Lance & Kris are back for another year on The FCS Wedge Podcast and they kickoff this year with a bit of a welcome back to the Idaho Vandals. AGS Preseason Poll is up next with a once over to start things off this season. They discuss the games already in the books and a look ahead to what we all are looking forward to. Listen up if you want a little extra fun before the Saturday start of the season.
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Lehigh Mountain Hawks
2017 Record: 5-7 (5-1), PL Co-Champions
Head Coach: Andy Coen, 13th year, 82-56 (51-19)
Last Patriot League Title: 2017
Last Playoff Appearance: 2017
Schedule:
9/1 Saint Francis
9/8 Villanova
9/15 @ Navy
9/22 @ Penn
10/6 @ Princeton
10/13 Fordham
10/20 @ Georgetown
10/27 @ Holy Cross
11/3 Bucknell
11/10 Colgate
11/17 @ Lafayette
Overview
Lehigh enters the 2018 season seeking their third straight Patriot League Championship. Motivation should not be an issue after the Mountain Hawks won the league title with a losing record in 2017. The season ultimately ended with a second straight blowout loss in the 1st Round of the FCS Playoffs. At this point last year Lehigh was a preseason Top 25 team with legitimate national aspirations. Then the games started and the defense proceeded to have the worst statistical year in school history. This year expectations are far more tempered as a result.
They key to a 3-Peat is obviously improving the defense. The downright offensive “D” gave up a staggering 41 ppg. They surrendered a whopping 243 ypg on the ground. Teams were able to run over, around and through the Lehigh front 7 for massive chunks of yards. Not even one of, if not the best, set of skill players in FCS could offset such a putrid defense.
Offense
Best Returning Player: RB Dominic Bragalone
Freshman to Watch: RB Reshawn Allen
Heading into the 2018 season it’s hard to find a better QB/RB combo than Brad Mayes and Dominic Bragalone in FCS. The two seniors have shredded opponents during their time in Bethlehem. Following the 2017 campaign Bragalone (1,388 yards, 18 TDs in ’17) was named a 1st Team All-American by numerous media outlets while Mayes (64% Completion, 323 ypg 31 TDs 12 INTs) garnered 1st Team All-Patriot League honors at QB. Backing up the two stars will be junior QB Tyler Monaco and highly touted freshman RB Rashawn Allen.
The biggest question facing Head Coach Coen and OC Scott Brisson is the OL. The unit was hit hard by graduation and then injuries in camp compounded the problem. Despite these issues the Mountain Hawks still possess the talent needed to have a quality unit. Preseason 1st Team All-PL OT Chris Fournier and senior guard Liborio Ricottilli are entrenched in their positions. Junior Derek Lomax and freshman Justin Gurth will battle for the other tackle position. Jackson Evans (Jr.), Time Wagner (Sr.), Ryan Oneidas and Matt Fest (So.) will be in play for the center and LG spot.
The WR unit was also hit hard by graduation. 2nd Team All-American Troy Pelletier and 1st Team All-Patriot League selection Gatlin Casey were arguably the greatest WR duo in Lehigh history. Replacing their big play ability will not be easy but Lehigh has a history of churning out elite wide receivers. Waiting in the wings are several candidates who could become household names in FCS football before the end of the year. Jorge Portorreal (56 rec. 729 yards 2 TDs) put up really good numbers as the third option in 2017. Senior Luke Christiano is another candidate for a breakout year. Christiano had two huge games at the beginning of the 2017 season before a broken arm sidelined him. Seniors Sasha Kelsey, Cam Richardson and junior Devon Bibbens will also have an opportunity to make plays. Senior Dan Scaserra will likely get the nod at TE.
Defense
Best Returning Player: SS Sam McCloskey
Freshman to Watch: DL Bartek Rybka
The fate of Lehigh’s 2018 season will be determined by how much the defense improves. New Linebacker Coach Mike Kashurba was brought in to shake things up and re-instill and overall toughness. The defense has fallen so far in recent years that a modest improvement likely won’t be enough to win the league and climb into the national rankings. The unit must make significant strides in order to seriously compete for the league title and a return trip to the playoffs.
The Mountain Hawks must do a better job at stopping the run. They lost the battle at the line of scrimmage in often embarrassing fashion last year. There’s plenty of experience returning along the DL but there’s also one key cog missing. Defensive Coordinator Craig Sutyak must get better play from the unit without the unquestionable leader on defense, Tyler Cavenas (graduated). Seniors Julian Lynn and Harrison Kauffman will be called upon to lead the defensive front. Jack Kircher (So.) who returns from injury will also have a key role. Colin Nace (Jr.), Jason Dooling (So.) and Juwan Morrow (Sr.) will hopefully provide productive depth. Freshman Bartek Rybka was a disruptive force in high school and could see meaningful snaps as the season progresses. Overall, the defensive line still lacks size which one again might prove to be major issue against power running teams.
Like the DL, the LB unit is experienced but a bit undersized. To combat some of the size issues Lehigh be starting Davis Maxie (6’4 235) as a starting Rush End/LB. Junior Keith Woetzel led the team in tackles. He’s an extremely athletic backer who can make plays all over the field. Senior Mike Walker is also quite capable of making plays sideline to sideline. A trio of sophomores, Erik Slate, Nate Norris and Pete Haffner will be called upon to provide depth. Senior Brian Olshanski (6’2 235) has the size and experience to have an impact.
If the defense has a clear strength it’s the secondary. Senior Sam McCloskey and junior Riley O’Neill give the Mountain Hawks two really good safeties. The cornerback position is loaded with really good athletes. Donovan Harris and Kareem Montgomery have the experience and coverage skills to be lock down corners. Marquis Wilson and Tre Neal provide additional depth at CB. Freshman Divine Buckrham is expected to get the starting nod at the rover position.
Special Teams
Lehigh should have one of the better special teams units in the league. Ed Mish has proven he can successfully handle all 3 facets of the kicking game. If there’s one area he can work on it’s becoming more of a weapon kicking field goals. The return game should be good hands with Jorge Portorreal, Luke Christiano and Sasha Kelsey all having experience.
Outlook
Lehigh has the firepower on offense to put a scare in anyone in FCS. The ultimate question remains if the defense can improve enough to turn those scares into wins. While experience is bountiful, time will tell if it’s good enough to get the job done on a consistent basis. The front 7 continues to be a bit undersized which will be problematic against teams with potent rushing attacks like Villanova, Navy, Fordham and Colgate.
The non-league schedule features 4 games that could go either way for the Mountain Hawks. Only the mid-September trip to Navy appears to be unwinnable. Lehigh opens the season with home games against St. Francis and Villanova. The Red Flashes have become a tough out in recent years while Lehigh-Villanova almost always comes down to the final minutes. A pair of quality Ivy Leaguers, Penn and Princeton, conclude the out of conference portion of the schedule. While wins will be hard to come by, a repeat of last year’s 0-5 OOC record should not happen.
