William & Mary placed three players and Hampton University one on the Coastal Athletic Association Preseason All-Conference Football Team announced Wednesday.
The Tribe, 6-5 in 2023, was picked by head coaches to finish fourth in the 16-team league, while the Pirates, 5-6 last season, were picked 12th.
William & Mary’s three selections on the All-CAA team are led by Churchland High grad Charles Grant, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound offensive lineman. He was selected to five All-America teams in 2023, when he helped the Tribe rank 13th nationally with a 196.9-yard rushing average.
The Tribe’s Bronson Yoder, who netted 1,255 rushing yards in 2022, was named at running back. He ran for 408 yards and four touchdowns in four games last year before being sidelined for the rest of the season by an injury.
W&M’s Trey McDonald, who had 10 receptions for 123 yards out of the backfield a year ago, was picked at fullback.
Hampton’s Elijah Burris, who ran for 803 yards a year ago — eclipsing 100 yards in five of the seven games he played in — was selected at running back.
Villanova was picked by head coaches to win the conference title, and its quarterback, Connor Watkins, was selected the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Elon safety Caleb Curtain was named the CAA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
CAA PRESEASON POLL
(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
PRESEASON ALL-CAA TEAM
(Selected by a vote of head coaches)
OFFENSE
Name, School Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown
Connor Watkins, Villanova Gr. QB 6-3 225 Williamsport, Pa.
Elijah Burris, Hampton Sr. RB 5-10 205 Gastonia, N.C.
Griffin Woodell, UAlbany So. RB 5-10 194 Glens Falls, N.Y.
Marcus Yarns, Delaware Gr. RB 5-11 183 Salisbury, Md.
Bronson Yoder, William & Mary Sr. RB 5-11 210 Nappanee, Ind.
Trey McDonald, William & Mary Jr. FB/HB 6-6 230 Kinnelon, N.J.
Carter Runyon, Towson Sr. TE 6-6 235 Fairfax, Va.
Chandler Brayboy, Elon Sr. WR 6-1 199 Pembroke, N.C.
Nick DeGennaro, Richmond Sr. WR 6-1 190 Old Bridge, N.J.
Anthony Johnson, Stony Brook So. WR 5-11 190 Burlington, N.J.
Temi Ajirotutu, Villanova Gr. OL 6-5 320 Queens, N.Y.
Fintan Brose, Delaware Gr. OL 6-2 304 Irwin, Pa.
Charles Grant, William & Mary Sr. OL 6-4 300 Portsmouth, Va.
Ozzie Hutchinson, UAlbany Gr. OL 6-4 305 Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Will Marotta, UAlbany Gr. OL 6-5 325 Collegeville, Pa.
Ralph Paige, Jr., Towson Sr. OL 6-3 305 Washington, D.C.
DEFENSE
Name, School Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown
Jeremiah Grant, Richmond Sr. DL 6-2 245 South Orange, N.J.
Westley Neal, Jr., Rhode Island Sr. DL 6-0 315 Miami, Fla.
Michael Otty, Bryant Sr. DL 6-2 260 Brooklyn, N.Y.
Dylan Ruiz, New Hampshire Sr. DL 6-1 256 Orlando, Fla.
Josiah Silver, New Hampshire Sr. DL 6-2 243 Hampton, Va.
Brendan Bell, Villanova Gr. LB 6-2 230 Basking Ridge, N.J.
Shane Hartzell, Villanova Jr. LB 6-0 230 Perkasie, Pa.
A.J. Pena, Rhode Island Jr. LB 6-2 235 Branchburg, N.J.
CJ Tillman, Campbell Sr. LB 6-0 235 Rockingham, N.C.
Karon Prunty, North Carolina A&T Jr. CB 6-2 180 Portsmouth, Va.
Isas Waxter, Villanova Gr. CB 6-2 215 Newark, N.J.
Caleb Curtain, Elon Jr. S 6-1 196 Greensboro, N.C.
Ty Trinh, Villanova Gr. S 6-0 205 Owings Mills, Md.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Name, School Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown
Chandler Brayboy, Elon Sr. KR 6-1 199 Pembroke, N.C.
Gabe Sloat, Rhode Island Sr. PR 6-0 190 North Kingstown, R.I.
Keegan Vaughan, Towson Sr. PK 5-11 165 Richmond, Va.
Aaron Trusler, Richmond Gr. P 5-8 168 Melbourne, Australia
Jabril Hayes, Richmond Sr. SPEC 5-11 170 Stephens City, Va.
PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Connor Watkins, QB, Villanova
PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Caleb Curtain, S, Elon
