The football team will reap the consequences of an 8-4 season that saw it fall just shy of the Patriot League crown, with 11 starting Leopards entering the transfer portal after the 2025 season.
Six outgoing Leopards will make the leap to the FBS level, the most in an offseason under head coach John Troxell.
“That always hurts when you develop guys, get them in through the program and then you lose them,” Troxell said. “But I think we’re doing a good job of recruiting and building depth, so we have other guys that are capable of being just as productive.”
Much of the roster shakeup will take place on the offensive side of the ball, with perhaps the most impactful departure coming from senior quarterback Dean DeNobile. After three years as the Maroon and White’s signal caller, DeNobile committed to Florida State University on Jan. 16 for his final year of eligibility.
DeNobile, who contemplated returning to Lafayette College, said he chose Florida State to “challenge himself.”
“I had so much faith in those guys,” DeNobile said about his Leopard teammates. “I had an opportunity to compete here at FSU and expand my network, so I thought that was hard to pass up on.”
DeNobile also cited his connection to Florida State general manager and former Lafayette head coach John Garrett, who recruited him in 2021, as a key factor in the decision.
“Not many people get recruited by the same coach twice,” he said.
Junior running back Kente Edwards entered the portal after rushing for 1,454 yards in 2025, but remains unsigned. The Leopards will also take hits in the trenches, as offensive linemen sophomore Sean Kinney and senior Reed Collins committed to the University of Colorado and Monmouth University, respectively.
On the defensive side, the Leopards retained all of their depth on the defensive line except for junior Temple University commit Jaylon Joseph, who posted a team-leading 7.5 sacks last year.
“We have players more than adequate to make up for any loss there,” Troxell said. “I feel really good about our defensive front.”
The Leopards will also be without junior linebackers Robert Stevens and Darson Jeanty at the second level, with Stevens transferring to Arkansas State University and Jeanty to Sacramento State University.
Four key secondary contributors have also announced their departures. Sophomores Ryan Gadson and Kevin Dodard will spend the 2026 season at Florida International University and the University of South Dakota, respectively. Junior Avery Jones, who took his first collegiate snaps at safety in 2025, will also jump to the FBS level, transferring to Northern Illinois University. Junior Davis Oliver-Goodwin has yet to be signed.
Despite the losses, the Leopards have also taken advantage of the transfer portal to bring in three incoming athletes, two of whom hail from FBS programs. Sophomore linebacker Drew Wilson is transferring from the University of Minnesota, while sophomore offensive lineman Jacob Hohenshelt will carry College Football Playoff experience from James Madison University. The Leopards will also fill one of the holes left in the secondary with sophomore defensive back Jeremiah Polk from Eastern Washington University.
“Anytime you can get somebody from a program that’s had a lot of success, those kids are prepared for the demands of what we’re going to ask them,” Troxell said. “The moment won’t be too big when they get here.”