The odds of Lehigh winning 3 straight Patriot League Titles seems unlikely given the talent and experience that resides in Hamilton, NY and the offensive firepower Fordham possesses. That doesn’t mean Lehigh won’t make a legit run at it. With so much elite FCS talent at the skill positions Lehigh might have the highest ceiling of anyone in the league. They also seem the most likely to come up well short of expectations if the defense continues to struggle.
Prediction: 6-5 (4-2)
Lafayette Leopards
2017 Record: 3-8 (3-3)
Head Coach: John Garrett, 2nd Year 3-8 (3-3)
Last Patriot League Title: 2013
Last Playoff Appearance: 2013
2018 Schedule
9/1 @ Sacred Heart
9/8 @ Delaware
9/15 Monmouth
9/22 @ Colgate
9/29 Central Connecticut State
10/13 Georgetown
10/20 @ Bucknell
10/27 @ Fordham
11/3 Holy Cross
11/10 @ Army
11/17 Lehigh
Overview
The positive take away from Garrett’s first season in Easton? The Leopards were in the Patriot League title hunt until their second to last game of the season. The negative take away? The 3-8 record was program’s 8th losing season in a row. There was also the 3rd straight loss to arch rival Lehigh to conclude the 2017 season.
If Lafayette is to once and for all end their current decade long run of misery they’ll need some unexpected names to step up. While the Leopards have several known commodities, there remains major depth concerns at key positions. Garrett’s first priority needs to be assembling a quality offensive line that can protect the QB and pave the way for a competent rushing attack. The Leopards simply could not run the football (39.1 ypg, 7th in PL) in 2017. With the multitude of uncertainties on “O” the defense will once again be counted on to keep Lafayette competitive.
Offense
Best Returning Player: WR Nick Pearson
Freshman to Watch: OL Ben Wild
There are numerous question marks on offense facing Coach Garrett and Offensive Coordinator John Van Dam. Last year’s “O” was a no go (12.0 ppg, 7th in PL) despite having a talented group of wide receivers. The offensive line, quarterback and running backs struggled to find any sort of consistency. Until the OL starts winning the battle along the line of scrimmage, production from the skill positions is not going to improve unless a real dynamic playmaker emerges.
The quarterback situation is rather unsettled heading into the year. Sophomore Sean O’Malley (60.7 completion %, 1,967 yards, 12 TDs, 15 INTs in ’17) started every game as a freshman but has been pushed in spring and fall practice. Fellow sophomore Cole Northrup has emerged as a viable candidate for the starting position during that time. O’Malley appears to be the odds on favorite to start game 1 but his grasp on the starting position seems to be tenuous at best. Of all the quarterbacks on the roster, highly touted freshman Troy Fisher might have the most upside.
Questions also surround who will be catching the ball. The Leopards lost their top four receivers to graduation so they’ll need some new names to step up. Senior Joey Chenoweth (17 rec 229 yards 1 TD) and junior Nick Pearson (21 rec 246 yards 2 TDs) should see significant time. Pearson showed real promise before an injury derailed his season. Freshman Tim Payne has had a great fall camp and will be a major factor at WR. Junior Julian Spigner (6’3) gives the Leopards some needed size beyond the hash marks.
The RB position is fairly set with the quick-footed C.J. Amil (129 yards, 1 TD) and bruising Selwyn Simpson (174 yards, 2 TDs) splitting the majority of the carries. The question now is if their production can reach a competent level. The Leopards rushed for an anemic 430 total yards during the 2017 season. The struggles along the OL are obviously a big reason for the lack of production at the RB position. Even so, Amil and Simpson need to step up and make a few game changing individual plays time to time. Sophomore J.J. Younger has big play potential if he’s completely healthy.
The offensive line could be a revolving door due to injuries and lack of cohesion. Junior Jake Marotti and sophomore Gavin Barclay should man the tackle positions given their experience. Kevin Zataveski will likely be the center. The senior started 11 games at center in 2016 before missing all of last season. Fellow senior Logan Grieser, sophomores Taron Ham and John Burke figure to battle it out for playing time at the two guard spots. A trio of freshmen OL, Ben Wild, Josh Roberts and Casey McCollum, possess the physical assets to make a push early on for playing time if things need to be shaken up.
Defense
Best Returning Player: LB Jerry Powe
Freshman to Watch: DL Malik Hamm
The Lafayette defense battled admirably in 2017 to keep the Leopards in the league title hunt until the final month of the season. What made some of their efforts even more impressive is how little help they got from the offense. The unit was often on the field way too much but hung in for parts of the 2017 campaign. The “D” was not without warts however. In 7 of Lafayette’s 8 losses the opposition averaged 38 points.
The leader of the defense is unquestionably senior LB Jerry Powe (Preseason 1st Team All-PL) now that fellow backer Brandon Bryant graduated. Powe’s versatility makes him one of the most difficult defensive player in the league to account for. Michael Root is an extremely good (2nd on team in tackles in ’17) LB in his own right. Major Jordan and Ryan Dickens will be in play at the third LB spot. While there’s no questioning the front line talent, depth is a major concern.
The defensive line was hit hard by graduation but the cupboard is not completely bare. Syracuse transfer and Preseason 1st Team All-PL DT Tony Giudice is a great piece to build around. Senior Lavel Ramsey and junior Demetrius Breedlove will join Guidice inside. Andrew Chuma, Keith Earle and Ryan Barnett will battle for time at DE. Freshman Malik Hamm has impressed in fall camp and should see meaningful minutes.
The pass defense will once again be a strength (202.4 ypg allowed, 3rd in PL) with 3 starters returning. The safety combo of Yasir Thomas and the undersized Trent Crossan is formidable. Junior Eric Mitchell will man one of the CB positions while Tre Jordan should have the inside track to the other spot. Jordan missed 6 games last year due to an injury. Depth could be an issue as there’s not a lot of experience after the starters.
Special Teams
Michael Turk’s surprising decision to transfer to Arizona State could be a huge loss given the Leopards struggles on offense. With Turk’s departure, sophomore Jeffrey Kordenbrock (5-12 field goals, long of 43) and senior Jacob Bissell (missed all of ’17 with an injury) will battle it out for all 3 kicking duties. C.J. Amil and Joey Chenoweth are experienced return men.
Outlook
Those that don’t follow the Patriot League closely might not realize how difficult of job John Garrett took on. The Leopards have had pockets of success over the years but generally speaking it has been an uphill battle during the Patriot League era. Things have gotten especially worse recently as Lafayette is currently on pace for the worst decade in program history. If Lafayette’s fortunes are going to change Garrett needs to use all of his offensive intuition to come up with a solution to improve the offense.
