HAMILTON – With less than 40 days till kickoff, five Raiders grabbed a spot on the 2023 Patriot League Football Preseason All-League Team. Michael Brescia, Bardhyl Gashi, Tyler Flick, Owen Goss, and Shelby Pruett represent Colgate on the All-League Team.
 
Quarterback Brescia earned the sole at-large on the team after a stellar sophomore campaign. The Hinsdale, Ill., native led the Raiders in rushing yards (751), rushing touchdowns (13), passing yards (1,656), and passing touchdowns (7) last season. The junior also hit the 1,000 rushing yards milestone against Georgetown on Oct. 22, 2022.
 
Offensive lineman Gashi is picking up where he left off after earning All-League Second Team during the 2022 postseason. The senior started in all 11 games last season, helping the Colgate offense have the third most rushing yards in the Patriot League (1,734). 
 
Linebacker Flick led the Raiders' defensive efforts last season, recording a team-high 93 tackles and 8.5 tackles for a loss of 25 yards. Flick, no stranger to awards, earned All-League Second Team Defense, Academic All-Patriot League, and a spot on NFF Hampshire Honor Society Team last year. 
 
Defensive back Goss sadly had his 2022 season cut short due to injury, but he still managed to make an impact on the Raider defensive. Goss recorded 20 tackles and three forced fumbles in seven games. The senior recorded a season-high six tackles in Colgate's historic win over Maine on Sept. 10, 2022.
 
Punter Pruett is the favorite in the conference to defend his All-League First Team Punter title. Pruett punted 58 times for 2,434 yards during the 2022 season. Pruett recorded 11 punts over 50 yards, with his longest of the season for 57 yards. Pruett also accumulated four touchbacks.
 
As a team, Colgate was picked to finish third in the 2023 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll with 51 points. The defending champions, Holy Cross and Fordham rounded out the top three in the poll.
 
2023 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll
1. Holy Cross, 72 points (12 first-place votes)
2. Fordham, 62 (2)
3. Colgate, 51
4. Lafayette, 39
5. Lehigh, 32
6T. Bucknell, 19
6T. Georgetown, 19
 
2023 Patriot League Football Preseason Major Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross, Sr., QB
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, 5th, LB
 
2023 Patriot League Football Preseason All-League Team
OFFENSE (15)*
QB: Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross, Sr.
QB: Michael Brescia, Colgate, Jr. (at-large)
RB: Julius Loughridge, Fordham, Jr.
RB: Jordan Fuller, Holy Cross, Jr.
WR: Jalen Coker, Holy Cross, Sr.
WR: MJ Wright, Fordham, Gr.
WR: Mekai Felton, Fordham, Sr.
WR: Geoffrey Jamiel, Lehigh, So.
TE: Sean Morris, Holy Cross, 5th
TE: Mason Gilbert, Lafayette, Sr.
OL: Bardhyl Gashi, Colgate, Sr.
OL: Luke Newman, Holy Cross, Sr.
OL: Eric Schon, Holy Cross, Sr.
OL: C.J. Hanson, Holy Cross, 5th
OL: Lucas Portes, Fordham, Sr.
 
DEFENSE (14)*
DL: Tyler Alston, Bucknell, Sr.
DL: Matt Jaworski, Fordham, Jr.
DL: Ibri Harrell, Georgetown, So.
DL: Mateen Ibirogba, Georgetown, So.
LB: Tyler Flick, Colgate, 5th
LB: James Conway, Fordham, Jr.
LB: Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, 5th
LB: Marco Olivas, Lafayette, 5th
LB: Mike DeNucci, Lehigh, Sr.
DB: Owen Goss, Colgate, Sr.
DB: Devin Haskins, Holy Cross, 5th
DB: Wedner Cadet, Georgetown, So.
DB: Stephen Williams II, Fordham, Gr.
DB: Saiku White, Lafayette, Jr.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS (4)
PK: Matt Schearer, Bucknell, So.
P: Shelby Pruett, Colgate, Jr.
Return Specialist: Justin Shorter, Holy Cross, Jr.
Special Teams Non-Specialist: Devin Haskins, Holy Cross, 5th
 
*Denotes additional players selected to offense and defense due to ties in voting