The Colorado State University-Pueblo football team is ranked in the top 15 of three national NCAA Division II preseason polls. The ThunderWolves are No. 11 in the College Football America poll, listed at No. 13 from Lindy’s and are No. 14 in the Street and Smith rankings.
In addition to the rankings, College Football America tabbed seniors Brandon Payer and Darius Williams as members of their preseason Starting Line-up. Payer was announced as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year yesterday, while Williams was on the Pro Player Insiders 2018 Senior Bowl projected top 300 seniors list. The list has players from FBS, FCS, and Division II represented, while there were only 11 from DII listed.
The Pack finished the 2017 season with a 9-3 overall record, while their 9-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference mark was good for a share of the league title. CSU-Pueblo advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs as a seven seed. The ThunderWolves fell 16-13 in overtime to No. 1 overall and No. 2 seed Minnesota State University, Mankato. The Pack were No. 20 nationally following the end of the regular season and moved up to No. 17 in the final poll.
The defense returns 10 starters and 27 letterwinners from a 2017 squad that closed the regular season top 20 nationally in eight categories, red zone defense (3rd, 57.7%), interceptions (4th, 21), team passing efficiency defense (4th, 88.95), defensive touchdowns (7th, 5), scoring defense (10th, 14.3), total defense (10th, 273.5), turnovers gained (11th, 27) and passing yards allowed (18th, 164.6).
The Pack return five starters and 22 letterwinners on the offensive side of the ball and both their starting kicker and punter. The ThunderWolves finished the regular season top 25 in Division II in turnover margin (17th, 1,0), net punting (20th, 36.8), kick returns (23rd, 23.0), red zone offense (23rd, 88%) and scoring offense (24th, 37.6).
The team reports to camp Aug. 4 and will conduct their traditional midnight conditioning run at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Aug. 6. The first official practice will be conducted on Aug. 6 in preparations for the season and home opener Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. versus Dixie State University.
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2018 College Football America Preseason Top 30 |
Street & Smith’s College Football Yearbook 1. West Florida 2. Indiana (Pa.) 3. Minnesota State 4. Fort Hays State 5. Grand Valley State 6. Texas A&M-Commerce 7. Indianapolis 8. Harding 9. Northwest Missouri State 10. Midwestern State 11. Central Washington 12. Shepherd 13. Ashland 14. CSU-Pueblo 15. Sioux Falls 16. West Georgia 17. Assumption 18. Central Missouri 19. Ferris State 20. West Alabama 21. Findlay 22. Carson-Newman 23. Virginia State 24. Edinboro 25. Colorado School of Mines |
Lindy’s Sports College Football Preview 1. West Florida 2. Indiana (Pa.) 3. Ferris State 4. Fort Hays State 5. Northwest Missouri State 6. Minnesota State 7. Texas A&M-Commerce 8. Midwestern State 9. West Alabama 10. Central Missouri 11. Central Washington 12. Indianapolis 13. CSU-Pueblo 14. California (Pa.) 15. Ashland 16. Valdosta State 17. Colorado School of Mines 18. Edinboro 19. Assumption 20. Carson-Newman 21. Humboldt State 22. Bowie State 23. Southwest Baptist 24. Hillsdale 25. Adams State |
2018 College Football America Division II Starting Lineup
Offense
Pos. Name School Yr.
QB AMIR HALL Bowie State Sr.
RB MARCUS JONES Gannon Sr.
RB COLE CHANCEY Harding So.
WR WESTON CARR Azusa Pacific Jr.
WR AUSTIN RYAN Bentley So.
TE SETH HEBERT Central Missouri Sr.
OL JUSTIN GOOSEBERRY Ouachita Baptist Jr.
OL SAMUEL ANTOINE West Florida Jr.
OL FRANK TRANZILLI West Chester Jr.
OL A.J. ROLAND Midwestern State Sr.
OL BRANDON ANDERSON West Alabama Jr.
PK CASEY BEDNARSKI Minnesota State Sr.
KR DEONTE HARRIS Assumption Sr.
Defense
Pos. Name School Yr.
DL DAVONDRICK LISON Southern Arkansas Sr.
DL TERSHAWN WHARTON Missouri S&T Jr.
DL ADONIS DAVIS Florida Tech Sr.
DL MARKUS JONES Angelo State Sr.
LB BRANDON PAYER CSU-Pueblo Sr.
LB BRUCKS SAATHOFF Texas A&M-Commerce Sr.
LB SAM BLANKENSHIP Harding Sr.
DB JR STEVENS Indiana (PA) Jr.
DB DARIUS WILLIAMS CSU-Pueblo Sr.
DB ZURIL HENDRICK Edinboro Sr.
DB MARVIN CONLEY West Florida Sr.
P ZACH DAVIDSON Central Missouri So.
PR BJ MUCKELVENE Wingate Jr.
