Surprises always lurk in CAA Football

(STATS) – They’re sitting right there in plain sight in CAA Football. It’s simply a matter of which one or two teams will become the surprise of the conference this season.

It basically never fails to happen in the FCS power conference that last season became the first to qualify six teams – half of its 12-school membership – for the national playoffs.

At CAA media day on Tuesday, James Madison was installed as the preseason favorite just ahead of Towson, defending champion Maine and Elon.

Maine may have taken exception with the poll – again. Last season, the Black Bears won the CAA title after being picked eighth in the preseason. Towson was picked 10th before going on to finish third. Rhode Island was last in the poll and enjoyed its first winning season in 17 years.

In 2017, Stony Brook was picked eighth and finished second, while Elon was picked 11th and finished third.

Make no mistake, the preseason voting isn’t necessarily subpar. The depth of quality teams simply wins out.

“You can rank the teams 1 through 12, but it really doesn’t matter. What matters is what happens on the field,” CAA commissioner Joe D’Antonio said. “On any given Saturday, anybody can beat every other team.”

There are plenty of potential surprises in the lower half of this year’s preseason poll. New Hampshire, picked seventh, is hoping to return to the playoffs after key injuries last season ended its run of 14 consecutive appearances. Traditionally strong programs Villanova and Richmond picked ninth and 10th, respectively, also stand out.

The two teams with the most CAA preseason team selections have new coaches. Maine, now led by former offensive coordinator Nick Charlton, had seven, including Earnest Edwards at both wide receiver and kick returner. James Madison, now led by former Elon coach Curt Cignetti, earned six selections.

Towson’s five selections included preseason offensive player of the year Tom Flacco at quarterback. Richmond defensive end Maurice Jackson earned the top defensive honor.

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CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL

Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors Poll

1. James Madison (20 first-place votes)

2. Towson (3)

3. Maine (1)

4. Elon

5. Delaware

6. Stony Brook

7. New Hampshire

8. Rhode Island

9. Villanova

10. Richmond

11. William & Mary

12. UAlbany

CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON TEAM

Offensive Player of the Year – Tom Flacco, QB, Towson

Defensive Player of the Year – Maurice Jackson, DE, Richmond

Offense

QB – Tom Flacco, Towson

RB – Shane Simpson, Towson

RB – Jaylan Thomas, Elon

FB – Tyler Crist, William & Mary

WR – Earnest Edwards, Maine

WR – Shane Leatherbury, Towson

WR – Aaron Parker, Rhode Island

TE – Matt Foster, Elon

OL – Liam Dobson, Maine

OL – Mario Farinella, Delaware

OL – Liam Fornadel, James Madison

OL – Kyle Murphy, Rhode Island

OL – Kyle Nunez, Stony Brook

Defense

DL – Ron’Dell Carter, James Madison

DL – Maurice Jackson, Richmond

DL – Sam Kamara, Stony Brook

DL – Kayon Whitaker, Maine

LB – Robert Heyward, Towson

LB – Dimitri Holloway, James Madison

LB – Taji Lowe, Maine

LB – Deshawn Stevens, Maine

S – Isaiah Laster, William & Mary

S – Pop Lacey, New Hampshire

S – Adam Smith, James Madison

CB – Manny Patterson, Maine

CB – Rashad Robinson, James Madison

Special Teams

KR – Earnest Edwards, Maine

PR – D’Angelo Amos, James Madison

PK – Aidan O’Neill, Towson

P – Nick Pritchard, Delaware

Special Teams – Isaiah White, Stony Brook

Honorable Mention

Davis Cheek, QB, Elon; Chris Ferguson, QB, Maine; Dejoun Lee, RB, Delaware; Carlos Washington, RB, New Hampshire; Joey Kenny, FB, Rhode Island; Owen Tyler, FB, Delaware; Jabari Allen, WR, Towson; Dev Holmes, WR, UAlbany; Simon Bengelis, TE, Villanova; Aaron Grzymkowski, OL, Towson; Mac Patrick, OL, James Madison; Mark Williamson, OL, William & Mary; Bryce Carter, DL, Towson; John Daka, DL, James Madison; Brandon Ginnetti, DL, Rhode Island; Charles Mitchell, DL, Maine; Bill Murray, DL, William & Mary; Levi Metheny, LB, UAlbany; Keon Paye, LB, Towson; Drew Wiley, LB, Villanova; Augie Contressa, S, Stony Brook; Daniel Jones, S, Richmond; Corey Parker, S, William & Mary; Jaquan Amos, CB, Villanova; Gavin Heslop, CB, Stony Brook, Greg Liggs, CB, Elon; Ahmere Dorsey, KR/PR, Rhode Island; Drew Sanborn, P, New Hampshire; Eli Mencer, Special Teams, UAlbany