HARRISONBURG - The Colonial Athletic Association kicks off its season this week as all 12 league schools are in action.
Each week, the DN-R will put out its CAA power rankings to reflect which squads are trending in the right direction and which ones aren’t.
Here’s a starting point with our preseason power rankings:
1. James Madison
Last Year: 14-1, FCS National Champions
Season Opener: Saturday at East Carolina
On its way to winning the national title, JMU rolled unbeaten through CAA play. Coach Mike Houston enters his second year leading the program with more of his players back than lost from last year’s championship squad, including quarterback Bryan Schor. As long as Schor, who led FCS in completion percentage (73.1 percent) while throwing for 3,002 yards and 29 touchdowns, is healthy, the Dukes will have a chance to win each week.
2. Villanova
Last Year: 9-4, FCS Playoffs second round
Season Opener: Saturday at Lehigh
Though longtime coach Andy Talley retired following the 2016 season, much of what he built over 30 seasons at Villanova remains in place under new coach Mark Ferrante, including the unique 3-3-5 stack defense the Wildcats use. Last year, Villanova boasted the nation’s top-rated unit for total defense (259.8 yards per game) and scoring defense (15 points per game). Preseason All-American cornerback Rob Rolle is one of six starters back from the ‘Cats’ 2016 defense.
3. Richmond
Last Year: 10-4, FCS Playoff quarterfinals
Season Opener: Friday vs. Sam Houston State at Waco, Texas
This season begins just as last year’s ended for new Richmond coach Russ Huesman, with Sam Houston State. In his last game as the coach at Chattanooga, Huesman’s squad fell to SHSU in the second round of the FCS playoffs. This contest was supposed to be played Sunday at SHSU, but Hurricane Harvey moved the date and location, so the Spiders make the trip to McLane Stadium on Friday to kickoff the post Danny Rocco era. Huesman should benefit from some key personnel in place such as quarterback Kyle Lauletta, who returns after suffering an ACL injury late in the 2016 season.
4. Albany
Last Year: 7-4
Season Opener: Saturday at Old Dominion
To jump start its 2016 season, Albany knocked off FBS Buffalo. This year the Great Danes open at FBS Old Dominion with another upset in mind. Under fourth-year coach Greg Gattuso, Albany running back Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks is the conference’s top returning rusher. Ibitokun-Hanks racked up 1,388 yards last season, finishing second only to JMU’s Khalid Abdullah. While Ibitokun-Hanks will provide Albany a more-than-reliable ball carrier, Gattuso is tasked with replacing four of the five starters on the offensive line that paved the way for Ibitokun-Hanks last year.
5. Maine
Last Year: 6-5
Season Opener: Tonight at New Hampshire
Maine was undervalued in the CAA Preseason Poll, as league coaches and media relation directors picked the Black Bears to finish ninth this season. Led by second-year coach Joe Harasymiak, the team returns 15 starters from last season including eight on offense. Junior Micah Wright is the top returning receiver in the conference after hauling in 44 catches for 686 yards and seven touchdowns in only nine games last year.
6. Stony Brook
Last Year: 5-6
Season Opener: Saturday at South Florida
Stony Brook had success defensively in 2016, finishing basically second in every statistical category to Villanova. The good news for the Seawolves is nine starters from that defense are back including safety Tyrice Beverette, who was third in the CAA with 96 total tackles. What Stony Brook needs to improve is its offense. The Seawolves averaged 262.2 total yards per game – a league worst.
7. New Hampshire
Last Year: 8-5, FCS Playoffs second round
Season Opener: Tonight vs. Maine
Veteran coach Sean McDonnell has led New Hampshire to the FCS playoffs in each of the last 13 seasons. It’s the longest streak in the country. If New Hampshire is going to continue that streak, the Wildcats must fill absences of three key graduated players — running back Dalton Crossan, defensive end Cam Shorey and cornerback Casey DeAndrade.
8. Delaware
Last Year: 4-7
Season Opener: Tonight vs. Delaware State
Coach Danny Rocco begins his Delaware career when Blue Hens battle in-state foe Delaware State. While Rocco is in a new place, his roster is similar to what Delaware’s roster was last year as the team returns 20 starters for 2017. Joe Walker remains in place to start at quarterback for the Blue Hens.
9. William & Mary
Last Year: 5-6
Season Opener: Saturday at Virginia
William & Mary’s five-man quarterback competition is still ongoing. Junior Tommy McKee, sophomore Brandon Battle, redshirt freshmen Dean Rotger and Ted Hefter and true freshman Shon Mitchell are all involved. Around the quarterback, William & Mary returns only five starters on offense.
10. Towson
Last Year: 4-7
Season Opener: Saturday vs. Morgan State
Towson finished the 2016 season strong, rattling off three consecutive wins to salvage the year after losing seven straight. Ninth-year coach Rob Ambrose has to hope its late-season success carries into the 2017 season when the Tigers open up against Morgan State. Towson brings back 10 starters on defense, but only five on offense, though running back Shane Simpson returns after rushing for 784 yards as a freshman last year.
11. Elon
Last Year: 2-9
Season Opener: Tonight at Toledo
After six seasons leading Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania, former Alabama assistant Curt Cignetti was hired at Elon to turn around the Phoenix’s program. He’s admittedly a few years away from having the roster looking like he wants it to, but in the meantime, he will lean on a few polished players like linebacker Warren Messer to ignite the turnaround.
12. Rhode Island
Last Year: 2-9
Season Opener: Tonight at Central Michigan
Six of Rhode Island’s nine losses last year came by two touchdowns or more. Fourth-year coach Jim Fleming has the tough task of figuring out how to elevate the roster and his program. The Rams bring back kick returner Harold Cooper, who had two touchdowns last season.