The schedule has to be concern for a program searching for its first winning season in 9 years. The Leopards will be decided underdogs in 4 out of the first 5 games. If they fail to notch a “W” against Sacred Heart to open the season an 0-5 start is quite possible, if not probable. The conclusion to the season is not much better. Playing what should be a bowl bound Army team the week before Lehigh could prove to be rather detrimental.
With so many question marks on offense and a defense that lacked consistency, it’s hard to predict Lafayette seriously threatening the top half of the league in 2018. Exceeding last year’s 3 win total will not a foregone conclusion unless numerous players on both sides of the ball emerge as playmakers.
Prediction: 3-8 (2-4)
Holy Cross Crusaders
2017 Record: 4-7 (3-3)
Head Coach: Bob Chesney, 1st season
Last Patriot League Title: 2009
Last Playoff Appearance: 2009
2018 Schedule
9/1 @ Colgate
9/8 @ Boston College
9/15 Yale
9/22 Dartmouth
9/29 Bucknell
10/6 @ New Hampshire
10/12 @ Harvard
10/27 Lehigh
11/3 @ Lafayette
11/10 Fordham
11/17 @ Georgetown
Overview
For the first time in several years there’s genuine excitement surrounding the Holy Cross football program. New head coach Bob Chesney comes to Mount Saint James with an extremely impressive track record of success. Prior to taking over the Crusader head job Chesney spent the previous five seasons leading Worcester neighbor Assumption College to a 44-16 record and 3 Division II Playoff appearances. Before guiding the Greyhounds, Chesney reeled off a trio of winning seasons at Division III Salve Regina.
Chesney’s first season at Holy Cross will likely be his toughest to date. The Crusaders will face a very difficult schedule without their unquestionable leader on offense, QB Peter Pujals and the heart and soul of the defense, LB Nick McBeath. Both were for 4 year starters at their respective positions. If Chesney, in his first year at the Division 1 level, can keep his streak of winning seasons (currently 8) alive the Patriot League Coach of the Year Award will be heading to Massachusetts.
Offense
Best Player: WR Richie DeNicola
Freshman to Watch: Justin Bruno
New offensive coordinator Patrick Murphy’s first order of business will be deciding who will take over the quarterback position. Peter Pujals was the Crusader QB for so long it felt as though he immediately followed the great Dominic Randolph. Senior Geoff Wade and Junior Emmett Clifford are the two most likely candidates to take over the starting spot. While Geoff Wade has the experience advantage (5 starts his sophomore year), Clifford appears to have to have a higher ceiling skill wise. 6’6 Sophomore Connor Dagenhardt has the tools to potentially push for playing time at some point as well.
Running back is another area of concern for the offense heading into the year. The two leading rushers from 2017 have graduated which leaves Miles Alexander (72 carries 351 yards 3 TDs) and Dominic Cozier (39 carries 216 yards) as the primary duo heading into the season. While the combo has experience, neither one has been called upon to be the bell cow in key situations. Freshman and Georgia native Justin Bruno was a dangerous dual threat RB in high school. Given his versatility, Bruno could see an increased role as the season moves along.
If Holy Cross can get quality quarterback play they have the weapons outside to be an excellent passing team. Preseason 1st Team All-Patriot League WR, and former quarterback, Blaise Bell (46 rec 601 yards 8 TDs) leads the way in terms of name recognition. However, fellow senior Richie DeNicola might put up more impressive stats in 2018. After a breakout sophomore year, DiNicola was sidelined early last year with an injury. His return is a huge boost to the offense. Martin Dorsey (43 rec 590 yards 2 TDs) gives the Crusaders an excellent 3rd option at WR. With only three tight ends on the roster (Derek Mountain, Cole Pitwitz and Henry Teeter) there’s a good chance they all see time important snaps during the season.
The offensive line returns a good amount of experience from a unit that had its ups and downs last year. Rory Costello, John Brekke, Max Daurelle, Brian Foley, Jack Bowler, Jackson Dennis and Joe Mattingly are names worth paying attention to as the season begins. Brett Boddy, who missed all of last season, is another experienced lineman who will vie a starting spot. Sophomore Mike Pizziketti (6’8 289) clearly has the physical tools to be noticed as well.
Defense
Best Player: DE Teddy Capsis
Freshman to Watch: DL Matt Cedeno
The Crusader defense was the definition of a mixed bag in 2017. Some games it looked like one of the most formidable “Ds” in the league while other times it had more holes than Swiss cheese. The unit was quite stout against the run (120.5 ypg allowed, 2nd in PL) but got lit up (247.5 ypg allowed, 7th in PL) through the air. New defensive coordinator Scott James does have a lot of returning experience in secondary. That alone is reason to believe the Crusaders will be better equipped to slow down opposing passing attacks. Coach James also has one of the best defensive lineman, Teddy Capsis (6 sacks in ’17), in the Patriot League leading the pass rush.
Joining Capsis along the defensive line is a host of players who saw significant time last year. Fellow seniors Neil Vorster, Kevin Bucceroni and Jake McArdell give the Crusaders a ton experience in the trenches. Add in Mark Ebo, Jordan Jackson, highly touted recruit Matt Cedeno and the potential is there for the best DL in the Patriot League.
The linebacker position should also be an area of strength for the Holy Cross “D”. Preseason 1st Team All-Patriot League selection Ryan Brady will be leading the way. Joining him will be fellow senior Andre Chevalier. Chevalier was fifth on the team in TFL’s last season despite missing 3 games. Jack Haddon, Keiston Lowery and Jack McCade will also be in the mix for starting roles.
If the pass defense improves it will be te result of a lot of familiar names stepping up. Akeem Walcott and Damion Baker are good bets to get the starting nod at CB. Josh Hicks and Grant Holloman will also have key roles at CB. Chris Riley returns from injury to man one of the safety spots. Riley has the potential to be major force in the back end of the defense if he’s back to 100%. Kendrick Knight and Alex Johnson will be in the running for other starting safety spot. Senior Corey Stefanik gives the Crusaders a playmaker at the hybrid LB/DB position.
Special Teams
Cody Wilkinson is the lone returning kicker with experience. Wilkinson was responsible for kick offs in 2017 but did not handle any punting duties or attempt a field goal. As a result, junior Derek Ng and freshman Andrew Beatty will be in the mix. Richie DeNicola is well versed in the return the game.
Outlook
Given Chesney’s track record of success there’s plenty of optimism surrounding the Holy Cross football program. The first year coach inherits a team that returns a lot of talent and depth at certain positions. He also faces several question marks, most notably at QB. The defense should be good enough to at least keep the Crusaders in the majority of their early season games until the “O” finds its stride.
