were much more on the glory side, but two in particular stand out in the discussion of the best quarterback in Patriot League history.

Colgate's Ryan Vena led the program's resurgence from 1996 through 1999, garnering All-Patriot League honors in each of his seasons and winning three Patriot League Player of the Year awards. He was one of two quarterbacks on the Patriot League Football 15th Anniversary Team (1986-2000) and took the spot on the 25th Anniversary Team announced in July. Vena led the Raiders to Patriot League titles in 1997 and 1999, and playoff appearances in each of his last three seasons. Vena stands seventh in Patriot League history in passing yards, and fourth in total offense.

When it comes to Patriot League records, the conversation can practically begin and end with Holy Cross' Dominic Randolph (2006-09). The three-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year holds the career records for passing yards (13,455), completions (1,131) and passing touchdowns (117) as well as total offense (14,240) and touchdowns responsible for (133). Randolph has the all-time FCS record for consecutive games with 200 or more passing yards (41) and with at least one touchdown pass (42), and shares the mark with 13 straight games of 300 yards or more of total offense. He ranks third in FCS annals in career passing yards, fifth in total offense and sixth in touchdown passes. Randolph went out a winner, too, leading the Crusaders to the Patriot League title in 2009 when he was also an All-American and the ECAC Player of the Year.

Vena and Randolph certainly have some company for the label of all-time Patriot League quarterbacks. Holy Cross had a great run with Jeff Wiley (1986-88) and Tom Ciaccio (1988-91), with the former as the only consensus first-team All-America quarterback from the Patriot League in 1987 and the latter earning a spot on the League's 15th Anniversary Team and joining Randolph as a three-time All-Patriot League recipient. Lafayette's Frank Baur had a season to remember in 1988 as he earned the Patriot League Player and Offensive Player of the Year awards as well as first-team All-America honors and the ECAC Player of the Year award. Lehigh has boasted some top signal-callers over the years, with Phil Stambaugh, Scott Semptimphelter and Bob Aylsworth all winning a Patriot League Player of the Year award. And while he was sometimes overshadowed by Randolph on the collegiate level, Fordham's John Skelton (2006-09) was drafted in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals and now plays in his second season with the team.

25th Anniversary Team (1986-2010): Ryan Vena, Colgate (1996-99)
15th Anniversary Team (1986-2000): Tom Ciaccio, Holy Cross (1988-91); Ryan Vena, Colgate (1996-99)
Patriot League Players of the Year (1986-00): (8) Frank Baur, Lafayette (1988); Scott Auchenbach, Bucknell (1989); Tom Ciaccio, Holy Cross (1991); Tom Kirchoff, Lafayette (1992); Scott Semptimphelter, Lehigh (1993); Bob Aylsworth, Lehigh (1995); Ryan Vena, Colgate (1996, 97, 99); Phil Stambaugh, Lehigh (1998)
Patriot League Offensive Players of the Year (4): Jeff Wiley, Holy Cross (1987); Frank Baur, Lafayette (1988); Tom Ciaccio, Holy Cross (1990); Dominic Randolph, Holy Cross (2007, 08, 09)
Four-Time All-Patriot League (1): Ryan Vena, Colgate (1996-99)
Three-Time All-Patriot League (2): Tom Ciaccio, Holy Cross (1988-91); Dominic Randolph, Holy Cross (2006-09)
All-Americans (5): Jeff Wiley, Holy Cross (1987); Frank Baur, Lafayette (1988); Dave Goodwin, Colgate (1990); Tom Ciaccio, Holy Cross (1991); Dominic Randolph, Holy Cross (2009).

Running Backs

A pair of Walter Payton Awards. Two College Football Hall of Famers. A mini-dynasty at one school. It would be hard to argue that any position has enjoyed a greater impact in the history of the Patriot League than running back.

That impact started right away, with the dominance of Colgate's Kenny Gamble and Holy Cross' Gordie Lockbuam in the first two seasons of Patriot League football. Both are members of the College Football Hall of Fame, with Lockbaum inducted in 2000 and Gamble in 2002. Each player also made the Patriot League Football 25th Anniversary Team in July after making the 15th Anniversary squad in 2000. Lockbaum is remembered for his two-way excellence at running back and defensive back and a pair of top-five finishes in the Heisman Trophy Award voting, while Gamble holds the distinction of winning the first Walter Payton Award as the top player in the FCS in 1987.

Gamble was the first in a long line of great Colgate running backs in the Patriot League. Five have gone to win the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award, with one four-time and a trio of three-time All-Patriot League selections and four players putting together a total of six All-America seasons. Jamaal Branch (2000-04) put together the best single-season rushing performance in FCS history when he ran for 2,326 yards while winning the Walter Payton Award and leading Colgate to the national title game in 2003. Jordan Scott (2004-07) holds Patriot League career records for rushing yardage (5,621) and touchdowns (57). He is fifth in FCS history in rushing yardage and is the all-time Division I leader with 1,240 rushing attempts. Nate Eachus continues the tradition today after earning consensus first-team All-America honors as a junior in 2010 and All-Patriot League status in each of his first three seasons.

