Richmond, Va. – The Elon Football team was picked to finish sixth in the CAA Football preseason poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches and media relations directors. As well, five Elon football players were recognized as Preseason All-CAA or honorable mention.
Among the 26 voters, Elon received 191 votes, including one first-place vote. Villanova was selected to win the CAA, followed by Delaware, Rhode Island, Richmond and William & Mary. Following Elon in sixth is Stony Brook, Maine, New Hampshire, Monmouth, Towson, UAlbany and Hampton.
Elon returns 16 starters from a team that placed third in CAA Football a year ago with a record of 6-5 overall and 5-3 in league play. The Phoenix has nine starters back on defense and returns 41 total letterwinners.
CAA Football also announced its preseason all-conference team with wide receiver
Jackson Parham, defensive back
Cole Coleman and kicker
Skyler Davis earned recognition. Defensive lineman
Torrence Williams and defensive back
Tre'Von Jones received honorable mention consideration from the league.
Parham had a breakout season in 2021, catching 57 passes for 820 yards and earning first team All-CAA honors. He ranked in the top 45 nationally in both receiving yards and receptions per game, finishing with a pair of 100-yard games, including 122 receiving yards against New Hampshire. He had at least two receptions in every game and finished with 50+ yards receiving nine times.
Coleman was also first team All-CAA a year ago, posting a team-high 71 tackles, adding 3.5 for loss and a sack. He had three pass break-ups, an interception and a blocked kick. Coleman's three forced fumbles were ranked among the top 30 nationally as he started all 11 games for the Phoenix.
Davis made 17-of-22 field goals in 2021, including his final nine of the season. He was 9-of-10 from 40-49 yards away and became the first Elon player to make a pair of 50-yard field goals in the same game. He tied the school record with a 52-yarder against Towson and then added another 50-yarder in that game. Davis was also 5-of-5 on field goal attempts in the win over No. 25 Rhode Island to conclude the season.
Jones was third team All-CAA last year, posting 53 tackles, 5.0 for loss, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions. He had a season-high nine tackles against Campbell with a fumble recovery and an interception. He added an interception in a road win at Richmond.
Williams, a local product from Williams High School, finished with 46 tackles on the defensive line, 6.0 tackles for loss, three sacks and a blocked kick. He had two sacks in a win over No. 25 Rhode Island and blocked a key fourth quarter field goal attempt in a win over Maine.
CAA Football expands to 13 teams for the first time in 2022 as Hampton and Monmouth join the conference. CAA Football has had a team in the FCS championship game 11 times since 2003, a squad in the semifinals of the playoffs for nine consecutive seasons and a team in the quarterfinals every year since 1991. Eleven of the league's 13 current members have participated in the FCS playoffs since 2015. Elon has made the FCS playoffs twice since 2017.
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