Football 11/8/2020 7:49:00 PM John Painter

All-Decade Football: Defensive Line

Raiders Front Four Accounted for More Than 90 Career Quarterback Sacks

Seventh in a series.

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receiver

Tight End/Fullback

Offensive Line

Special Teams

HAMILTON – The 2010s were another amazing decade in the annals of Colgate Football.

The Raiders won four Patriot League championships for the second decade in a row, upping their all-time total to 10. Colgate made two deep runs in the NCAA playoffs, advancing to the quarterfinals in both 2015 and 2018. The Raiders under head coaches Dick Biddle and Dan Hunt went 64-53 overall and 39-17 against Patriot League competition.

In celebration of those accomplishments, Colgate Football announces the All-Decade Team for 2010-19. Voters for this team were from the coaching staff, alumni, athletics department and media. Ties in the voting at wide receiver and linebacker resulted in one additional player being named for both of those positions.

"This was a neat thing to do and I appreciate everyone who helped out and gave their time to this process," Colgate head coach Dan Hunt said. "For me personally, it was really fun to talk about these guys, having been here for all of them and then some -- but not all as the head coach. It was a unique perspective on this to go back and talk about these great players."

Hunt especially enjoyed comparing those who finished their careers in 2010 or 2011 versus players who rounded out the decade.

"It was a good cross-section from different views of the football team," he said. "And the voters got it right. Obviously, there are players not on the list who easily could be. There were four championships during this 10-year period and two trips to the NCAA quarterfinals -- so there are some good players and some good teams."

Hunt noted that 11 of the 27 honorees came from the 2018 team that finished seventh and eighth in the major national polls after starting the season 9-0 on the strength of five shutouts. Those zeroes tied an NCAA FCS record for a season as Colgate breezed to a Patriot League title and earned a first-round NCAA playoff bye.

"Particularly on the defensive side of the ball, there are five on this team who were on that 2018 defense, and then four on offense and one on special teams," he said. "And to be honest with you, that's the way it should be. That's an all-time defense and an amazing all-around team that obviously performed very well."

Pat Afriyie (2014-17)

Afriyie was a 2016 All-American, two-time ECAC All-Star and three-time All-Patriot League First Team selection. He finished his career second on the Colgate chart with 26½ sacks after making two appearances on the season list with 9½ sacks in 2015 and 10 in 2016. Those 10 sacks led to Patriot League and ECAC FCS Defensive Player of the Year honors. He paced the Patriot League that season and ranked fourth nationally in sacks. Afriyie also led the conference in sacks in 2015, helping the Raiders to a championship and a memorable run to the NCAA playoff quarterfinals.

This is a who's who. There have been some great ones here and obviously it all starts with Pat. He came into Colgate as a skill player; he was a high school running back. Started as an outside linebacker and moved inside, and kind of defined the position. When you look at the great defensive linemen who have come after Pat, it's because of Pat. He was the blueprint of getting a player who could grow into that position but stay athletic and be that dominant. And that's what he was. He was a menace as a pass rusher, he always took the brunt of the opponents' pass protection, and he still got to the quarterback. That's the true testament -- when they are sliding their protection to you and you still get sacks. Define the position and that's what you would want out of an All-Decade performer.

Coach Dan Hunt

Zach Smith (2007-10)

Smith made the most of his one season this decade, earning 2010 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors to go with his All-Patriot League First Team selection. That season, Smith posted 10½ sacks and forced three fumbles. He was named FCS National Defensive Lineman of the Week after a three-sack game against Georgetown. He posted 19 career sacks in his three seasons on defense, including a team-high six as a sophomore.

Probably the original sack leader for this decade, going way back! He was Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, among our all-time sack leaders and kind of the same story. Came to us in that tight end mold and one who became a great defensive end for us. He was a dominant player who could disrupt a team's pass game. Our defensive is designed on getting to the quarterback, and he certainly could do that. He also was solid against the run and everything that you look for.

Coach Dan Hunt

Victor Steffen (2012-16)

Steffen was a two-time captain who twice earned All-Patriot League honors. Those all-star years were in his first two full seasons, when he combined to start all 24 games over the 2013 and 2014 campaigns. Injuries limited Steffen’s play over the latter half of his career, but he still ranked eighth in the Patriot League in sacks as a senior and finished his career with 14 quarterback takedowns. His 2015 injury halted a streak of 26 consecutive starts.

Victor was one of the toughest guys to ever play the position. He overcame a lot of injuries and was that same style of disrupting the quarterback, stopping the run and loving the game of football. Victor encapsulates all of that in everything that he did, not just on the field but he was a great leader off the field as well.

Coach Dan Hunt

Nick Wheeler (2016-19)

Wheeler earned All-America honors each of his final three seasons and finished as the all-time sack leader in Colgate history with 33. He was the Patriot League leader and third nationally with 11½ sacks in 2017, when he helped the Raiders to the first of back-to-back conference titles. That sack total was the second-best in Colgate season history. He was a three-time All-Patriot League First Team and All-ECAC First Team selection. Wheeler added nine sacks in 2018 and 9½ in 2019 to break a program record that had stood for 38 years.

Nick came along right after Pat and probably got some of his early success because Pat was drawing the protection. So he took advantage of the single blocks to become a dominant player, and then he did what Pat did. He started getting the protection focused on him and he still performed. Obviously, he was the all-time sack leader. But he also became a great player against the run, which is what you challenge every great pass rusher to do. He did it, and he certainly deserves to be on this team.

That group is pretty special right there.

Coach Dan Hunt

Next Up: Linebackers, Wednesday.