University of Richmond Athletics
Spiders Tabbed Third in Preseason Poll, Six Earn Honors
07/25/2023 | Football
RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond football team was picked to finish third overall in the Coastal Athletic Association Football preseason poll and six Spiders were honored with preseason All-Conference honors Tuesday morning during the CAA Virtual Media Day, as decided by a vote from the league's head coaches.
Earning Preseason All-Conference honors for the Spiders were offensive lineman Ryan Coll, defensive linemen Marlem Louis, linebacker Tristan Wheeler and defensive back Aaron Banks. Defensive back Bryson Parker and defensive lineman Jeremiah Grant were named honorable mentions.
Last season, Richmond finished 9-4 overall and 6-2 in the CAA to tie for third in the final conference standings. The Spiders knocked off three top 25 opponents en route to its best finish since 2016. The Spiders earned a berth in the FCS Playoffs, where they defeated Davidson 41-0 in the First Round, posting the first postseason shutout in program history. In the Second Round, Richmond pushed unbeaten No. 2 seed Sacramento State to the limit, taking a lead into the fourth quarter before falling, 38-31. Richmond placed 11th in the season-ending Stats Perform FCS Media Poll and 12th in the AFCA Coaches Poll.
Spider captain Coll was named First Team All-CAA last season as well as a Second Team AP All-American and Fourth Team FCS All-American by Phil Steele. Coll was part of an offensive line that led the Spiders to the third-highest producing offense in the CAA and helped Richmond rank fourth in the CAA in average scoring with 31.3 points per game and pick up 5,513 yards of total offense last season.
Another Spider captain and 2022 First Team All-CAA selection, Louis finished last season ranked third in the CAA with 8.5 sacks and fifth in average tackles for loss per game with 1.27. He totaled 35 tackles including 14.0 for loss (-80), two forced fumbles, five quarterback hurries and one pass breakup. Louis helped lead Richmond to the second-fewest opponent points per game in the CAA with 20.1 and yards per game with 333.4.
Banks was named a Second Team All-CAA selection last season and finished the year with 53 tackles including 32 solo and 1.5 for loss. Banks recorded four interceptions for 44 yards including two in the Saint Francis game on Sept. 10, with one being a pick-six. Banks recorded a season-high 10 tackles during the NCAA FCS Second Round Playoff game at No. 2 Sacramento State on Dec. 3 and finished the season 10th in the CAA in passes defended (six breakups, four interceptions) and second in defensive touchdowns.
Two-year captain Wheeler is a four-time All-CAA selection, including three consecutive First Team All-Conference accolades. He was named Second Team All-America by Stats Perform last fall and was a Fourth Team All-America honoree by Phil Steele. Wheeler was named Richmond's leading tackler with 110 (54 solo, 56 asst.) including 11 for loss (-29). His 110 tackles were the second-most in the CAA as he eclipsed the 100 tackles mark for the third-straight full season and currently ranks sixth among active leaders in career tackles per game with 9.15. Richmond's iron man, he's started 37-straight games— the most of any Spider.
Parker led the 2022 Spiders secondary in tackles with 63 including 42 solo and one tackle for loss (-3). He also grabbed two interceptions, recorded six pass breakups and one quarterback hurry in 2022.
Grant was named Third Team All-CAA last season after recording 52 tackles including 12.0 for loss (-35). He sacked the quarterback three times in 2022 and recorded a season-high eight tackles at the Maine game on Oct. 29. He had two fumble recoveries, five quarterback hurries and one pass breakup.
Defending conference co-champion William & Mary was picked to finish first overall in the preseason poll with 195 points including 13-of-15 possible first place points, while co-champion New Hampshire was picked second with 179 points and 1 first place vote. Richmond came in third with 159 points, followed by Delaware (149, 1 first place vote), Elon (146), Rhode Island (135), Villanova (129), Monmouth (94), Towson (85), North Carolina A&T (70), UAlbany (64), Campbell (62), Maine (40), Stony Brook (38) and Hampton (30). This marks the first year in the CAA for Campbell and North Carolina A&T.
