URI Picked 8th, Bryant 15th In 2024 CAA Football Preseason Poll
CAA Football Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. (July 24, 2024) – Villanova, which posted a 10-3 record, earned a share of the CAA Football championship and reached the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs last season, has been picked to finish atop the CAA Football standings in 2024 according to a vote of the league’s head coaches.
The Wildcats received nine first-place votes and 217 points in the preseason poll. Richmond got one first-place vote and was chosen second with 189 points, while UAlbany garnered three first-place votes and finished third with 179 points. William & Mary (175 points) was close behind in fourth, and Delaware (163 points) got three first-place tallies and placed fifth. Elon (157 points) was chosen sixth, followed by New Hampshire (150), Rhode Island (142), Towson (114), Monmouth (95), Campbell (83), Hampton (62), Maine (57), North Carolina A&T (49), Bryant (46) and Stony Brook (42).
Villanova returns five starters on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Connor Watkins is back at the controls of the offense and is joined by three starting linemen and big play receiver Jaylan Sanchez. The defense features top tacklers Brendan Bell and Shane Hartzell at linebacker along with All-CAA defensive backs Isas Waxter and Ty Trinh.
Richmond, which claimed a share of the CAA title in 2023, is coming off back-to-back 9-4 campaigns that included reaching the second round of the FCS playoffs. Offensively, the Spiders welcome back quarterback Kyle Wickersham and a deep group of receivers led by All-CAA honoree Nick DeGennaro. Richmond’s defense includes All-CAA lineman Jeremiah Grant and linebacker Wayne Galloway.
UAlbany registered its best season in school history in 2023, finishing 11-4 overall, earning a share of its first CAA championship and advancing to the semifinals of the FCS playoffs for the first time. The Great Danes’ offense is led by multi-threat running back Griffin Woodell and four offensive line starters paced by All-CAA standout Ozzie Hutchinson.
William & Mary, which reached the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs in 2022, has nearly its entire group of starters back on offense. Quarterback Darius Wilson and running backs Bronson Yoder and Malachi Imoh bring plenty of experience and All-American Charles Grant headlines the offensive line. The defense is led by senior safety Marcus Barnes.
CAA Football also announced its preseason all-conference team. Villanova led all schools with six players honored while Richmond had four. Villanova’s Watkins was chosen as the preseason Offensive Player of the Year after passing for 2,681 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushing for 378 yards and 10 TD’s a year ago. Elon All-America safety Caleb Curtain was selected as the preseason Defensive Player of the Year after recording 80 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and a league-high four interceptions in 2023.
CAA Football expands to 16 members in 2024 with the addition of Bryant University and looks to continue its tradition of success. Four teams received berths in the FCS playoffs in 2023, which was tied for the second-most of any conference. The CAA has had at least one team reach the quarterfinals every year since 1995 and has had at least one semifinalist 10 times over the past 11 years, with seven different schools advancing to the final four. Twelve of the CAA’s 16 members have participated in the FCS playoffs since 2015, a feat unmatched by any other conference.
2024 CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)
OFFENSE
Name, School Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown
Connor Watkins, Villanova Gr. QB 6-3 225 Williamsport, Pa.
Elijah Burris, Hampton Sr. RB 5-10 205 Gastonia, N.C.
Griffin Woodell, UAlbany So. RB 5-10 194 Glens Falls, N.Y.
Marcus Yarns, Delaware Gr. RB 5-11 183 Salisbury, Md.
Bronson Yoder, William & Mary Sr. RB 5-11 210 Nappanee, Ind.
Trey McDonald, William & Mary Jr. FB/HB 6-6 230 Kinnelon, N.J.
Carter Runyon, Towson Sr. TE 6-6 235 Fairfax, Va.
Chandler Brayboy, Elon Sr. WR 6-1 199 Pembroke, N.C.
Nick DeGennaro, Richmond Sr. WR 6-1 190 Old Bridge, N.J.