The biggest obstacle facing Holy Cross in 2018 is their schedule. It’s absolutely brutal from the get go. The Crusaders open the season on the road against league favorite Colgate in Hamilton. The Raider’s Andy Kerr Stadium has been a house of horrors for Holy Cross over the years. After that the Purple rekindle a bitter rivalry with Boston College at Alumni Stadium. Then it’s home to face defending Ancient Eight champion Yale and an always tough Dartmouth squad. Road trips to preseason Top 15 New Hampshire and Bay State rival Harvard round out the non-league portion of the schedule.
Chesney is too good of a coach to fail at Holy Cross if the administration fully backs him. He’s already hit a few homeruns in the early portion of the 2019 recruiting season. Unfortunately for Crusader fans they’ll likely have to endure one more subpar season before the program takes off. With that said, don’t be shocked if the Crusaders have at least one head turning win before the 2018 season comes to an end.
Prediction: 5-6 (4-2)
Football season is almost here and this year we are starting off right with an excellent match-up between the reigning HBCU National Champions, North Carolina A&T, and the four-time defending OVC Champions, Jacksonville State. Like last year’s kickoff match-up, where the Gamecocks beat Chattanooga 27-13, this year’s game will be played in Montgomery, Alabama at the Historic Cramton Bowl as well as feature on Saturday night ESPN prime time television.
The Teams:
#19 North Carolina A&T Aggies
2017 Record: 12-0
Players to Watch:
Lamar Reynard, SR. QB
Elijah Bell, SR. WR
Darryl Johnson, JR. DE
The Aggies are coming off an undefeated season that ended with a win over Grambling State for the Aggies’ second Celebration Bowl victory in the event’s short three-year history. The Aggies enter 2018 looking to repeat their success with new head coach, Sam Washington. Washington is no stranger to Aggie football as he has spent the past seven seasons serving as the Aggie’s defensive coordinator. After two HBCU Championships in three years the Aggies are looking to shrug off the notion that the MEAC’s reputation as a weaker league affects their legitimacy as an elite FCS program.
The Aggies have play makers on both sides of the ball and on offense feature one of the top offensive trios in the FCS with quarterback Reynard, wide receiver Bell, and running back Cartwright. Despite having a talented group of skill players on offense, the key for the Aggies will be to play well up front. The Aggies’ offensive line’s sole returning starter will have to work well with new faces to open holes for Cartwright and opportunities available for Reynard and Bell against a Jacksonville State front seven that has been one of the best units in the country over the past few seasons.
The Aggies return most of their defensive unit which was ranked top five nationally in 2017 in scoring defense, total defense, and rushing defense. Headlined by junior defensive end Darryl Johnson and Redshirt sophomore defensive back Mac McCain the Aggies are an experienced group that is excellent at stopping the run and forcing turnovers.
#8 Jacksonville State Gamecocks
2017 Record: 10-2
Players to Watch:
Marlon Bridges, JR. FS
Randy Robinson, SR. NT
Whoever Starts at QB
For the past several years Jax State has been on the short list of national contenders. Now after going losing in the second round of the FCS playoffs three of the past four years, JSU must prove that they still have a place in the national arena of FCS football. After losing to Sam Houston State in 2014 (National Semifinalist) and Youngstown State in 2016 (National Runner up) JSU was given the benefit of the doubt due to their 2015 campaign which saw them end the season in Frisco, but the prestige of making the National Championship game officially lost its meaning for JSU after a 7-17 loss to Kennesaw State in another second-round mishap last season.
The main story for the Gamecocks this season has been the battle between Redshirt-Freshman Zion Webb and 4-Star Clemson transfer Zerrick Cooper for the role of starting QB. Head Coach John Grass has stated that the starting quarterback will be revealed as the offense gets onto the field in Montgomery. Whoever the Gamecock’s play at QB will have plenty off assets to help them as the Gamecocks offense features veteran offensive line, talented group of receivers and tight ends, and a deep stable of running backs. Much like the Aggies, offensive line play for the Gamecocks will set the tone for the offense and the Aggie front seven will provide a worthy test.
Defensively the Gamecock’s motto seems to be “Reload.” After losing 5 starters, 4 of which were given NFL opportunities, including 2017 Buchannan Award winner Darius Jackson, the Gamecocks have brought in 4-star SEC transfers Tre Threat and Denzil Ware to supplement the Gamecocks Defensive front. The Gamecocks will also return junior safety and Buchannan candidate, Marlon Bridges, who lead a young group of defensive backs. The defensive backs will be the question mark for JSU’s defense and they will be thrown straight into the fire against Reynard and the Aggie’s strong passing attack.
The Prediction:
Both teams are entering 2018 on a mission to legitimize themselves a staple in the ranks of the FCS elite. This game may not provide the winner the recognition they deserve but a loss for either team could be a very big setback as far as reputation is concerned. Call me a homer, but I’m banking on the Gamecock’s 41-game regular season winning streak against non-FBS competition to extend.
Gamecocks 34
Aggies 24
Georgetown Hoyas
2017 Record: 1-10 (0-6)
Head Coach: Rob Sgarlata, 5th season, 11-33 (3-21)
Last Patriot League Title: Never
Last FCS Playoff Appearance: Never
2018 Schedule
9/1 @ Marist
9/8 Campbell
9/15 @ Dartmouth
9/22 Columbia
9/29 @ Brown
10/6 @ Fordham
10/13 @ Lafayette
10/20 Lehigh
10/27 @ Colgate
11/10 Bucknell
11/17 Holy Cross
Overview
Georgetown enters the 2018 season riding a dubious 15 game conference losing streaking. The last time the Hoyas notched a win in Patriot League action was October 24th 2015. On that fateful autumn day Georgetown outlasted Bucknell 17-9 in Lewisburg. What’s especially troublesome if you’re a Georgetown fan is the fact the Patriot League itself has struggled over that same time period.
Georgetown’s decision to stick with the need-base system while the rest of the Patriot League went to the full-scholarship model 7 years ago was suppose create a major competitive disadvantage. While the Hoyas have clearly fallen further behind it’s not because the other six programs have ascended to the top of FCS. The alarming reality is Georgetown is losing to mostly average to below average teams.
If Coach Sgarlata’s team is going to find success in the Patriot League, even modest success, they must find a way to generate points (12.5 ppg, 120th in FCS). During the offseason, Sgarlata hired Rob Spence to take over the offensive coordinator position. Spence held the same position at Clemson during Tommy Bowden’s tenure in Death Valley.
Offense
Best Returning Player: WR Michael Dereus
Freshman to Watch: OL Mac Hollensteiner
Pence’s first order of business will be deciding if Gunther Johnson (1026 yards, 4 TDs 6 INTs) will remain the starting quarterback. Clay Norris opted to leave the team during the offseason which has caused serious depth issues at QB. Sophomore Joseph Brunell (son of Mark Brunell) will likely get a lengthy look in camp. Freshmans Lorenzo Linsey and Jack Elliott come to D.C. with impressive resumes. Odds say Johnson starts the year and his performance will dictate what happens after the first few games.
