HERO Sports wraps up the previews with "Two-A-Days" for each FCS conference through Friday, Aug. 24 (see full schedule below). Today, we feature the CAA.
[divider]MORE: Compare Any Two FCS Players or Compare Any Two FCS Teams [divider]
FCS TEAM BY TEAM PREVIEW: The countdown
FCS PRESEASON TOP 25: The poll
FCS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA: The teams
Colonial Athletic Association
SUM IT UP
(NOTE: Team by team previews in this conference are below)
Is 2018 the year the CAA recaptures its mantle as the best conference in FCS Football? It certainly could be. Led by national runner-up James Madison, the CAA offers a deep field of playoff candidates, three of which have legitimate national title aspirations. The top of the list obviously features JMU, which sports an active 20-game win streak against CAA opponents, but offense-minded New Hampshire and defense-minded Delaware could both make deep playoff runs as well. Stony Brook, Villanova, Elon and Richmond are all capable teams looking for a seat at the table, too, though they obviously can't all make the playoffs.
All in all, the 2018 season could be the best year for the Colonial since the playoff expanded to 24 teams. A return to form for the "SEC of the FCS" means no team is safe from the potential carnage — not even the Dukes.
Read on, as we preview the CAA.
Troy Reeder could be the best linebacker in a conference full of great ones. (Delaware Athletics)
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NAMES TO KNOW
THE NFL PROSPECT: Rashad Robinson, James Madison
JMU's best returning player is the only non-specialist FCS player listed on Mel Kiper's Way-Too-Early 2019 Draft Position Rankings.
THE VETERAN COACH: Jimmye Laycock, William & Mary
As has been well-documented, the 2018 season will be Laycock's 39th and final season coaching in Williamsburg.
TOP PASSER: Trevor Knight, New Hampshire
He didn't quite lead the league last year — that honor belonged to Richmond's Kyle Lauletta — but Knight still threw for nearly 3,500 yards.
TOP RUSHER: Marcus Marshall, James Madison
Marshall was a late bloomer after transferring from Georgia Tech after the 2016 season, but he found a groove in the FCS Playoffs and finished with 850 yards on the ground.
TOP RECEIVER: Neil O'Connor, New Hampshire
O'Connor led the CAA in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
TOP TACKLER: Warren Messer, Elon
The rising senior averaged 9.5 tackles per game in 2017, better than any other returning player.
TOP SACK MAN: Andrew Clyde, Richmond
The veteran presence on Richmond's D-Line has 18 career sacks, half of which came last season.
TOP INTERCEPTION ARTIST: Jimmy Moreland, James Madison
Opposing quarterbacks threw away from Rashad Robinson so frequently that graduated safety Jordan Brown and rising senior Jimmy Moreland were the conference's top two leaders in picks.
BOUNCEBACK CANDIDATE: Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks, Albany
Albany's offensive dynamo didn't play last season (because of injury) after gouging the league for 1,401 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns in 2016.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Troy Reeder, Delaware
The former Penn State linebacker is one of the best players to watch in FCS Football. The CAA has some great linebackers, but Reeder belongs near the top of the list.
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TOP FANBASE (*)
James Madison led all schools in attendance during the regular season last year, so it's unsurprising to see Dukes fans as the most engaged fan base during our summer preview series. Elon has also cracked the overall top 10.
(*) – Based on fan engagement with our previews this summer.
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RANKING THE CAA
| RK | HERO SPORTS (CHASE) | COACHES POLL |
| 1 | James Madison | James Madison |
| 2 | New Hampshire | New Hampshire |
| 3 | Delaware | Delaware |
| 4 | Stony Brook | Stony Brook |
| 5 | Villanova (up) | Elon |
| 6 | Elon | Villanova |
| 7 | Richmond | Richmond |
| 8 | Towson (up) | Maine |
| 9 | Rhode Island (up) | Albany |
| 10 | Maine | Towson |
| 11 | Albany | William & Mary |
| 12 | William & Mary | Rhode Island |
[divider]THE DIFFERENCE: The CAA Coaches actually did a fantastic job with this preseason list, particularly with the top seven teams. Any one of the top three teams have a strong case to make for favorite status, but if you're going to put them in order, you have to give Madison the top spot. I have a small quibble with Elon over Villanova, but it's so miniscule that it's barely worth bringing up at all.
Following Richmond's slot at No. 7, the teams get a little dicier. I like Towson and Rhode Island out of this group, but five other media members might pick five different combinations of teams. Albany could have a great running game, but I wonder about their pieces at the line of scrimmage. Maine should have a capable defense but could field the worst offense in the conference. William & Mary could play above its head, given the team's coaching circumstances, but there's only so much you can reasonably hope for if you're a Tribe fan.
The bottom line here is that the top seven teams should compete for 4-5 playoff spots. A couple of teams are definitely going to get squeezed in November, but until then, this conference race should be among the most interesting to watch in all of college football.
HERO SPORTS FCS PODCAST: Subscribe here
BEST FCS PLAYER BY NUMBER: We count down, No. 99 through No. 1[divider]
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PREVIEWS: The CAA
Albany | Delaware | Elon | James Madison
Maine | New Hampshire | Rhode Island | Richmond
Stony Brook | Towson | Villanova | William & Mary
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FCS PREVIEWS CONFERENCE BY CONFERENCE
Aug. 19 – Missouri Valley & Ohio Valley
Aug. 20 – Southland, SoCon & Big South
Aug. 21 – MEAC & SWAC
Aug. 22 – CAA & NEC
Aug. 23 – Big Sky & Pioneer
Aug. 24 – Patriot & Ivy