Anthony Johnson, Stony Brook So. WR 5-11 190 Burlington, N.J.
Temi Ajirotutu, Villanova Gr. OL 6-5 320 Queens, N.Y.
Fintan Brose, Delaware Gr. OL 6-2 304 Irwin, Pa.
Charles Grant, William & Mary Sr. OL 6-4 300 Portsmouth, Va.
Ozzie Hutchinson, UAlbany Gr. OL 6-4 305 Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Will Marotta, UAlbany Gr. OL 6-5 325 Collegeville, Pa.
Ralph Paige, Jr., Towson Sr. OL 6-3 305 Washington, D.C.
DEFENSE
Name, School Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown
Jeremiah Grant, Richmond Sr. DL 6-2 245 South Orange, N.J.
Westley Neal, Jr., Rhode Island Sr. DL 6-0 315 Miami, Fla.
Michael Otty, Bryant Sr. DL 6-2 260 Brooklyn, N.Y.
Dylan Ruiz, New Hampshire Sr. DL 6-1 256 Orlando, Fla.
Josiah Silver, New Hampshire Sr. DL 6-2 243 Hampton, Va.
Brendan Bell, Villanova Gr. LB 6-2 230 Basking Ridge, N.J.
Shane Hartzell, Villanova Jr. LB 6-0 230 Perkasie, Pa.
A.J. Pena, Rhode Island Jr. LB 6-2 235 Branchburg, N.J.
CJ Tillman, Campbell Sr. LB 6-0 235 Rockingham, N.C.
Karon Prunty, North Carolina A&T Jr. CB 6-2 180 Portsmouth, Va.
Isas Waxter, Villanova Gr. CB 6-2 215 Newark, N.J.
Caleb Curtain, Elon Jr. S 6-1 196 Greensboro, N.C.
Ty Trinh, Villanova Gr. S 6-0 205 Owings Mills, Md.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Name, School Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown
Chandler Brayboy, Elon Sr. KR 6-1 199 Pembroke, N.C.
Gabe Sloat, Rhode Island Sr. PR 6-0 190 North Kingstown, R.I.
Keegan Vaughan, Towson Sr. PK 5-11 165 Richmond, Va.
Aaron Trusler, Richmond Gr. P 5-8 168 Melbourne, Australia
Jabril Hayes, Richmond Sr. SPEC 5-11 170 Stephens City, Va.
CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Connor Watkins, QB, Villanova
CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Caleb Curtain, S, Elon
Honorable mention: Matthew Downing, QB, Elon; Derek Robertson, QB, Monmouth; Malachi Imoh, RB, William & Mary; Marquis Buchanan, WR, Rhode Island; Joe Gillette, WR, Maine; Jaylan Sanchez, WR, Villanova; Logan Tomlinson, WR, New Hampshire; Cooper Heisey, TE, Maine; Ryan McKenna, OL, William & Mary; Dion Crews-Harris, DL, Towson; Cazeem Moore, DL, Elon; Wayne Galloway, LB, Richmond; Ryan Toscano, LB, New Hampshire; Tyron Herring, CB, Delaware; Marcus Barnes, S, William & Mary; JoJo Bermudez, KR, Delaware; TJ Speight, KR, Monmouth; VJ Wilkins, KR, Campbell; John Opalko, PK, UAlbany; Josh Cupitt, P, Delaware; Bobby Cleary, SPEC, Campbell
2024 CAA FOOTBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)
- Villanova (9 first-place votes) 217
- Richmond (1 first-place vote) 189
- UAlbany (3 first-place votes) 179
- William & Mary 175
- Delaware (3 first-place votes) 163
- Elon 157
- New Hampshire 150
- Rhode Island 142
- Towson 114
- Monmouth 95
- Campbell 83
- Hampton 62
- Maine 57
- North Carolina A&T 49
- Bryant 46
- Stony Brook 42