The running back position is another area of concern. Georgetown’s rushing attack was anemic last year (59.8 ypg) despite having two senior backs in Alex Valles and Isaac Ellsworth. Now it’s Juniors Jay Tolliver and Jackson Saffold turn to see significant time in the backfield. Freshman Herman Moultrie has a chance to be the third RB that gets important carries throughout the season. Given the Hoyas recent struggles running the ball, the lack of depth and experience at RB is a major concern.
If Spence can point to a clear strength on offense it’s the pass catchers. Junior Michael Dereus (46 rec 696 yards 5 TDs) is a bonafide stud at WR. Dereus could be a household name in FCS with improved QB play. Senior Brandon Williams (24 rec 346 yards in 8 games) gives the Hoyas a very solid second option. Junior Max Edwards figures to see significant time as the third WR. Another WR to pay attention to is Skyler Springs (son of former NFL CB Shawn Springs). Freshman Cameron Clayton has a chance to work his way into the rotation. The TE spot seems wide open at this point. Junior Isaac Schley seems to have the inside track to the starting position. 6’6 freshman Liam McHale has a chance to be a serious red zone weapon if he can get comfortable in the offense.
The offensive line has the potential to be pretty solid. Due to numerous injuries last year there’s a lot of returning experience in the trenches. The unit will led by 5th year senior Dominic Scarangella at center. There’s a good chance the tackle positions are manned by two brothers, sophomore Daniel Horne and senior Jared Horne. Highly touted freshman Mac Hollensteiner will also make a push for playing time at tackle. The guard spots appear to be pretty wide open at this point. Seniors Tower Menning and Randy Crystian could be the week one starters. Junior Justin Wood will also be in the mix.
Defense
Best Returning Player: DT Kristian Tate
Freshman to Watch: LB Justin Fonteneaux
The Hoya defense took a step back last season (27.2 ppg allowed, 5th in PL) after developing into one of the best units in the Patriot League in recent years. The downfall of the “D” combined with a putrid offense resulted in Georgetown’s fewest wins since 2009. If the Hoya defense is going to turn things around Preseason All-PL DT Kristian Tate will be the one leading the way. Tate continues a Hoya tradition of extremely talented and disruptive front 7 players. Seniors Brennen Sawicki and Mike Taylor along with sophomore Duval Paul will likely join Tate along the defensive line. Sophomore Owen Kessler and freshman Isaiah Byrd are two more names that could find themselves with an increased role as the season progresses.
The linebacker unit will be bolstered by the return (missed 7 games in ’17) of senior J’Von Butler. Butler is one of the more talented linebackers in the Patriot League when healthy. He and Tate give the Hoyas two big time players within the front 7. The sophomore duo of Wesley Bowers and Ahmad Wilson should once again get the starting nod. There’s very little depth at LB so odds are at least one of the five freshmen sees significant time. Texan Justin Fonteneaux comes to Hoyaland off an exceptional high school career.
With plenty of experience and depth returning, the secondary should be the strength of defense. Senior Ramon Lyons, sophomore Cameron Deen and senior Jalen Goldwire will see plenty of time at cornerback. Despite his diminutive size, 5’9 170, Lyons has proven he can make disruptive plays all over the field. Blaise Brown, Jethro Francois and Leon Agee will fight it out for playing time at the two safety positions.
Special Teams
Junior Brad Hurst is expected to handle all facets of the kicking game. Hurst has proven to be a very reliable punter (40.7 avg.) but shaky at best when it comes to field goals (5-9). Given the Hoya’s struggles on offense, a strong kicking game is essential. Blaise Brown and Michael Dereus both have experience returning kicks.
Outlook
Georgetown has some very good pieces sprinkled about their roster. The defense should regain its form as one of the top 2 or 3 units in the Patriot League. However, there remain numerous question marks on offense. The combination of defections and graduation has left the cupboard extremely bare at key positions. Needless to say, Spence has his work cut out for himself.
The non-league portion of Georgetown’s schedule is once again quite negotiable. That doesn’t mean the Hoyas will find victories but at the very least there’s chances for one or more. At Marist, home against Campbell and at Brown appear to be best chances for “Ws”.
It’s hard to see Georgetown finishing higher than 6th in the final Patriot League standings. Their November 10th battle with Bucknell in D.C. might be the Hoyas only realistic chance to end the conference losing streak. Overall, anything more than a 2 or 3 wins will be a surprise given the state of the offense heading into the 2018 campaign.
Prediction: 2-9 (1-5)
Fordham Rams
2017 Record: 4-7 (3-3)
Head Coach: Joe Conlin, 1st year
Last Patriot League Title: 2014
Last FCS Playoff Appearance: 2015
2018 Schedule
9/1 @ Charlotte (FBS)
9/8 @ Richmond
9/15 Stony Brook
9/22 Central Connecticut State
10/6 Georgetown
10/13 @ Lehigh
10/20 Bryant
10/27 Lafayette
11/ 3 Colgate
11/10 @ Holy Cross
11/17 @ Bucknell
Overview
For the second time in three years the Fordham Rams will enter the season with a new head coach. Andrew Breiner left the Big Apple to join former Ram’s head coach Joe Moorhead at Mississippi State last December. Stepping in to replace Breiner is Joe Conlin. Conlin spent the previous 6 seasons as Yale’s offensive coordinator. Prior to his time in New Haven, Conlin had coaching stints at Harvard and New Hampshire. Needless to say, Conlin has been part of winning FCS football programs for over a decade.
Conlin does take over a program that took a serious step back in 2017 after posting 5 straight winning seasons. The Ram’s entered last year with a preseason Top 25 ranking and arguably the best player in FCS, Chase Edmonds. As fate would have it, Edmonds was injured early in the season, the defense struggled and the campaign ended up being a failure relative to expectations.
The good news for Conlin is the cupboard is far from bare, especially on offense. In order to get Fordham back to its winning ways priority number one must be getting vastly improved play from the defense. It started to show cracks at the end of Moorhead’s tenure and has been on a steady decline since.
Offense
Best Returning Player – WR Austin Longi
Freshman to Watch – OL Austin Glazier
For the first time in 5 years the centerpiece of the Ram offense won’t be record setting running back Chase Edmonds. Taking over for Edmonds will likely be the tandem of junior D’Angelo Palladino (481 yards 4 TDs) and sophomore Zach Davis (391 yards 2 TDs). Freshman Naim Mayfield is worth keeping an eye on as the season goes along. Mayfield enters Fordham following an extremely decorated high school career in New Jersey.
The quarterback position seems up in the air. Seniors Luke Medlock and Austin King (Indiana Transfer) both had chances to start last year due to a revolving door of injuries under center. Between the two, Medlock is more experienced but King is the better overall athlete. Given the weapons at the skill positions, both are more than capable of putting plenty of points on the scoreboard if they protect the ball.
Whomever gets the starting quarterback spot will have a plethora of experienced, talented pass catchers to work with. Preseason 1st Team All-PL Austin Longi (36 rec 462 yards 3 TDs) and Corey Caddle (33 rec 392 4 TDs) will lead the way at wide receiver. Both battled through injuries last year. Fellow seniors Andrew Prince and Jonathan Lumley give the Rams two big targets out wide in the red zone. Senior Isaiah Searight (33 rec 452 4 TDs, Preseason 1st Team All-PL) gives the Rams an extremely dangerous weapon at TE.
On paper there should be a decent amount of concern entering the season regarding the offensive line since Fordham lost 3 starters to graduation. The biggest loss of all is LT Anthony Coyle. Coyle was one of, if not the best Fordham linemen in the Patriot League era. Sophomore Nick Zakelj will likely move from RT to LT while junior Dominic Lombard (Preseason 1st Team All-PL) is a rock at center. After Zakelj and Lombard things get interesting. Sophomore Will Conley, freshman Austin Glazier and sophomore Matt Donovan should battle it out for the other tackle position. The guard positions seem a bit more up in the air. Juniors Marcel Deya and Anthony Solano along with sophomore Jake Troutman and freshman Phil Saleh are names in the mix for the two starting spots.
Defense
Best Returning Player – CB Dylan Mabin
Freshman to Watch – DB Cameron Blair
The Ram’s Patriot League Championship aspirations begin and end with the defense (34.9 ppg allowed, 6th in PL). Like fellow league contender Lehigh, Fordham MUST get better on “D” (431.5 ypg allowed, 103rd in FCS) if they’re going to seriously challenge for a league title and postseason consideration. If there’s one particular aspect that needs improvement it’s the run defense (209.5 ypg allowed, 108th in FCS). In an era that favors passing before the game even begins, stopping the run is paramount.
If Fordham is going to improve along the defensive line it will be up to a very young group to get the job done. There’s not a single senior defensive lineman on the Ram’s roster. Outside of junior DT Michael Ware (started all 11 games) Fordham will rely on a number of sophomores and freshman to contribute during the course of the season. Deondre Carter seems a safe bet at one DE spot while Mike Marinelli will see significant time at DT. After those two it should be wide open race for playing time. Keep any eye on Anthony Diodato. The sophomore was one of the best high school lineman (1st team All-State 5A OL and DL) in Pennsylvania.
The linebacker unit returns a good amount of game experience. Glenn Cunningham led the team in tackles as a freshman despite missing two games. The Nutmeg State native will vie for postseason league honors. Senior Lawrence Menyah will likely join Cunningham as a starter. James Biggs-Frazier will be in the running for the flex starting spot as well. Jeremy Imperati gives the defense a solid rush end. There’s not a lot of size at the linebacker which remains a concern given the Ram’s struggles against the run.
The secondary is anchored by Preseason 1st Team All-PL CB Dylan Mabin (Senior). Junior Jesse Bramble will almost certainly join at Mabin at CB. Safety Antonio Jackson (’17 2nd Team All-PL) is an excellent safety. The other safety position seems wide open.
Special Teams
There’s plenty of experience returning in the special teams department. Andrew Mevis handled all the kicking duties as a freshman and should do so again this year. Austin Longi and Dylan Mabin have plenty of reps handling returns.
Outlook
If new head coach Joe Conlin can settle on a quarterback and get improved play from the front 7 on defense the Rams have as good a shot as anyone to win the Patriot League. The talent and experience at the skill positions can rival anyone in the league. The offensive line will go from a weakness to a strength this year despite the loss of Coyle.
Conlin’s troops will face a formidable, but not overwhelming out of conference slate. The Rams open up with a winnable FBS game against a downtrodden Charlotte team then head to Virginia to face the rebuilding Richmond Spiders. The toughest test of the season will likely come on September 15th when Fordham hosts a loaded Stony Brook squad. 2017 NEC Champion Central Connecticut State and fellow NEC’er Bryant round out the non-league portion of the schedule.
Heading into the season everyone is talking about the Colgate-Lehigh clash set for the league’s penultimate weekend. However, it’s the Raider’s trip to the Bronx the week before that may very well decide the league race. If the Rams can split with Lehigh and Colgate while avoiding a potential pitfall against Holy Cross on November 10th there’s a great chance they end their two year postseason hiatus.
Prediction: 7-4 (5-1)
Colgate Raiders
2017 Record: 7-4 (5-1)
Head Coach: Dan Hunt, 26-21 (18-6) through 4 seasons
Last League Title: 2017, Co-Championship
Last FCS Playoff Appearance: 2015
2018 Schedule
9/1 Holy Cross
9/8 @ New Hampshire
9/15 @ Furman
9/22 Lafayette
9/29 @ William & Mary
10/6 @ Bucknell
10/13 Cornell
10/27 Georgetown
11/3 @ Fordham
11/10 @ Lehigh
11/17 @ Army
Overview
Colgate enters the 2018 season fresh off a share of their 9th Patriot League Championship. In addition to their co-championship, Colgate was the only team in the league to post a winning record in 2017. Unfortunately for the Raiders, those two accomplishments weren’t good enough to earn a berth in the FCS Playoffs. Lehigh’s 41-38 win over Colgate in Hamilton proved to be the difference in the race for the automatic bid. Due to Colgate’s struggles in non-conference play and the league’s overall weakness in 2017 they weren’t seriously considered for an at-large bid.
The good news for Colgate is they return a roster loaded with talent at every level. QB Grant Brenenan (’17 PL Freshman of the year) showed tremendous growth as the 2017 season went on. He will lead a very experienced offense. On the other side of the ball Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Chris Wheeler will anchor the most talented unit in the league.
Offense
Best Returning Player: T Jovaun Woolford
Freshman to Watch: OL Michael Griggs
Heading into the season it’s hard to find a weakness on the Colgate offense. Brenenan (132-233 1,594 yards, 18 TDs 5 INTs; 401 yards rushing 6 TDs), RB James Holland (722 yards 6 TDs) and WR Thomas Ives (23 rec 353 yards 7 TDs) a 3 headed monster at the skill positions that can rival anyone in the league. Getting Holland back for a 5th year is a huge boost for the offense. Holland led the FCS in rushing TDs in 2015 before suffering a season ending injury early in the 2016 campaign. Ives (6’5) gives Brenenan a big target in the redzone. WR Owen Rockett (29 rec 333 yards 2 TDs) and TE Nick Martinsen (23 rec 254 yards 1 TD) will likely see increased productivity this year with a more experienced quarterback behind center.
