Wesley Football Preseason Tabbed 2nd In NJAC

Courtesy: Wesley Athletics

After earning the title of Co-Champions in its first year as an associate member of the New Jersey Athletic Conference, the Wesley College Football team was selected to finish second in the NJAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll on Tuesday morning.

Wesley head coach Mike Drass has guided the Wolverines to an overall record of 210-56-1 during his tenure in Dover, including a record of 11-2 in 2015. The Navy and White earned an at-large bid to the 2015 NCAA Tournament and posted NCAA wins over Framingham State and Johns Hopkins to reach the NCAA Quarterfinals for the seventh consecutive season before falling to eventual national champion Mount Union in the NCAA third round.

 The Wolverines returns a league-high nine all-conference players from a squad that captured a share of the NJAC championship with an 8-1 mark in league play, including senior running back Jamar Baynard, senior wide receiver James Okike, senior wide receiver/returner Bryce Shade, senior offensive lineman Austin Eagle, junior offensive lineman Matt Gono, junior linebacker Samer Manna, senior defensive back Andre Connally, sophomore wide receiver Alex Kemp and senior defensive lineman Roderick Caine.

Wesley was selected to place second behind Salisbury University, but received a league-high five first place votes in the poll. Frostburg State finished third in the poll with one first place and received the title of this year’s conference “Dark Horse.” Rowan received one first place vote and was selected fourth. Kean, