RICHMOND, Va. – The University at Albany football team, fresh off its first-ever Coastal Athletic Association Championship in school history, has been picked to finish third in this year's annual Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
The Great Danes received three first-place votes and 179 points overall. Finishing ahead was Villanova with 217 points and nine first-place votes, followed by Richmond with 189 points and one first-place vote. All three top vote-getting teams finished with a share of the CAA title last season, but the Great Danes claimed dominating victories over both schools in 2023 to earn an "Undisputed Champions" title.
 
After defeating Richmond in the Second Round of the FCS Playoffs, the Great Danes would go on to defeat #4 Idaho to reach the first National Semifinal appearance in program history.
 
William & Mary finished in fourth place with 175 points just ahead of Delaware with 163 points and three first-place votes. Elon (157), New Hampshire (150), Rhode Island (142), Towson (114), and Monmouth (95) rounded out the top 10.
 
In addition to the preseason poll, the CAA also announced its Preseason All-Conference Teams. Representing the Great Danes were running back Griffin Woodell and offensive linemen Ozzie Hutchinson and Will Marotta. Kicker John Opalko was named to the conference's Honorable Mention list.
 
Season tickets for the 2024 campaign are on sale now. Fans wishing to secure their seats to see the defending CAA Champions can do so by clicking here.

For a full list of the Preseason Coaches' Poll and Preseason All-Conference Teams, see below.
 
2024 CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish (Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)
1. Villanova (9 first-place votes) - 217
2. Richmond (1 first-place vote) - 189
3. UAlbany (3 first-place votes) - 179
4. William & Mary - 175
5. Delaware (3 first-place votes) - 163
6. Elon - 157
7. New Hampshire - 150
8. Rhode Island - 142
9. Towson - 114
10. Monmouth - 95
11. Campbell - 83
12. Hampton - 62
13. Maine - 57
14. North Carolina A&T - 49
15. Bryant - 46
16. Stony Brook - 42
 
 
2024 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Teams (Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)
OFFENSE
Connor Watkins, Villanova - Gr., QB
Elijah Burris, Hampton - Sr., RB
Griffin Woodell, UAlbany - So., RB
Marcus Yarns, Delaware - Gr., RB
Bronson Yoder, William & Mary - Sr., RB
Trey McDonald, William & Mary - Jr., FB/HB
Carter Runyon, Towson - Sr., TE
Chandler Brayboy, Elon - Sr., WR
Nick DeGennaro, Richmond - Sr., WR
Anthony Johnson, Stony Brook - So., WR
Temi Ajirotutu, Villanova - Gr., OL
Fintan Brose, Delaware - Gr., OL
Charles Grant, William & Mary - Sr., OL
Ozzie Hutchinson, UAlbany - Gr., OL
Will Marotta, UAlbany - Gr., OL
Ralph Paige, Jr., Towson - Sr., OL
 
DEFENSE
Jeremiah Grant, Richmond - Sr., DL
Westley Neal, Jr., Rhode Island - Sr., DL
Michael Otty, Bryant - Sr., DL
Dylan Ruiz, New Hampshire - Sr., DL
Josiah Silver, New Hampshire - Sr., DL
Brendan Bell, Villanova - Gr., LB
Shane Hartzell, Villanova - Jr., LB
A.J. Pena, Rhode Island - Jr., LB
CJ Tillman, Campbell - Sr., LB
Karon Prunty, North Carolina A&T - Jr., CB
Isas Waxter, Villanova - Gr., CB
Caleb Curtain, Elon - Jr., S  
Ty Trinh, Villanova - Gr., S
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
Chandler Brayboy, Elon - Sr., KR
Gabe Sloat, Rhode Island - Sr., PR
Keegan Vaughan, Towson - Sr., PK
Aaron Trusler, Richmond - Gr., P
Jabril Hayes, Richmond - Sr., SPEC
 
CAA Football Preseason Offensive Player of The Year: Connor Watkins, Villanova - Gr., QB
CAA Football Preseason Defensive Player of The Year: Caleb Curtain, Elon - Jr., S  
 
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
 
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