The offensive line figures to be the top unit in the league. Fellow seniors Juvaun Woolford and Max Hartzman were named to the Preseason All-Patriot League team. Guard Scott Hirshman (2017 2nd Team All-PL) gives the Raiders a third talented, proven commodity in trenches. The other two spots figure to be a battle between sophomores Sam Diehl and Jack Badovinac, juniors Will Varble and Charlie Holstopple and a slew of talented freshman. Keep an eye on freshman Michael Griggs from New Jersey.
Defense
Best Returning Player: DE Nick Wheeler
Freshman to Watch: LB Milton Braasch II
Last year it was DE Pat Afriyie who entered the year as the stud along the defensive front. This season the torch has been passed to senior DE Chris Wheeler. Junior Cam Rohr (6’2 315) gives Colgate the big body at the NT position that teams at this level covet. Senior Caleb Fell is also capable of manning the middle of the defensive line. The other end position in the Raiders 3-4 alignment will likely come down to the experienced Chuck Moore (10th in tackles in ’17) or sophomores Hunter Gossman and Owen Rosenberger.
The Raiders seem set at linebacker. While the area did suffer some key graduation losses there’s a ton of experience that returns. Senior T.J. Holl earned Preseason 1st Team All-PL honors. Nick Ioanilli and John Steffen will almost certainly join Holl in the starting rotation. Ioanelli and Steffen could easily vie for postseason league honors. Dillon Deluliis, Matt Carandang, Blane Briggs and Trevor Thompson will also be in the mix.
The Raiders return an embarrassment of riches in the backend of the defense. The secondary will not only be the best in the league, it should be one of the top units in the country. The cornerback combo of Tyler Castillo and Abu Daramy-Swaray were named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team. Senior Alec Wiesnewski joins them on the Preseason 1st team at strong safety. A case could be made that free safety Ben Hunt IV is the top player at his position in the league.
Special Teams
Colgate returns all their specialists from last year. Junior place kicker Chris Puzzi earned Preseason 1st All-PL 1st team honors. The punting duties will once again fall on the leg of Josh Cerra (39.8 ypp in ’17). Owen Rockett and Daramy-Swaray figure to once again be in line for punt and kick return duties.
Outlook
On paper, Colgate is the team to beat in the Patriot League. No team enters 2018 with fewer question marks than the Raiders, and it’s not really close. If the offense is off one game they have a defense capable of pulling out a tough “W” and vice versa. Expect to see Grant Brenenan’s name pop up more and more in the national conversation as the season goes along. He’s the most gifted Colgate QB since Ryan Vena.
The one thing that could trip up Colgate is their schedule. They once again face a daunting non-league slate and must travel to Fordham and Lehigh in early November. The Raiders have struggled in non-league play in recent years. They haven’t fared much, if any better against the Mountain Hawks. Colgate is 2-6 against their main nemesis this decade.
Prediction: 7-4 (5-1)
Bucknell Bison
2017 Record: 5-6 (2-4)
Head Coach: Joe Susan, 37-51 (18-29) through 8 seasons
Last League Title: 1996
Last FCS Playoff Appearance: Never
2018 Schedule
9/1 William & Mary
9/8 Sacred Heart
9/15 @ Penn
9/22 @ Villanova
9/29 @ Holy Cross
10/6 Colgate
10/13 @ Monmouth
10/20 Lafayette
11/3 @ Lehigh
11/10 @ Georgetown
11/17 Fordham
Overview
After posting back-2-back winning seasons in 2013 and 2014, the Bison head into the 2018 campaign on the heels of three straight losing records. The offense once again struggled to generate points (16.8 ppg, 5th in PL) in 2017. Inconsistent quarterback play and injuries at the running back position were the main reasons for the unit’s lackluster performance.
Perhaps even more concerning, and surprising, last season was the defense’s inconsistent play. The Bison “D” was able to keep lesser offenses firmly in check but when they faced better competition it was extremely leaky despite having Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Abdullah Anderson anchoring the front 7. Bucknell lost by a combined score of 82-24 to Patriot League co-champions Colgate and Lehigh. They yielded 40+ points in both contests.
Offense
Best Returning Player: RB Chad Freshnock
Freshman to Watch: QB Tarrin Earle
There’s no denying Bucknell’s struggles on offense the last few years. Even when they were posting winning season’s the offense was a step away from being at a league championship level. As the 2018 season begins the Bison must find a way to generate more explosive plays on “O”. The ability to do so starts and stops at the quarterback position. Junior John Chiarolanzio (109-200 6 TDs 6 INTs 118 ypg in ’17) is the only returning QB with any meaningful playing time. Chiarolanzio has shown some promise but must elevate his game if he wants to hold on to the starting position and elevate the Bison offense. Sophomore Logan Bitikofer seems like the most likely candidate to unseat Chiarolanzio at this time. The QB with the most upside on the roster is freshman Tarrin Earle. Don’t be surprised if Earle is seeing significant time if the more experienced quarterbacks on the roster aren’t getting the job done.
The “O” will look upon RB Chad Freshnock (525 yards 6 TDs in ’17) to carry much of the load now that his stablemate Joey DeFloria graduated. Junior Marques Carter will likely start the season as the #2 back but don’t be shocked if one of the freshmen get meaningful carries during the season. Former WR and current special teams ace Stefone Moore-Green could also be in line for a more impactful role at RB given his quickness in space.
WR Alan Butler (27 rec 237 yards 1 TD) and TE Marcus Ademilola (32 rec 233 yards 2 TDs) return as the Bison’s top two pass catchers. While it’s nice to have Butler and Ademilola back in the fold, their productivity must increase if the Bison offense is to improve. In addition to those two, the Bison will need at least one other WR to step up and have an impact in the passing game.
The strength of the Bison should be the offensive line. The only member from last year’s unit that is gone is Chase Watkins. Stephenson, Sanders, Finn, Barr, Peppers, Luckner and Krizack figure to be in the mix for the starting 5 in the trenches to start the season. Finn is the most talented of the group.
Defense
Best Returning Player: DE Simeon Page
Freshman to Watch: LB Max Bunzel
Generally speaking, the one constant under Coach Susan has been a stout defense. While the Bison led the league in yards allowed per game last year (294.6) they struggled to contain the better teams. Losing Anderson and the 1st Team All-PL linebacker duo of Pyles and Richard won’t be easy to overcome. Anderson leaves Lewisburg as one of the most decorated defensive players in Bucknell and Patriot League history.
The strength of defense this year will likely shift from the front 7 to the defensive backfield. There’s experience at safety with Drew Newcomb and Aaron Brown returning. Sophomore Brandon Benson returns to man the WHIP position. Senior Bryan Marine (2016 1st Team All-PL) is a proven commodity at the CB position. At this point, Fisayo Oluleye seems to have the inside track to other CB spot.
