Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Places Five on Patriot League Football Preseason All-League Team
7/31/2013 8:00:00 AM | Football
July 31, 2013
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - In conjunction with the annual Patriot League Football Media Day, which was held Wednesday at Green Pond Country Club, the league announced its Preseason All-League Team and five Bison were recognized. DL Sean Sellers (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest), DL Tracey Smith (Allen, Texas/Allen), LB Evan Byers (Roaring Brook, Pa./Wyoming Seminary/Trinity-Pawling (N.Y.)) and DB Matthew Steinbeck (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) represented the Bucknell defense, while three-time All-PL selection FB Travis Friend (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) was honored on offense.
All five Bison honorees were All-Patriot League selections last November.
No other team had more than two defensive players cited. Bucknell ranked first in the Patriot League in total defense, second in sacks and turnover margin and third in scoring defense in 2012. The Bison return seven regular defensive starters and 10 total defensive players who earned at least one start last fall.
This is the second preseason recognition for Sellers, Byers, Steinbeck and Friend. Sellers, Byers and Steinbeck were named to the College Football Performance Awards Watch List, while Friend was named a Preseason Third Team All-American by The Sports Network. Friend was also a member of the inaugural Preseason All-Patriot League Team in 2012.
A two-year starter and a 2012 Second Team All-Patriot League pick, Sellers was third on the Bison with eight tackles for loss last year. His .72 sacks per game ranked 21st nationally and he had at least one-half a sack in seven of nine games played. Sellers posted a career-high 32 tackles in 2012 and enters his senior campaign with 68 in his career. Sellers earned the team's Strength and Conditioning MVP award at the conclusion of spring practice.
Like Sellers, Smith is a two-year starter on the strong Bucknell defensive line and is coming off a Second Team All-PL selection. The senior ranked seventh on the squad with a career-high 45 tackles last fall and has 80 in his 32 career contests, including at least two in 13 consecutive outings. Smith has piled up 11.5 tackles for loss and four sacks in his first three years and is a three-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
A Second Team All-Patriot League selection as a sophomore last fall, Byers is coming off a season where he led the team in tackles (100), was second in tackles for loss (13.5) and interceptions (3), and third in sacks (5.5). Byers became the first Bison since 2009 - and just the fifth since 2000 - to reach the century mark in tackles. He ranked fifth in the Patriot League in stops and was sixth in the conference in sacks.
Steinbeck was a First Team All-Patriot League choice a year ago as he totaled 44 tackles and a league-high six interceptions. He tied for seventh on the program's single-season interception list and his 158 interception return yards ranked second in school history. One of just four defensive players to start all 11 games for Bucknell, Steinbeck registered at least one interception in four consecutive games late in the year.
A team captain who has played in all 33 games since stepping onto campus, Friend is the first Bison player to earn offensive All-Patriot League honors three straight years since Jabu Powell (1999-2001). A First Team All-PL selection each of the last two years after earning second-team plaudits as a freshman, Friend has been used mainly as a blocker and receiver throughout his career. He has 52 career receptions for 303 yards and has rushed 42 times for 102 yards. The 242-pound fullback has scored four career touchdowns.
The Patriot League Preseason Poll was also released on Wednesday at Media Day and Bucknell was picked to finish in sixth place. Colgate is expected to repeat as champion, totaling 58 points and eight first-place votes, compared to 56 points and six first-place votes for predicted runner-up Lehigh. Holy Cross, Lafayette and Georgetown were picked to finish third, fourth and fifth, respectively.
Bucknell will begin preseason practice Aug. 10 (9-10 p.m.). The Bison kick off their 2013 campaign Saturday, Sept. 7, when they host Marist at 6 p.m. Single-game Tickets can be purchased beginning Aug. 23 by calling the Bucknell Campus Box Office at 570-577-1000 or visiting www.bucknell.edu/boxoffice.
Patriot League Football Media Day Video Recap
