HAMPTON, Va. (July 23, 2025) … Rhode Island, which is coming off a program-best 11-3 season that included a share of the CAA Football championship and its first FCS playoff berth since 1985, has been picked to finish atop the standings in 2025 according to a vote of the league's head coaches.
 
The Rams received eight first-place votes and 163 points in the preseason poll. Monmouth garnered four first-place votes and was second with 142 points, while Villanova got the remaining two first-place tallies and was third with 139 points. Stony Brook (125 points) finished fourth in the voting and was followed by UNH (119 points), Towson (108 points), William & Mary (104 points) and Elon (98 points). Rounding out the poll were Maine (71 points), Campbell (53 points), Hampton (50 points), UAlbany (47 points), Bryant (32 points) and North Carolina A&T (23 points).
 
Hampton is coming off a 5-7 mark in 2024 under first-year coach Trenton Boykin. The Pirates showed dramatic improvement last season. In 2024, the Pirates excelled on both sides of the ball. The offense increased its scoring output from 23.3 points per game to 29.6, an increase of 6.3. The Pirate offense ranked second in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) in rushing, averaging 195.8 yards per game with 32 touchdowns.
 
Defensively, Hampton led the CAA in total defense yielding 317.7 yards per game, placing them 22nd nationally in the FCS. The Pirate pass defense was tops in the CAA with just 167.8 yards per game and the team had 19 takeaways with 32 sacks.
 
Special teams player Jonathan Ward was named to the preseason All-CAA squad. The senior from Durham, N.C. is the long snapper for the Pirates.
 
Defensive back Will Hicks earned honorable mention recognition. Hicks is Hampton's leading returning tackler with 48 total stops a year ago. He registered 24 solo tackles and 24 assists with three tackles for loss during the 2024 campaign.
  
2025 CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM (Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)
OFFENSE Name, School Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown
Derek Robertson, Monmouth Gr. QB 6-2 200 Hartsdale, N.Y.
David Avit, Villanova So. RB 6-0 220 Frederick, Md.
Roland Dempster, Stony Brook Gr. RB 6-0 225 Staten Island, N.Y.
Trey McDonald, William & Mary Sr. FB/HB 6-6 230 Kinnelon, N.J.
Jack Neri, Monmouth Gr. TE 6-3 245 Doylestown, Pa.
Marquis Buchanan, Rhode Island Jr. WR 6-4 175 Providence, R.I.
Josh Derry, Monmouth Jr. WR 5-9 175 Towson, Md.
TJ Speight, Monmouth Sr. WR 5-11 170 Fort Meade, Md.
Tre Alexander, Rhode Island Gr. OL 6-5 320 Queens, N.Y.
Brock Bethea, Rhode Island Gr. OL 6-2 304 Irwin, Pa.
JT Cornelius, Monmouth 6th OL 6-6 290 Toms River, N.J.
Niko Papic, Stony Brook Sr. OL 6-4 300 Portsmouth, Va.
Jake Picard, Villanova Gr. OL 6-4 310 Hope, R.I.
Korion Sharpe, North Carolina A&T Sr. OL 6-4 315 Charlotte, N.C.
 
DEFENSE Name, School Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown
Davin Dzidzienyo, William & Mary Sr. DL 6-4 295 Northwest, D.C.
Rodney Faulk, Stony Brook Sr. DL 6-3 250 Washington, D.C.
Obinna Nwobodo, Villanova Gr. DL 6-3 295 Wilmington, Del.
Michael Otty, Bryant Gr. DL 6-1 292 Brooklyn, N.Y.
Luke Banbury, William & Mary Gr. LB 6-2 235 Pittsburgh, Pa.
Shane Hartzell, Villanova Sr. LB 6-0 230 Perkasie, Pa.
A.J. Pena, Rhode Island Sr. LB 6-2 243 Montclair, N.J.
AJ Roberts, Stony Brook Gr. LB 6-0 230 Staten Island, N.Y.
Myles Brodie, Towson Gr. CB 6-2 175 Hyattsville, Md.
Jalen Jones, William & Mary Sr. CB 6-0 190 Chesapeake, Va.
Deuce Lee, Monmouth Jr. S 5-11 195 Silver Spring, Md.
Xavier Terry, Towson Sr. S 5-10 190 Washington, D.C.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS Name, School Cl. Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown
Jonathan Ward, Hampton Sr. SPEC 5-10 240 Durham, N.C.
Trevin Ewing, Maine Sr. KR 5-11 190 Elkton, Md.
TJ Speight, Monmouth Sr. KR 5-11 170 Fort Meade, Md.
Carson Jenkins, William & Mary Jr. PR 5-10 175 Gate City, Va.
Enda Kirby, Stony Brook Sr. PK 6-2 220 Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Jeff Yurk, Elon Sr. P 6-2 224 Southern Pines, N.C.

PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Derek Robertson, QB, Monmouth
PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: A.J. Pena, LB, Rhode Island
 
HONORABLE MENTION: Devin Farrell, QB, Rhode Island; Carter Peevy, QB, Maine; Rodney Nelson, RB, Monmouth; Dylan Magazu, FB/HB, Elon; Sean McElwain, TE, William & Mary; Caleb Burke, WR, UNH; John Dunmore, WR, Towson; Ryan McKenna, OL, William & Mary; Stephane Voltaire, OL, Villanova; Kahmari Brown, DL, Elon; Ty Gordon, DL, William & Mary; Anthony Ferrelli, LB, Stony Brook; Rodney Roane, LB, Towson; Christian Thomas, LB, Maine; Jamaree Gibson, CB, Maine; Brandon Guzman, CB, Campbell; Ayinde Johnson, CB, Rhode Island; Zahmir Dawud, S, Villanova; Will Hicks, S, Hampton; Thomas Joe-Kamara, S, UAlbany; Devin Vaught, S, Maine; Aaron Harris, KR, North Carolina A&T
 
2025 CAA FOOTBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)
1. Rhode Island (8 first-place votes) 163
2. Monmouth (4 first-place votes) 142
3. Villanova (2 first-place votes) 139
4. Stony Brook 125
5. UNH 119
6. Towson 108
7. William & Mary 104
8. Elon 98
9. Maine 71
10. Campbell 53
11. Hampton 50
12. UAlbany 47
13. Bryant 32
14. North Carolina A&T 23