ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University football team has been slotted fifth in the Sporting News Division II Top 25 Preseason Poll, the publication announced Wednesday.
Minnesota-Duluth topped the poll ahead of Ferris State, defending national champion Colorado State-Pueblo, Ohio Dominican and Concord. National runner-up Minnesota State-Mankato, Northwest Missouri, West Georgia, Slippery Rock and West Texas A&M rounded out the top 10 of the rankings.
The Mountain Lions are coming off a 13-1 campaign in which they won the Mountain East Conference Championship, the Super Region One title and appeared in the NCAA Division II semifinals before falling to MSU-Mankato.
CU returns eight starters—including first team All-American senior running back
Calvinaugh Jones-- to an offense that finished among the nation's best in several different statistical categories. Junior quarterback
Brian Novak and his top playmakers at wide receiver, sophomore
TJ Smith and senior
Ryan Stewart, also return to the explosive Maroon and Gray offense.
On defense, Concord returns six starters including all-region selection senior defensive back
Derrick Johnson and senior defensive lineman
Ervin Moore, who sits second in school history in all-time sacks.
The Mountain Lion will open up the 2015 regular season on the road at West Liberty 1:00 p.m. September 5. The first home game for Concord will be 12:00 p.m. September 12 versus Fairmont State.
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