URI Football Picked as Preseason Favorite In CAA, Pena Named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year

University of Rhode Island Press Release

KINGSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island topped the CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish and had six different players earn preseason accolades, with linebacker A.J. Pena being named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday morning.

Joining Pena on the Preseason All-Conference Team was wide receiver Marquis Buchanan, as well as offensive linemen Tre Alexander and Brock Bethea. Both quarterback Devin Farrell and defensive back Ayinde Johnson garnered honorable mention.

The reigning CAA Football Champions earned eight first-place votes from the league’s head coaches, totaling 163 points in the poll. Monmouth (four first-place votes, 142 points) and Villanova (two first-place votes, 139 points) rounded out the top three.

A returning AP All-American, Pena is coming off a staggeringly good junior campaign that saw him tally 82 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and two pass breakups. Ranked in the nation’s top 10 in both TFLs (seventh) and sacks (10th), he forced opposing offenses to lose more than 100 yards. The Montclair, N.J. native is currently second all time in both URI career sacks (27) and TFLs (44.5) and brings a 21-game starting streak into 2025. He has already been named a First Team Preseason All-American by Stats Perform.

Also entering camp as a Stats Perform First Team Preseason All-American is Buchanan, who was a Second Team All-CAA Football selection as a redshirt sophomore. One of the nation’s top receivers in 2024, the Providence product totaled 1,124 yards on 82 catches. The eighth player in program history to record a 1,000-yard season, Buchanan caught the 10th-most touchdown passes in a single season in program history with eight. Also looking to climb the Rhody record book, he enters his fourth season in Kingston with 1,762 career receiving yards (10th all time).

Part of an offensive line that allowed the 2024 team to accrue the second-most yards of total offense in program history (5,072), left tackle Bethea and center Alexander will look to continue the momentum this fall. A Second Team All-CAA Football selection as a redshirt junior, Bethea has a 25-game starting streak to his name while Alexander (Third Team All-CAA Football) missed just one game last fall due to injury. The duo blocked for a unit that finished 12th in the country in sacks allowed (16) while aiding former running back Malik Grant in breaking Rhode Island’s single-season rushing record with 1,426 yards.

Despite missing the final four games of the season with an injury, Farrell earned Third Team All-Conerence honors for his efforts last fall. In 10 games, he racked up 1,670 passing yards (124-214) and 302 rushing yards on 75 carries, demonstrating his ability to do damage both in and outside of the pocket. Along with his 11 touchdown passes, he ran in five scores on the ground and earned one CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week nod.

Johnson appeared in all 14 of Rhode Island’s games last season, earning the start in 10 at the cornerback position. He finished his first year in Kingston with 56 tackles to go along with 3.0 TFLs and seven pass breakups. In total, he defended eight passes with one interception.

A year ago, the Rams were picked eighth in the preseason coaches poll and went on to capture the program’s first-ever CAA Football title. URI subsequently made its first postseason appearance in nearly four decades, earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship field as a 10-seed.

Rhody’s season officially begins with a game against Campbell on Friday, Aug. 29 at Meade Stadium. The CAA Football foes will play under the lights at 6 p.m.

2025 CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish
(selected by a vote of head coaches)
1. Rhode Island (8 first-place votes) – 163 points
2. Monmouth (4 first-place votes) – 142 points
3. Villanova (2 first-place votes) – 139 points
4. Stony Brook – 125 points
5. UNH – 119 points
6. Towson – 108 points
7. William & Mary – 104 points
8. Elon – 98 points
9. Maine – 71 points
10. Campbell – 53 points
11. Hampton – 50 points
12. UAlbany – 47 points
13. Bryant – 32 points
14. North Carolina A&T – 23 points