The preseason plaudits for Ashland University's football team continue to stream in.
In the Lindy's Sports College Football National 2016 Preview, the Eagles are ranked No. 3 in the preseason Division II Top 25 poll, and three returning AU players have been named to the Lindy's preseason All-American team.
Junior tight end Adam Shaheen earned a spot on the preseason All-American first team, and senior guard Zachary Douglass and senior linebacker Brandon Gency are on the second team.
Earlier in the offseason, Ashland was ranked No. 8 in the 2016 Sporting News NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 poll.
The Eagles were 10-1 in 2015, had an undefeated regular season, won a share of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship and hosted a D-II playoff game.
In 2016, Ashland returns 11 starters on offense, seven on defense and three on special teams. The Eagles will begin the season with three straight games at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field – Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. against Mercyhurst, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. vs. Wayne State and Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. against Findlay.
Ashland will follow that with a game at fellow 2015 co-GLIAC champion Ferris State, ranked No. 20 in the Lindy's preseason poll, on Sept. 24 at 3:30 p.m. That game will be broadcast live on American Sports Network.
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