The four-time defending Patriot League champion Holy Cross football team ranked first in the conference's 2023 preseason poll, released on Tuesday, July 25, with the Crusaders earning a league-best 11 Preseason All-Patriot League selections.
Senior quarterback Matthew Sluka was named the Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and senior linebacker Jacob Dobbs was honored as the league' Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
In all, Holy Cross collected 72 points and 12 first-place votes after advancing to the quarterfinal round of the FCS Championship last season. In 2022, Holy Cross went 11-0 during the regular season for the third time in program history and first time since 1991. The 2022 Crusaders (12-1, 6-0 PL) recorded the most single-season wins in program history and advanced to the NCAA FCS quarterfinals for the first time since 1983; their lone loss on the campaign was a hard-fought playoff contest to top-seeded South Dakota State, the eventual national champions.
Sluka is a two-time All-Patriot League selection, earning first-team accolades in 2022, and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, presented to the FCS offensive player of the year. He was also the 2020 Patriot League Rookie of the Year. He led the conference in rushing yards last season, with 1,234 yards — the most of any FCS quarterback — and 11 touchdowns on the ground. A year ago, he also finished 11th among FCS quarterbacks with 26 touchdown passes, eighth in points responsible for (222) and second in passing yards per completion (16.27).
Dobbs returns for his fifth season at Holy Cross this fall after appearing in just four contests in 2022 prior to an injury. In 2021, Dobbs was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-America honors from Stats Perform, AFCA, HERO Sports and the Associated Press. He is a three-time All-Patriot League honoree and has served as a captain since 2020. In 34 career games, Dobbs has totaled 309 tackles, including 34.5 tackles for a loss of 141 yards, and 16.5 sacks.
Junior running back Jordan Fuller earned a spot on the All-Patriot League second team last season behind fellow Crusader running back Peter Oliver, who became a three-time All-Patriot League honoree in 2022. Fuller scored a team-best 13 rushing touchdowns last season, with 536 yards on the ground. In just two seasons, Fuller has totaled 22 rushing touchdowns.
Senior wide receiver Jalen Coker earned All-Patriot League first team honors in 2022, leading the team with 11 touchdown receptions and 912 receiving yards. He caught at least one touchdown in eight different games this season, with three touchdown catches in a win over Fordham.
Senior tight end Sean Morris, a two-time All-Patriot League selection, appeared in all 13 games last season. He totaled 167 yards on 12 receptions, catching a 27-yard touchdown in the Crusaders' quarterfinal game against South Dakota State.
Seniors Luke Newman, Eric Schon and C.J. Hanson were preseason honorees on the offensive line. All three earned a spot on the All-Patriot League first team a year ago, with Newman earning Stats Perform All-America First Team and Associated Press FCS All-America Third Team honors. The trio anchored a stellar offense — in 2022, Holy Cross averaged 37.38 points per contest and 449.4 yards of total offense a game. In Patriot League play, the Crusaders averaged 43.0 points per game. The Crusaders ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring offense and rushing offense (245.1 rushing yards per game) during the 2022 campaign.
Senior Devin Haskins was honored as both a defensive back and special teams non-specialist. He has earned All-Patriot League honors two seasons in a row, and was recognized in 2022 as both a defensive back and special teams non-specialist on the All-Patriot League first team. Haskins earned Walter Camp FCS All-America and AFCA All-America honors in 2022, in addition to being named to the All-New England team. He started all 13 games last year for the Crusaders, totaling 47 tackles, four interceptions, 12 pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He blocked a punt in four consecutive games, leading the nation and setting a Patriot League record in that category, and returning two punts for touchdowns.
Junior Justin Shorter was selected to the preseason squad as a return specialist after earning All-Patriot League honors in each of the last two seasons. He averaged 24.88 yards per return on 16 returns, with a season-long of 52 yards. He additionally recorded 431 receiving yards and four touchdown receptions.
Voting for the Preseason All-Patriot League Football Team, the offensive and defensive player of the year, and preseason poll was completed by Patriot League football head coaches and sports information directors from the seven League schools. They cannot vote for their team or student-athletes.
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, Jr.
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
Season tickets are now on sale to watch the four-time defending Patriot League champion Holy Cross football team during the upcoming 2023 season. Full season ticket packages for Holy Cross' five home games, including the Crusaders' four games at Fitton Field and one contest at Polar Park, begin at just $80 and provide fans access to a number of exclusive benefits. To renew or purchase season tickets, fans can visit the Holy Cross ticket website, call or text 1-844-GO-CROSS, or email tickets@holycross.edu.
Tickets are now on sale starting at jut $15 for the third annual EBW Football Classic at Polar Park! On Sept. 30, the diamond will be transformed into a gridiron as Holy Cross hosts in-state rival Harvard. For additional information, please contact the Worcester Red Sox at info@woosox.com or 508-500-1000.
FOLLOW THE CRUSADERSBe sure to follow the Holy Cross football team — and all things Crusader Athletics — on social media!
Twitter - @HCrossFB | @goholycross
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