Of course, Colgate does not hold a monopoly on great running backs in Patriot League history. Lafayette's Erik Marsh (1991-94) and Bucknell's Rich Lemon (1993-96) each made the Patriot League Football 15th Anniversary Team and shared the Patriot League Player of the Year Award in 1994. Marsh was also named the League's Offensive Player of the Year in 1992 and 1993 while Lemon claimed the honor in 1994 and joins Scott as a four-time All-Patriot League selection. Holy Cross' Jerome Fuller earned consensus first-team All-America honors in 1991, while Fordham's Kirwin Watson joined Gamble, Lockbaum and Branch by winning All-America honors in consecutive seasons in 2002 and 2003.

25th Anniversary Team (1986-2010): Kenny Gamble, Colgate (1986-87); Gordie Lockbaum, Holy Cross (1986-87)
15th Anniversary Team (1986-2000): Kenny Gamble, Colgate (1986-87); Gordie Lockbaum, Holy Cross (1986-87); Erik Marsh, Lafayette (1991-94); Rich Lemon, Bucknell (1993-96)
Patriot League Players of the Year (1986-00): (4) Gordie Lockbaum, Holy Cross (1986, 87); Joe Segreti, Holy Cross (1990); Erik Marsh, Lafayette (1994); Rich Lemon, Bucknell (1994)
Patriot League Offensive Players of the Year (13): Kenny Gamble, Colgate (1986); Tom Costello, Lafayette (1989); Erik Marsh, Lafayette (1992, 93); Rich Lemon, Bucknell (1994); Anthony Caravetta, Colgate (1996); Daymon Smith, Colgate (1997); Ronald Jean, Lehigh (1999); Kirwin Watson, Fordham (2002); Jamaal Branch, Colgate (2003); Joe McCourt, Lafayette (2004); Steve Silva, Holy Cross (2005); Jonathan Hurt, Lafayette (2006); Nate Eachus, Colgate (2010)
Four-Time All-Patriot League (2): Rich Lemon, Bucknell (1993-96); Jordan Scott, Colgate (2005-08)
Three-Time All-Patriot League (8): Joe Segreti, Holy Cross (1987-90); Bill Sparacio, Colgate (1990-93); Erik Marsh, Lafayette (1991-94); Daymon Smith, Colgate (1993-97); Rabih Abdullah, Lehigh (1994-97); Jabu Powell, Bucknell (1998-01); Kirwin Watson, Fordham (2000-03); Nate Eachus, Colgate (2008-present)
All-Americans (9): Kenny Gamble, Colgate (1986, 87); Gordie Lockbaum, Holy Cross (1986, 87); Jerome Fuller, Holy Cross (1991); Ronald Jean, Lehigh (1999); Kirwin Watson, Fordham (2002, 03); Jamaal Branch, Colgate (2003, 04); Joe McCourt, Lafayette (2004); Jordan Scott, Colgate (2007); Nate Eachus, Colgate (2010)

Wide Receivers

When the Patriot League Football 25th Anniversary Team was announced July, there was little suspense at who would make the list at the wide receiver positions.

Colgate's Corey Hill (1995-98) and Fordham's Javarus Dudley (2000-03) were regarded as the top two players at the position by the voters, and for good reason. Hill also made the 15th Anniversary Team, received three All-Patriot League honors, earned the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award as a senior and is one of two Patriot League wideouts to earn All-America recognition in multiple seasons. Dudley holds Patriot League career records in receptions (295) and receiving yards (4,197) and also holds the single-season marks while making 101 catches for 1,439 yards as a senior. His career all-purpose yardage total of 7,121 stands nearly 1,000 ahead of any player in Patriot League history. Dudley stands sixth in FCS history in career receptions and receiving yardage and in the top 10 in all-purpose yardage. He earned three All-Patriot League selections in his career and All-America honors as senior.

While Hill and Dudley stand out, the wide receiver position has been among the deepest in Patriot League history. Sixteen different players have earned All-America honors, with Lehigh's Brian Klingerman joining Hill as a two-time selection in 1994 and 1995. There has been at least one All-America wide receiver in 15 of the Patriot League's 25 seasons, including current Lehigh junior Ryan Spadola earning the distinction last year. Lehigh's Dave Cecchini made the Patriot League Football 15th Anniversary Team and became the only wideout to receive consensus first-team All-America honors in 1993.