Monmouth running back Jaden Shirden was chosen as preseason Offensive Player of the Year while William & Mary linebacker John Pius was picked as preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
2023 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference
(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)
Offense
QB – Max Brosmer, New Hampshire
RB – Dylan Laube, New Hampshire
RB – Jaden Shirden, Monmouth
RB – Bronson Yoder, William & Mary
HB – Johncarlos Miller III, Elon
TE – Kyle Lepkowski, New Hampshire
WR – Jaaron Hayek, Villanova
WR – Dymere Miller, Monmouth
WR – Jourdan Townsend, Delaware
OL – Ryan Coll, Richmond
OL – Michael Corbi, Villanova
OL – Nick Correia, Rhode Island
OL – Mike Edwards, Campbell
OL – Charles Grant, William & Mary
OL – Tairiq Stewart, North Carolina A&T
Defense
DL – Marlem Louis, Richmond
DL – Nate Lynn, William & Mary
DL – Dylan Ruiz, New Hampshire
DL – Josiah Silver, New Hampshire
LB – Isaiah Jones, William & Mary
LB – John Pius, William & Mary
LB – Qwahsin Townsel, Hampton
LB – Tristan Wheeler, Richmond
CB – Jalen Jones, William & Mary
CB – Karon Prunty, North Carolina A&T
CB – Ryan Poole, William & Mary
S – Aaron Banks, Richmond
S – Bo Sanders, Elon
Honorable Mention
Kasim Hill, QB, Rhode Island; Reese Poffenbarger, QB, UAlbany; Darius Wilson, QB, William & Mary; Jalen Hampton, RB, Elon; Braden Brose, TE, Delaware; Joey Corcoran, WR, New Hampshire; Kahtero Summers, WR, Rhode Island; Greg Anderson, OL, Monmouth; Fintan Brose, OL, Delaware; Lorenzo Thompson, OL, Rhode Island; Jabril Williams, OL, Elon; Jesus Gibbs, DL, Towson; Jeremiah Grant, DL, Richmond; Anton Juncaj, DL; UAlbany; Chase McGowan, DL, Delaware; Aidan Kaler, LB, Stony Brook; Dylan Kelly, LB, UAlbany; Evan Stewart, LB, Rhode Island; CJ Tillman, LB, Campbell; Kahzir "Buggs" Brown, CB, Maine; Robert Javier, CB, Towson; Mike Reid, CB, Monmouth; Marcus Barnes, S, William & Mary; Jalen Goodman, S, Villanova; Bryson Parker, S, Richmond; Caleb Dowden, PK, Campbell; Matt Mercurio, PK, Villanova; Will Whitehurst, P, William & Mary; Taymon Cooke, KR, North Carolina A&T
2023 CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish
(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)
1. William & Mary (13 first‐place votes) 195
2. New Hampshire (1 first‐place vote) 179
3. Richmond 159
4. Delaware (1 first‐place vote) 149
5. Elon 146
6. Rhode Island 135
7. Villanova 129
8. Monmouth 94
9. Towson 85
10. North Carolina A&T 70
11. UAlbany 64
12. Campbell 62
13. Maine 40
14. Stony Brook 38
15. Hampton 30
Earning Preseason All-Conference honors for the Spiders were offensive lineman Ryan Coll, defensive linemen Marlem Louis, linebacker Tristan Wheeler and defensive back Aaron Banks. Defensive back Bryson Parker and defensive lineman Jeremiah Grant were named honorable mentions.
Last season, Richmond finished 9-4 overall and 6-2 in the CAA to tie for third in the final conference standings. The Spiders knocked off three top 25 opponents en route to its best finish since 2016. The Spiders earned a berth in the FCS Playoffs, where they defeated Davidson 41-0 in the First Round, posting the first postseason shutout in program history. In the Second Round, Richmond pushed unbeaten No. 2 seed Sacramento State to the limit, taking a lead into the fourth quarter before falling, 38-31. Richmond placed 11th in the season-ending Stats Perform FCS Media Poll and 12th in the AFCA Coaches Poll.
Spider captain Coll was named First Team All-CAA last season as well as a Second Team AP All-American and Fourth Team FCS All-American by Phil Steele. Coll was part of an offensive line that led the Spiders to the third-highest producing offense in the CAA and helped Richmond rank fourth in the CAA in average scoring with 31.3 points per game and pick up 5,513 yards of total offense last season.
Another Spider captain and 2022 First Team All-CAA selection, Louis finished last season ranked third in the CAA with 8.5 sacks and fifth in average tackles for loss per game with 1.27. He totaled 35 tackles including 14.0 for loss (-80), two forced fumbles, five quarterback hurries and one pass breakup. Louis helped lead Richmond to the second-fewest opponent points per game in the CAA with 20.1 and yards per game with 333.4.
Banks was named a Second Team All-CAA selection last season and finished the year with 53 tackles including 32 solo and 1.5 for loss. Banks recorded four interceptions for 44 yards including two in the Saint Francis game on Sept. 10, with one being a pick-six. Banks recorded a season-high 10 tackles during the NCAA FCS Second Round Playoff game at No. 2 Sacramento State on Dec. 3 and finished the season 10th in the CAA in passes defended (six breakups, four interceptions) and second in defensive touchdowns.
