UNH receives Top 25 votes

By rbrown
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: August 16, 2021

RICHMOND, Va. – Four Colonial Athletic Association football teams were ranked in the preseason AFCA FCS Coaches Top 25 poll that was released on Monday morning.

James Madison received nine first-place votes and was ranked No. 2 overall, while Delaware was close behind at No. 5 in the poll. Villanova was ranked No. 15 and Richmond starts the season at No. 22. New Hampshire and Rhode Island were both among other teams receiving votes.

JMU is coming off a 7-1 season last spring in which it advanced to the semifinals of the FCS playoffs for the fourth time in the past five years. The Dukes feature a pair of All-Americans on offense in running back Percy Agyei-Obese and tackle Liam Fornadel, while the defense is led by All-America tackle Mike Greene and linebacker Kelvin Azanama.

Delaware is riding the momentum from a 7-1 spring campaign that included advancing to the semifinals of the FCS playoffs for the first time in a decade. The Blue Hens welcome back a pair of All-Americans on offense with running back Dejoun Lee and tackle David Kroll, while All-America safety Kedrick Whitehead and linebacker Johnny Buchanan are back from a nationally ranked defense.

Villanova went 2-2 last spring after earning a FCS playoff berth in 2019. The Wildcats feature an experienced offense led by quarterback Dan Smith and running back Justin Covington. There are also familiar faces back on defense with lineman Malik Fisher, All-America linebacker Forrest Rhyne and cornerback Christian Benford.

Richmond has its sights set on a playoff berth after posting a 3-1 mark last spring. The Spiders’ offense includes sixth-year quarterback Joe Mancuso and leading rusher Aaron Dykes. Richmond’s defense should also be solid with a pair of All-Americans in tackle Kobie Turner and linebacker Tristan Wheeler.

AFCA FCS Coaches Top 25 Poll (Preseason)