CAA Football

Three CAA Teams Land In 2022 HERO Sports Preseason Top 25 Poll

Three CAA Teams Land In 2022 HERO Sports Preseason Top 25 Poll

Defending conference champion Villanova leads the group of CAA teams at No. 9.

May 19, 2022 by FloFootball Staff
Three CAA Teams Land In 2022 HERO Sports Preseason Top 25 Poll

Three CAA Football teams have been recognized in the 2022 HERO Sports Preseason Top 25 poll.

Defending conference champion Villanova leads the group of CAA teams at #9, followed by Delaware at #15 and Richmond at #25.

Villanova is coming off a 10-3 season in which the Wildcats advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2014. Four starters are back on the Villanova offensive line along with top receivers Rayjoun Pringle and Jaaron Hayek. The Wildcats’ defense features safeties Ethan Potter and Jalen Goodman.

Delaware, which went 5-6 a year ago, begins its first season under new head coach Ryan Carty. Quarterback Nolan Henderson and wide receiver Thyrick Pitts return to the Blue Hens’ offense, while All-America safety Kedrick Whitehead and linebacker Johnny Buchanan are back defensively.

Richmond closed the 2021 campaign on a four-game winning streak to finish 6-5 overall. The Spiders welcome back All-America linebacker Tristan Wheeler to lead the defense. The offense returns running back Aaron Dykes and should get a lift from transfer quarterback Reece Udinski and receiver Jakob Herres. 

The 2022 CAA Football season kicks off on Thursday, September 1 as conference newcomer Monmouth visits New Hampshire and Stony Brook hosts Rhode Island. 

2022 HERO Sports FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll

1 North Dakota State
2 South Dakota State
3 Montana State
4 Montana
5 ETSU
6 Missouri State
7 Sam Houston
8 Kennesaw State
9 Villanova
10 Sacramento State
11 Stephen F. Austin
T12 Incarnate Word
T12 Southern Illinois
14 UT Martin
15 Delaware
16 Chattanooga
17 Holy Cross
18 Eastern Washington
19 Jackson State
20 Southeastern Louisiana
21 South Dakota
22 Harvard
23 Dartmouth
24 Northern Iowa
T25 Richmond
T25 UC Davis