Two-year captain Wheeler is a four-time All-CAA selection, including three consecutive First Team All-Conference accolades. He was named Second Team All-America by Stats Perform last fall and was a Fourth Team All-America honoree by Phil Steele. Wheeler was named Richmond's leading tackler with 110 (54 solo, 56 asst.) including 11 for loss (-29). His 110 tackles were the second-most in the CAA as he eclipsed the 100 tackles mark for the third-straight full season and currently ranks sixth among active leaders in career tackles per game with 9.15. Richmond's iron man, he's started 37-straight games— the most of any Spider.
Parker led the 2022 Spiders secondary in tackles with 63 including 42 solo and one tackle for loss (-3). He also grabbed two interceptions, recorded six pass breakups and one quarterback hurry in 2022.
Grant was named Third Team All-CAA last season after recording 52 tackles including 12.0 for loss (-35). He sacked the quarterback three times in 2022 and recorded a season-high eight tackles at the Maine game on Oct. 29. He had two fumble recoveries, five quarterback hurries and one pass breakup.
Defending conference co-champion William & Mary was picked to finish first overall in the preseason poll with 195 points including 13-of-15 possible first place points, while co-champion New Hampshire was picked second with 179 points and 1 first place vote. Richmond came in third with 159 points, followed by Delaware (149, 1 first place vote), Elon (146), Rhode Island (135), Villanova (129), Monmouth (94), Towson (85), North Carolina A&T (70), UAlbany (64), Campbell (62), Maine (40), Stony Brook (38) and Hampton (30). This marks the first year in the CAA for Campbell and North Carolina A&T.
Monmouth running back Jaden Shirden was chosen as preseason Offensive Player of the Year while William & Mary linebacker John Pius was picked as preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
2023 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference
(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)
Offense
QB – Max Brosmer, New Hampshire
RB – Dylan Laube, New Hampshire
RB – Jaden Shirden, Monmouth
RB – Bronson Yoder, William & Mary
HB – Johncarlos Miller III, Elon
TE – Kyle Lepkowski, New Hampshire
WR – Jaaron Hayek, Villanova
WR – Dymere Miller, Monmouth
WR – Jourdan Townsend, Delaware
OL – Ryan Coll, Richmond
OL – Michael Corbi, Villanova
OL – Nick Correia, Rhode Island
OL – Mike Edwards, Campbell
OL – Charles Grant, William & Mary
OL – Tairiq Stewart, North Carolina A&T
Defense
DL – Marlem Louis, Richmond
DL – Nate Lynn, William & Mary
DL – Dylan Ruiz, New Hampshire
DL – Josiah Silver, New Hampshire
LB – Isaiah Jones, William & Mary
LB – John Pius, William & Mary
LB – Qwahsin Townsel, Hampton
LB – Tristan Wheeler, Richmond
CB – Jalen Jones, William & Mary
CB – Karon Prunty, North Carolina A&T
CB – Ryan Poole, William & Mary
S – Aaron Banks, Richmond
S – Bo Sanders, Elon
Honorable Mention
Kasim Hill, QB, Rhode Island; Reese Poffenbarger, QB, UAlbany; Darius Wilson, QB, William & Mary; Jalen Hampton, RB, Elon; Braden Brose, TE, Delaware; Joey Corcoran, WR, New Hampshire; Kahtero Summers, WR, Rhode Island; Greg Anderson, OL, Monmouth; Fintan Brose, OL, Delaware; Lorenzo Thompson, OL, Rhode Island; Jabril Williams, OL, Elon; Jesus Gibbs, DL, Towson; Jeremiah Grant, DL, Richmond; Anton Juncaj, DL; UAlbany; Chase McGowan, DL, Delaware; Aidan Kaler, LB, Stony Brook; Dylan Kelly, LB, UAlbany; Evan Stewart, LB, Rhode Island; CJ Tillman, LB, Campbell; Kahzir "Buggs" Brown, CB, Maine; Robert Javier, CB, Towson; Mike Reid, CB, Monmouth; Marcus Barnes, S, William & Mary; Jalen Goodman, S, Villanova; Bryson Parker, S, Richmond; Caleb Dowden, PK, Campbell; Matt Mercurio, PK, Villanova; Will Whitehurst, P, William & Mary; Taymon Cooke, KR, North Carolina A&T
2023 CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish
(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)
1. William & Mary (13 first‐place votes) 195
2. New Hampshire (1 first‐place vote) 179
3. Richmond 159
4. Delaware (1 first‐place vote) 149
5. Elon 146
6. Rhode Island 135
7. Villanova 129
8. Monmouth 94
9. Towson 85
10. North Carolina A&T 70
11. UAlbany 64
12. Campbell 62
13. Maine 40
14. Stony Brook 38
15. Hampton 30
Players Mentioned
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