Four CAA Football teams were ranked and three more received votes in the 2022 Stats Perform FCS preseason Top 25 poll that was released on Monday.
Preseason conference favorite Villanova topped the group of CAA teams at #6, while Delaware was ranked #19, Rhode Island was ranked #22 and Richmond was ranked #24. William & Mary, Monmouth and Elon were among other teams receiving votes.
CAA Football’s four ranked teams trailed only the Big Sky (6) and Missouri Valley (5). 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.
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
- North Dakota State
- South Dakota State
- Montana
- Montana State
- Missouri State
- Villanova
- Sacramento State
- Kennesaw State
- Southern Illinois
- Stephen F. Austin
- ETSU
- Chattanooga
- Eastern Washington
- UIW
- Jackson State
- Holy Cross
- Southeastern Louisiana
- UT Martin
- Delaware
- Weber State
- Northern Iowa
- Rhode Island
- Mercer
- Richmond
- UC Davis
RV: 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
Original source can be found here.
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