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The 2018 NCAA Division II preseason polls and All-America teams keep rolling in, and Ashland University's football team continues to be a part of the conversation.
In the 2018 D2Football.com preaseason Top 25 poll, the Eagles are slotted at No. 16. This is at least the fifth national preseason poll Ashland has been in this offseason, along with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Preseason Division II Coaches' Poll (No. 15), College Football America (No. 10), Street's & Smith's (No. 13) and Lindy's (No. 15).
Ashland will begin the new season on Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field vs. No. 4-ranked Indiana, Pa. The Crimson Hawks also were ranked No. 4 in the AFCA poll, and No. 2 in the other three aforementioned rankings.
In 2017, the Eagles finished 11-2 with a first-round D-II postseason home win and a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship. Ashland ended the campaign ranked 10th in the final 2017 AFCA Division II Coaches' Top 25 poll.
Senior defensive end James Prater Jr. was named to the 2018 D2Football.com Preseason All-America first team. Earlier in the offseason, he was on the first-teams of both Street & Smith's and Lindy's preseason squads.
In 2017, Prater Jr. racked up a program-record 23½ tackles for loss, resulting in 104 yards in losses; 42 solo tackles, 10 sacks, 63 total stops, an interception, eight pass breakups, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. Entering his senior campaign, Prater Jr. has 31 career tackles for loss, fourth-most in program history.
2018 D2FOOTBALL.COM PRESEASON TOP 25 POLL
|
Team |
2017 Record |
|
|
1 |
Minnesota State |
13-1 |
|
2 |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
14-1 |
|
3 |
West Florida |
11-4 |
|
4 |
IUP |
13-1 |
|
5 |
Northwest Missouri |
9-3 |
|
6 |
Central Washington |
11-1 |
|
7 |
Ferris State |
11-2 |
|
8 |
Midwestern State |
10-1 |
|
9 |
Fort Hays |
11-1 |
|
10 |
Harding |
11-4 |
|
11 |
West Alabama |
10-3 |
|
12 |
Indianapolis |
11-1 |
|
13 |
CSU-Pueblo |
9-3 |
|
14 |
Grand Valley |
8-3 |
|
15 |
Shepherd |
10-1 |
|
16 |
ASHLAND |
11-2 |
|
17 |
Winona State |
10-2 |
|
18 |
Sioux Falls |
9-3 |
|
19 |
Central Missouri |
9-3 |
|
20 |
Assumption |
11-2 |
|
21 |
West Georgia |
9-4 |
|
22 |
Findlay |
10-3 |
|
23 |
Pittsburg State |
8-4 |
|
24 |
Virginia State |
10-1 |
|
25 |
Ouachita Baptist |
9-3 |
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