HAMILTON – Excitement building for Friday night lights. Home opener at Andy Kerr Stadium with an autumn chill in the air. Does it get any better for football fans? We will soon find out.
The Colgate Football and Fitzpatrick era hits another gear Friday night when the Raiders open their 2025 season against No. 22 Monmouth at 7 p.m. at Andy Kerr Stadium. And what better start for Fitzpatrick, coaching in his first game at the Division I level, to go up against Monmouth's Kevin Callahan – the nation's longest tenured head coach in FCS football.
"Everyone in the program is excited to get the season started," FItzpatrick said. "Most of all, I'm excited for our players and to watch them compete. They've been working hard and building since the winter months and they're hungry to play."
After a rocky 2-10 season in 2024, the Raiders pressed reset. In came Curt Fitzpatrick, the offensive architect who guided Division III Cortland to a national championship in 2023. His arrival as the 31st head coach of Colgate Football has given the Raider faithful reason to believe the program can recapture the glory of 10 Patriot League titles and 11 FCS playoff berths.
The Colgate Raiders are no strangers to adversity. From snowy November grinds in the Patriot League to battles against regional FBS powers, the program has carved out an identity rooted in toughness, grit, and tradition. But as the 2025 season dawns in Hamilton, a new chapter is being written—one defined by fresh leadership and the promise of something greater.
For Fitzpatrick, the task is straightforward but daunting: restore pride, build consistency, and prove that Colgate can still punch above its weight.
"The history and tradition of Colgate Football is a large part of what makes being a player and coach here so special," Fitzpatrick said. "With that being said, we need to focus on our daily inputs and the task at hand. Football is about the small moments and focusing on the play you're playing, the game you're playing. We have faith in our approach and process, and I believe we are laying the foundation to restore the excellence of 'gate football."
Offensive Production
Offensively, Colgate returns a wealth of talent that includes Preseason All-Patriot League selection Treyvhon Saunders. The senior receiver has received a healthy list of preseason accolades that includes Stats FCS All-America honors.
Saunders was an All-League First Team pick last season after setting the program's single-season receptions mark, finishing second in the FCS and fifth in all of college football with 88 receptions. He's 41 receptions away from Luke Graham's all-time record of 221.
Brady Hutchison, another senior wideout, was one of 50 FCS student-athletes named to the East-West Shrine Bowl Watch List. He racked up 44 receptions for 540 total yards and led the team with five receiving touchdowns during his breakout junior campaign. He had a run of five consecutive games with a touchdown and four games with at least six catches in 2024.
Colgate's offense will run through senior quarterback Zach Osborne, who holds a 2-2 record as a starter under center. Battling through injuries throughout his career, Osborne starts the 2025 season fully healthy. He holds a 66.3 career passing percentage (61-for-92) with five touchdown passes to go along with more than 300 rushing yards and three touchdown runs in 18 games played.
The running back room features senior Marco Maldonado and fifth-year senior Brendan Cassamajor, who have platooned backfield duties over the past four-plus seasons. Maldonado has appeared in 23 games with 461 career rushing yards on 120 attempts and two touchdowns. Cassamajor has 10 career rushing touchdowns, totaling 302 yards on 101 carries in 35 games played.
"I am extremely happy with the progress that we've made on offense the past few months," Fitzpatrick said. "Learning a new system is not easy, but our players have done a great job of studying the details of what is being asked of them and working on the skills that it takes to produce at a high-level consistently. We have some really talented players and I am excited to coach them and push them to evolve throughout the season."
Defensive Outlook
Colgate's young defensive outlook is guided by junior linebacker Trooper Price, one of four captains of the 2025 squad. Price has appeared in nine games during his Colgate career. The Ponte Vedra native has taken on a leadership role this season and is expected to be a key factor in Colgate's new defensive unit under first-year coordinator Trevor Warner.
Senior linebacker Dane Picariello is Colgate's leading returning tackler and provides the veteran presence on the defensive side of the ball. He compiled 71 stops including a team-best eight TFLS and 3.5 sacks during his junior campaign. Colgate's interior defense includes senior Danny Norocea, who played in 10 games last season with nine tackles including two solo stops.
Tymir Wynn is another key returner on the back end of the defense, where he led the team with three interceptions and seven pass break-ups last season. Wynn, a junior, has appeared in 19 games with 11 starts and compiled 56 tackles including 46 solo during his Colgate career.
"Coach Warner and our defensive staff have done a terrific job developing our scheme and players since spring practice, throughout the summer, and now into preseason camp. We have many unproven players on the defensive side of the ball, but they are talented and hungry to show we're about on defense. I am looking forward to witnessing our growth game by game."
Special Teams
Junior placekicker Luke Vogeler headlines Colgate's special teams unit. The Preseason All-Patriot League selection connected on 13 of 15 field goals in 2024, tied for the best percentage in the conference. He broke two program records, making the most 40+ yard kicks in a season (4) and converting more 50+ yarders than any kicker in program history (2).
"Outsanding special teams play has long been a hallmark of Colgate Football," Fitzpatrick added. "I expect this year to be no different."
Schedule Outlook
Colgate's first Friday home game in more than four decades premiers the 2025 campaign, followed by road tilts at Villanova (9/6) and Syracuse (9/12). The matchup at Villanova will be the final non-conference meeting between the two teams before the Wildcats join the Patriot League starting in 2026.
Patriot League begins Sept. 20 when Fordham comes to town for Homecoming Weekend, with kickoff from Andy Kerr Stadium set for 1 p.m. The Raiders then head to longtime rival Cornell another non-conference test before returning home to host Richmond for the first meeting between the two teams as Patriot League foes on Oct. 11.
After back-to-back road trips at Georgetown (10/18) and Holy Cross (10/25), Colgate returns home for three of its last four games in the regular season. The Raiders host Merrimack (11/1) before closing out the regular season against Lehigh (11/15) and Bucknell (11/22).
"Our non-conference schedule is highly challenging early in the season, which is no surprise here at Colgate. I believe our schedule will challenge our team and be a catalyst for improvement as we enter Patriot League play in late September. We will be battle tested and learn to compete with grit and toughness. Our conference is only getting better and better with the addition of Richmond this year, followed by Villanova and William & Mary next year. The Patriot League is now one of the most powerful conferences in the nation at the FCS level and that makes me excited about the future of Colgate Football."
