University of Richmond Athletics
Spiders Ranked #4 In Preseason FCS Poll
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – With sixteen starters returning from last year’s squad that reached the FCS Semifinals, expectations are high for the 2016 edition of the University of Richmond Spiders football team.
Those expectations aren’t confined to just Robins Stadium as Athlon pegged the Spiders #4 in the 2016 Preseason FCS poll. It marks the third time in the past nine years that Richmond has started in the top-four and the first time since 2009 when the Spiders entered the year as the top-ranked team in the preseason.
Richmond, who won 10 games last year, will be looking to build on its five FCS Playoff Appearances in the past decade with 16 starters back from last year’s squad, including All-Americans Brian Brown and David Jones.
Along with Brown and Jones, the Spiders return six other All-CAA performers, led by junior quarterback Kyle Lauletta and senior linebacker Omar Howard, both of whom were named captains during this year’s Spring Game.
Five-time defending champion North Dakota State sits atop the poll, followed by Sam Houston State (Richmond’s opening game opponent in 2017) and Northern Iowa. Four other CAA teams are in the top-20 nationally with William & Mary (13th), James Madison (14th), Towson (18th) and Villanova (20th), all gaining national recognition.
The Spiders open up the 2016 season on September 3 when they travel to Charlottesville to battle Virginia. Game at UVA is set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN3.