Hampden-Sydney received four first place votes on the way to 46
total poll points to lead the 2012 ODAC Football Preseason Poll.
The top of the rankings are tightly packed, with Randolph-Macon
clipping at H-SC's heels with 44 tallies including three top nods.
Washington and Lee rounds out the top three with 37 points and the
remaining first place selection from the annual coaches'
survey.
View the 2012 ODAC Football Virtual Media Guide
and listen to ODAC Football Media Day news conference interviews
with coaches and players.
The 2011 season marked the third conference crown for reigning
ODAC Coach of the Year Marty Favret's Tigers. Their victory over
Washington and Lee in week 10 proved crucial as H-SC was tripped up
in week 11 by R-MC, leaving the Tigers' head-to-head advantage over
W&L as the deciding factor in securing H-SC's ninth overall
league crown. Hampden-Sydney's season continued with a NCAA first
round game at Centre, where the Tigers were out-gunned, 51-41.
The path to the 2012 ODAC championship will be longer for all
teams in the league as Shenandoah opens conference play, increasing
the league's football membership to eight schools. SU, previously a
member of the USA South for the majority of its sports, became the
ODAC's 14th full-time member institution in July, completing a
process that will see the Hornets compete in each of their 20
sports under the ODAC flag.
Hampden-Sydney (8-3 overall, 5-1 in the ODAC in 2011) begins its
third title defense in the last five years as it tries to become
the first team to win back-to-back titles since Bridgewater College
won five straight crowns from 2001-05. Known for a high-octane
offense, the Tigers must replace standouts from each area of its
offense positions. Coach Favret will look to sophomore transfer
Nash Nance (University of Tennessee) to win the quarterback job out
of camp. He'll have senior running back Evan King (161 yds, 4 TDs)
helping him in the backfield. H-SC's defense should be a team
strength with senior linebackers Kenny Fryman (102 tackles, 2.5
sacks) and Alex Price (78 tackles) and junior cornerback Zach
Morgan (67 tackles, 7 INTs) leading the charge.
Randolph-Macon (8-2, 4-2 ODAC) is bolstered by the return of 2011
ODAC Rookie of the Year, quarterback Zac Naccarato (2105 yds, 14
TDs passing; 6 TDs rushing). He's supported by senior running back
Drake Sanders (711 yds, 6 TDs) and junior wide receiver Christian
Cook (48 rec for 592 yds, 4 TDs). Defensively, junior linebacker
Abel Simpson (50 tkl) was the Yellow Jackets' second leading
tackler in 2011. He's joined by senior cornerback Brandon Harrison
(49 tkl, 6 PBUs). Senior kicker Josh Storm (12-of-16 FG, 38-of-40
PATs) is on the watch list for the Fred Mitchell Award as the
nation's best place-kicker among FCS, Division II, Division III,
NAIA and NJCAA football teams.
Washington and Lee (8-2, 5-1 ODAC) begins its first season since
1995 with a new leader as Scott Abell was promoted from offensive
coordinator to take over the head coaching reins from long-time
mentor Frank Miriello, who retired following the 2011 campaign.
Although he'll be breaking in a new starting quarterback this
season, Coach Abell welcomes back all three of his starting backs
from a multiple option offense that has set numerous ODAC rushing
records the past few years. Senior Luke Heinsohn (900 yds, 13 TDs)
will serve as the option back, while classmates Brett Murray (1,561
all-purpose yards, 867 rushing yards, 12 TDs) and Russell Stewart
(511 yards of offense, 5 TDs) will man the slotback positions. The
defense is led by preseason All-American senior safety Jake Pelton
(76 tkl, 2 INTs, 7 PBUs).
Bridgewater (6-4, 3-3 ODAC) will look for newcomers and young
returning players to take the next step on offense, led by senior
quarterback Carlos Gonzalez (140-of-269, 1788 yds, 15 TDs). The
defense will again be stout with several standouts along the
defensive line. Interior linemen, seniors Danny Grogg (40 tkl, 2
sacks, 3 forced fumbles) and Joel Francis (32 tkl, 1.5 sacks, 7
TFLs) spearhead a unit that also showcases senior linebacker Todd
Harris (47 tkl, 2 forced fumbles).
Emory & Henry College (5-5, 2-4 ODAC) features standouts on
both sides of the ball, led by reigning ODAC Defensive Player of
the Year, senior linebacker Devan Sproles (107 tkl, 6 INTs). He's
joined by senior defensive backs Jason Hill (64 tkl, 2 INTs) and
Anthony Jones (49 tkl, 2 INTs) and junior defensive back Tyler Houk
(61 tkl, 3 INTs). The offense is led by junior signal-caller Kyle
Boden (256-of-398, 2569 yds, 21 TDs).
Catholic University (5-5, 1-5 ODAC) returns a potent offensive
quartet in senior quarterback Greg Cordivari (321-of-505, 3282 yds,
25 TDs), junior running back Mike Pitsenberger (889 yds of offense,
7 TDs), and a pair of wide receivers in senior Alonzo Cooke (37 for
539 yds, 5 TDs) and junior Andrew Ouellette (54 for 661 yds, 5
TDs). The defense is led by junior linebacker Conor Stueckler (95
tkl, 2 INTs, 2 fumble recoveries).
Guilford College (2-8, 1-5 ODAC) sports a trio of sophomore
defensive standouts in linebacker Robert Smith (64 tkl, 2 forced
fumbles) and defensive backs Hunter English (65 tkl, 3 sacks, 2
forced fumbles) and Satiir Stevenson (51 tkl, 2 INTs, 5 PBUs). The
offense will look to junior signal-caller Zac Halbert (158-of-296,
1877 yds, 15 TDs) and junior wide receiver Lawrence Blake (55 for
634 yards, 4 TDs) to lead the way.
Shenandoah (6-4, 5-2 USA South) must replace plenty of firepower
on offense, with senior running back Carl Joseph (720 yds, 3 TDs)
and senior wide receiver Qiydaar Murphy (58 for 609 yds, 4 TDs)
looking to do just that. The defense is highlighted by the return
of top tackler, junior linebacker Josh Rogers (87 tkl, 14 TFLs, 3
forced fumbles), senior lineman Nick Erdman (35 tkl, 12 TFLs, 5
sacks) and junior safety Byron Mitchell (79 tkl, 4 INTs).
2012 ODAC FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL
(#) Denotes first place votes
1. Hampden-Sydney (4) | 46 pts. |
2. Randolph-Macon (3) | 44 pts. |
3. Washington and Lee (1) | 37 pts. |
4. Bridgewater | 32 pts. |
5. Emory & Henry | 23 pts. |
6. Catholic | 20 pts. |
T7. Guilford | 11 pts. |
T7. Shenandoah | 11 pts. |