Large Lehigh football freshman class to make impact

A new crop of players has been recruited to Lehigh football in hopes of giving the Class of 2016 what it has been chasing for three years: a league championship.

Running back Dom Bragalone is perhaps the team’s most decorated recruit, coming off a record-setting career at South Williamsport High School in Pennsylvania. In addition to his Parade Magazine All-American selection and two-time Pennsylvania Class A All-State honors, Bragalone cemented himself into high school football history with 4,704 total yards in his senior season, a state record. For Bragalone, his eventual signing with Lehigh came after a long recruiting process, with many Division I schools desiring the services of the speedster in their programs’ backfields.

Pennsylvania State University kicked off Bragalone’s recruiting process when he was a sophomore, as the famed program took notice of his talent in South Williamsport.

“I was contacted by Penn State when (Bill) O’Brien was there and Penn State recruited me pretty heavy,” he said. “Then O’Brien left and when Franklin came in, I didn’t really hear from them. So that’s really what started the recruiting.”

After O’Brien left to take over the Houston Texans in the NFL, Bragalone was being contacted by several Patriot League schools going into his senior year, the Mountain Hawks not being one of them.

“I actually didn’t hear from Lehigh at all my whole entire season my senior year until my second to last playoff game in (the) end of November,” Bragalone said. “We had a game down here in Lehigh Valley and then the next week the coach called and said they watched the game and they were interested and invited me for a visit.”

The Mountain Hawks’ offensive scheme will rely on the run game, as junior quarterback Nick Shafnisky has been working closely with Bragalone during preseason.

“From day one he’s been helping me along the way, especially with blocking protection, pass protection,” Bragalone said. “That’s probably the toughest thing for me right now. But day one he came up to me and we spent 20-30 minutes after practice and he helped me.”

On the defensive end, freshman defensive back Kareem Montgomery is slated to see significant action this season. A second-team All-State selection in high school his senior year, the Baltimore, Maryland, native is ready to make a difference this season on his new team – a program he hadn’t even heard of until late into his recruiting process.

With Brown University, Georgetown University and University of Maryland scouting the 5-foot-9-inch cornerback, Montgomery ultimately chose to spend his next four years in Bethlehem.

“Honestly I think Lehigh was a perfect fit for me and my family,” Montgomery said. “The football side of things, everything will take care of itself, but I honestly think being here is a good fit. It fits in all my future endeavors and I think it’s a really good place to be.”

For most freshmen, the anything but seamless transition from high school to Division I football can be daunting. Montgomery, however, believes his unique style of play caters toward Lehigh’s defensive strategy.

“I really like to look at film and study my opponent,” Montgomery said. “I think it’s a good fit because Lehigh plays a physical brand of football on defense, not afraid to come up there and hit, take on blocks and be blocked, so I would say I’m a physical player but also have a good feel and intellect for the game.”

On the special teams side, freshman kicker Ed Mish may see more action this season than any of his Class of 2019 cohorts. A linebacker and kicker hybrid in high school, Mish holds schools records for touchbacks (19) and longest field goal (46 yards) at Old Bridge High School in New Jersey. Strictly kicking for Lehigh this year, Mish has adjusted well to the higher speed and physicality of college football.

“Now instead of guys coming around the corner only at a 4.7, 4.8 speed I now have guys coming at a 4.4, 4.5,” Mish said. “At first you definitely notice how quick things are, but my teammates have done a really good job of getting me ready for the speed of the game and getting a lot of reps in practice has helped.”

In anticipation for his expected start in the season opener against Central Connecticut State on Friday night, Mish has been honing in on his accuracy – and not just on the uprights.

“I’m definitely focusing a little bit more on placement for kickoffs – you know, putting it in the end zone as much as I can – but doing what the coaches ask of me more.”