Bucknell University Athletics
Football's Matt Schearer Named to 2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Team
7/24/2024 11:00:00 AM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell football's kicker, Matt Schearer, earned a spot on the 2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Team for a second season, the league office announced Wednesday. The junior was one of six special teamers voted to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team and the only kicker recognized.
Serving as Bucknell's primary field goal and extra point placekicker since midway through the 2022 season, Schearer has made good on 15 field goal attempts and 33 point-after-touchdown (PAT) attempts. Known for his big leg, Schearer has booted some of the longest field goals in program history, and when eliminating the blocked attempts over his career, he's converted on 83.3 percent of his field goals and 97 percent of his PATs.
Of Schearer's 15 made field goals, nine have been 30 yards or longer, and five have been 40 yards or longer. In the second quarter of a 2022 overtime victory at Georgetown, Schearer became just the third Bison ever to make a 50-yard field goal and the first to do so since Al Yuknus' 52-yarder in 1981. Schearer's 42-yard make in the overtime period gave Bucknell the win over the Hoyas. Other massive makes by Schearer include a 48-yard field goal in the 2022 win at Lehigh and a season-long 49-yard make in the 2023 opener at James Madison.
Matt Schearer from 5⃣0⃣!!! That's the longest field goal by a Bison since 1981! @ESPN | @PatriotLeagueTV
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) November 12, 2022
Watch: https://t.co/PfP0MBbOsi pic.twitter.com/9Fdp8170V4
A native of Canonsburg, Pa., Schearer was a Preseason All-Patriot League pick last year and was twice named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week during his freshman season.
Bucknell begins its 2024 campaign at Navy on Saturday, Aug. 31, and the home opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 14 vs. Merrimack. Single-game and season tickets are on sale now at the Bucknell Campus Box Office. Bucknell is entering its sixth season under head coach Dave Cecchini and is coming off a record-setting 2023 campaign, during which the offense set program highs in single-season passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions and average yards per game.
Below is a complete list of the Preseason All-Patriot League Teams, major award winners, and the 2024 Patriot League Preseason Poll.
2024 Patriot League Football Preseason Major Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Jamar Curtis, Lafayette, Jr., RB
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Matt Jaworski, Fordham, Sr., DL
2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Football Team
Offense (13)
QB: C.J. Montes, Fordham, Jr.
QB: Dean DeNobile, Lafayette, So.
RB: Jamar Curtis, Lafayette, Jr.
RB: Jordan Fuller, Holy Cross, Sr.
WR: Treyvhon Saunders, Colgate, Jr.
WR: Justin Shorter, Holy Cross, Sr.
WR: Eli Steward, Lafayette, Jr.
TE: Dallas Holmes, Lafayette, Jr.
OL: Bardhyl Gashi, Colgate, 5th
OL: Chance Niesner, Colgate, Sr.
OL: Ryan Joyce, Fordham, Gr.
OL: Ryder Langsdale, Lafayette, Sr.
OL: Brian Baucia, Lafayette, Jr.
Defense (13)*
DL: Matt Jaworski, Fordham, Sr.
DL: Claudy Robinson, Fordham, Jr.
DL: Will Robinson, Holy Cross, So.
DL: Jaylon Joseph, Lafayette, So.
LB: Christian Sweeney, Colgate, 5th
LB: Frankie Monte, Holy Cross, Sr.
LB: James Conway, Fordham, Sr.
LB: Mike DeNucci, Lehigh, 5th
DB: Nahil Perkins, Fordham, Gr.,
DB: Wedner Cadet, Georgetown, Jr.
DB: Saiku White, Lafayette, Sr.
DB: A.T. Ntantang, Lafayette, 5th
DB: Nick Peltekian, Lehigh, Jr.
Special Teams (6)*
K: Matt Schearer, Bucknell, Jr.
P: Shelby Pruett, Colgate, Sr.
RS: Nicholas Dunneman, Georgetown, Jr.
STNS: John Scott, Fordham, So.
LS: Walker Adkinson, Fordham, Jr.
LS: Sebastian Alonso, Georgetown, Gr.
*Additional student-athletes selected due to ties in the voting.
2024 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll
1. Lafayette, 72 (12 first-place votes)
2. Holy Cross, 56
3. Fordham, 53 (1)
4. Colgate, 46 (1)
5. Georgetown, 27
6. Lehigh, 24
7. Bucknell, 16