The most disruptive player on the Bison “D” heading into the year is sophomore DE Simeon Page. Page garnered 2nd Team All-PL honors as a freshman. The Utah native seems destined to be the next great Bucknell defender. Susan will need Page be a major factor early in the season as the rest of what will be a green defensive front 7 settles in. Matt Robins and Sam Chitty should be in line for the starting LB positions. John Hunt and Sean Naiman figure to join Page along the defensive front. Despite being a bit undersized, freshman LB Max Bunzel was a beast in high school. Given the lack of depth at LB Bunzel could find himself on the field early in the season.
Special Teams
Alex Pechin is not only the best punter in the Patriot League he’s arguably the best punter in all of FCS. The junior is the type of secret weapon that can win a team game or two during the course of the season. Bucknell does need to replace reliable place kicker Josh Burdick. Ethan Torres or Jack Chambers will it battle it out in camp for the starting gig. Stefone Moore-Green and Alan Butler will likely continue kickoff and punt return duties.
Outlook
There’s some good pieces dotting the roster. The freshman class seems especially strong. Unfortunately, the 2-deep is filled with big questions at several key positions. Quarterback play must improve if Bucknell has any chance to challenge for a winning record and league title. With the defense being hit hard by graduation the offense will have to win a few games this year instead of their recent roll of “just don’t lose it”.
Given the numerous question marks on both sides of the ball and a tricky schedule, it’s hard to see Bucknell pulling themselves out of their recent rut. If recruiting continues on the uptick brighter days will be ahead. Until then, 2018 is shaping up to be Susan’s toughest since his first season in Lewisburg.
Prediction: 2-9 (1-5)
With fall camps opening up this week all around the Football Championship Subdivision comes the preseason edition of AnyGivenSaturday.com’s FCS top 25 poll. Defending champion North Dakota State and 2017 runner-up James Madison take up the same positions at #1 and #2, respectively, that they finished 2017 at. South Dakota State also maintained their #3 position in this season’s inaugural ranking that they finished at last year. Coming in at #4 is a new face in Kennesaw State, earning it’s first top 5 ranking in the AGS poll in only the 4th season of the program’s existence. Rounding out the top 5 is Sam Houston State who starts the year in the same #5 position that they finished 2017 in.
As is the norm in preseason rankings there was a lot of volatility amongst teams that the AGS community felt would improve or regress greatly from the end of 2017 into 2018. Amongst the headliners in the former group is Eastern Washington who shot up 15 spots from the final 2017 poll all the way to #6. Delaware also climbed the rankings in the offseason moving up 12 spots to #12 to reach their highest AGS ranking since the 2011 season. Another familiar program that failed to reach the playoffs in 2017 that AGS expects to bounce back this year is Illinois State who moved up 16 spots to #15. The last double digit riser was their MVFC conference mate Youngstown State who moved up 14 spots to #24. Villanova moved into the top 25 at #22 after failing to receive any votes in the final 2017 poll.
On the opposite end of the spectrum was Wofford who moved down 6 spots from the final 2017 ranking to #13 following their losses to graduation and the retirement of their iconic head coach Mike Ayers. Another team dealing with a head coaching change and subsequent drop in the rankings is Central Arkansas who lost 7 spots to come in at #16 to start 2018. Coming in back to back at #20 and #21 were Stony Brook, who dropped 9 spots, and Western Illinois, who dropped 6 spots. The biggest fall for a top 25 team to start 2018 was Southern Utah who plummeted 13 spots to #23. South Dakota, San Diego, and Grambling all start 2018 in the ORV category after finishing 2017 ranked amongst the top 25.
Leading the way in terms of conference representation were the CAA and MVFC who made up nearly half of the top 25 by themselves each placing 6 teams amongst the top 25. They were followed by the Southland who had 4 top 25 teams and the Big Sky and SOCON who each had 3. The Big South, OVC, and MEAC rounded out the field each with a single team ranked amongst the top 25.
Full results below:
| Rank | Change | Team | Total Points | First Place Votes |
| 1 | – | North Dakota State Bison | 2247 | 88 |
| 2 | – | James Madison Dukes | 2150 | 2 |
| 3 | – | South Dakota State Jackrabbits | 1893 | |
| 4 | 2 | Kennessaw State Owls | 1870 | |
| 5 | – | Sam Houston State Bearkats | 1726 | |
| 6 | 15 | Eastern Washington Eagles | 1571 | |
| 7 | 6 | New Hampshire Wildcats | 1545 | |
| 8 | – | Jacksonville State Gamecocks | 1539 | |
| 9 | -5 | Weber State Wildcats | 1492 | |
| 10 | 9 | Samford Bulldogs | 1234 | |
| 11 | 1 | Northern Iowa Panthers | 1099 | |
| 12 | 12 | Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens | 989 | |
| 13 | -6 | Wofford Terriers | 964 | |
| 14 | 4 | Elon Phoenix | 859 | |
| 15 | 16 | Illinois State Redbirds | 717 | |
| 16 | -7 | Central Arkansas Bears | 701 | |
| 17 | 5 | Nicholls State Colonels | 679 | |
| 18 | -1 | Furman Paladins | 658 | |
| 19 | -3 | North Carolina A&T Aggies | 656 | |
| 20 | -9 | Stony Brook Seawolves | 624 | |
| 21 | -6 | Western Illinois Leathernecks | 540 | |
| 22 | NR | Villanova Wildcats | 529 | |
| 23 | -13 | Southern Utah Thunderbirds | 442 | |
| 24 | 14 | Youngstown State Penguins | 420 | |
| 25 | -2 | McNeese State Cowboys | 327 | |
| ORV: | ||||
| 26 | 3 | Austin Peay Governors | 251 | |
| 27 | -1 | Northern Arizona Lumberjacks | 230 | |
| 28 | 2 | Montana Grizzlies | 215 | |
| 29 | -15 | South Dakota Coyotes | 212 | |
| 30 | NR | Idaho Vandals | 207 | |
| 31 | -11 | San Diego Toreros | 136 | |
| 32T | 3 | Richmond Spiders | 84 | |
| 32T | -6 | Yale Bulldogs | 84 | |
| 32T | -1 | Sac State Hornets | 84 | |
| 35 | -10 | Grambling State Tigers | 43 | |
| 36 | 1 | Colgate Raiders | 27 | |
| 37 | -9 | Monmouth Hawks | 26 | |
| 38 | NR | Maine Black Bears | 22 | |
| 39 | NR | Montana State Bobcats | 19 | |
| 40 | NR | UC Davis Aggies | 14 | |
Dropped out of the poll:
Central Connecticut State Blue Devils
Lehigh Mountain Hawks
Western Carolina Catamounts
Join the discussion here: http://www.anygivensaturday.com/showthread.php?209343-AGS-Poll-Results-PRESEASON-POLL-2018-SEASON
