Four CAA Teams Ranked, Three More Receive Votes In Stats Perform Poll
Four CAA Teams Ranked, Three More Receive Votes In Stats Perform Poll
Four CAA Football teams were ranked, and three more received votes in the 2022 Stats Perform FCS preseason Top 25 poll that was released Monday.
Four CAA Football teams were ranked, and three more received votes in the 2022 Stats Perform FCS preseason Top 25 poll that was released Monday.
Preseason conference favorite Villanova topped the group of CAA teams at No. 6, while Delaware was ranked No. 19, Rhode Island was No. 22 and Richmond was ranked No. 24. William & Mary, Monmouth and Elon were among other teams receiving votes.
CAA football's four ranked teams trailed only the Big Sky (six) and Missouri Valley (five). When adding in the three squads that received votes, CAA football's seven teams in the poll were the most of any conference.
Villanova went 10-3 overall, earned a share of the CAA football championship with a 7-1 mark and advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2014 last season.
Back for the Wildcats are receivers Rayjoun Pringle and Jaaron Hayek, who combined for 17 touchdown catches, running backs Jalen Jackson and DeeWil Barlee, and All-America offensive lineman Michael Corbi. On defense, safety Ethan Potter is among three returning starters.
Make that 3⃣ preseason ranking for the 🔵🟡
— Delaware Football (@DelawareFB) August 8, 2022
📰➡️ https://t.co/13t61IqSJn#BleedBlue302 | #BlueHens | #BuckleUp pic.twitter.com/4feWOu7q8P
Delaware begins its first season under new head coach Ryan Carty.
Nine starters are back for the Blue Hens defensively, including All-America safety Kedrick Whitehead and All-CAA performers Johnny Buchanan, Noah Plack, Artis Hemmingway and Chase McGowan. Offensively, veteran quarterback Nolan Henderson returns after a season-ending injury in 2021, along with top receiver Thyrick Pitts.
Rhode Island is coming off a 7-4 campaign, which marked its highest win total since 2001.
The Rams feature quarterback Kasim Hill, All-CAA tight end Caleb Warren and an offensive line that returns four starters. Seven starters are back on the URI defense, highlighted by All-CAA cornerback Jordan Jones and leading tackler Evan Stewart.
Richmond closed the 2021 season on a four-game winning streak to finish 6-5 overall.
Running back/returner Aaron Dykes tops a group of seven starters back for the Spiders' offense, which has added graduate transfer quarterback Reece Udinski and receiver Jakob Herres. There are also seven starters back on the Richmond defense, including All-America linebacker Tristan Wheeler.
2022 Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll
1. North Dakota State
2. South Dakota State
3. Montana
4. Montana State
5. Missouri State
6. Villanova
7. Sacramento State
8. Kennesaw State
9. Southern Illinois
10. Stephen F. Austin
11. ETSU
12. Chattanooga
13. Eastern Washington
14. UIW
15. Jackson State
16. Holy Cross
17. Southeastern Louisiana
18. UT Martin
19. Delaware
20. Weber State
21. Northern Iowa
22. Rhode Island
23. Mercer
24. Richmond
25. UC Davis
Also receiving votes: South Dakota, Eastern Kentucky, Florida A&M, William & Mary, Dartmouth, Monmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Central Arkansas, Furman, South Carolina State, Sacred Heart, Elon, North Carolina A&T