25th Anniversary Team (1986-2010): Corey Hill, Colgate (1995-98); Javarus Dudley, Fordham (2000-03)
15th Anniversary Team (1986-2000): Dave Cecchini, Lehigh (1990-93); Corey Hill, Colgate (1995-98)
Patriot League Offensive Players of the Year (5): Horace Hamm, Lehigh (1991); Brian Klingerman, Lehigh (1995); Corey Hill, Colgate (1998); Phil Yarberough, Lafayette (2000); Josh Snyder, Lehigh (2001)
Three-Time All-Patriot League (5): George Delaney, Colgate (1988-91); Corey Hill, Colgate (1995-98); Deron Braswell, Lehigh (1995-98); Javarus Dudley, Fordham (2000-03); Luke Graham, Colgate (2001-04)
All-Americans (16): Wally Dembowski, Holy Cross (1987); Rob Varano, Lehigh (1989); Horace Hamm, Lehigh (1991); Jason Cristino, Lehigh (1992); Dave Cecchini, Lehigh (1993); Chris Summers, Holy Cross (1993); Brian Klingerman, Lehigh (1994, 95); Corey Hill, Colgate (1997, 98); Jamal White, Towson (1999); Josh Snyder, Lehigh (2001); Ari Confesor, Holy Cross (2003); Javarus Dudley, Fordham (2003); Ryan Maher, Holy Cross (2007); Pat Simonds, Colgate (2009); Jason Caldwell, Fordham (2009); Ryan Spadola, Lehigh (2010)

Tight Ends

In the discussion of all-time great Patriot League tight ends, Lehigh's Adam Bergen (2001-04) jumps out as the cream of the crop. <>

Bergen and Lehigh's Mark LaFeir (1994) are the only Patriot Leaguers to earn All-America distinction at tight end. Holy Cross' Bobby Andrews (1995-98) and Colgate's John Frieser (2000-03) each received three All-Patriot League honors.

25th Anniversary Team (1986-2010): Adam Bergen, Lehigh (2001-04)
Three-Time All-Patriot League (2): Bobby Andrews, Holy Cross (1995-98); John Frieser, Colgate (2000-03)
All-Americans (2): Mark LaFeir, Lehigh (1994); Adam Bergen, Lehigh (2003, 04)

Offensive Line

When looking at the 25-year history of the Patriot League, you often need to go back years and even decades to find the best players. But on the offensive line, perhaps the most dominant player in Patriot League history just graduated within the calendar year.

Lehigh's Will Rackley concluded his outstanding career last season by becoming the first offensive lineman in Patriot League history to earn All-America recognition in consecutive years and just the ninth in League annals to receive three All-Patriot League selections. He got more great news in April when he was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, where is starting on the line as a rookie in 2011.

Rackley was one of five offensive linemen selected to the Patriot League Football 25th Anniversary Team. Three of the others had earned their stripes in the 90s, with Bucknell's Mariusz Misiec (1994-97) and Colgate's Luke George (1995-98) and Paul Clasby (1996-99) making the squad after also making the Football 15th Anniversary Team. The other member is Colgate's Nick Hennessey (2005-08), who became the only consensus first-team All-American at the position as a senior.

There have been 19 All-American offensive linemen in Patriot League history, with at least one selection in 17 of the League's 25 seasons.

25th Anniversary Team (1986-2010): Mariusz Misiec, Bucknell (1994-97); Luke George, Colgate (1995-98); Paul Clasby, Colgate (1996-99); Nick Hennessey, Colgate (2005-08); Will Rackley, Lehigh (2007-10)
15th Anniversary Team (1986-2000): Mariusz Misiec, Bucknell (1994-97); Luke George, Colgate (1995-98); Paul Clasby, Colgate (1996-99)
Three-Time All-Patriot League (9): Tom Claro, Holy Cross (1992-95); Mariusz Miseic, Bucknell (1994-97); Damian Wroblewski, Lafayette (1995-98); Paul Clasby, Colgate (1996-99); Patrick Quay, Holy Cross (1997-00); Chris Royle, Lafayette (1999-02); Kevin Moss, Lafayette (2000-03); John Reese, Lehigh (2004-07); Will Rackley, Lehigh (2007-10)
All-Americans (19): Ron George, Holy Cross (1987); Dennis Golden, Holy Cross (1988); Jay Butler, Bucknell (1990); Keith Petzold, Lehigh (1990); Pat Gibson, Holy Cross (1991); Mike Moriarty, Lehigh (1991); Tom Claro, Holy Cross (1995); Brian Bartelle, Lehigh (1996); Tim Girard, Colgate (1997); Luke George, Colgate (1998); Paul Clasby, Colgate (1999); Brian McDonald, Lehigh (2000); Jeff Santacroce, Lehigh (2002); Marc Sclafani, Colgate (2003); Rene Vargas, Colgate (2003); Mike Saint Germain, Lafayette (2006); Jesse Padilla, Lafayette (2007); Nick Hennessey, Colgate (2008); Will Rackley, Lehigh (2009, 10)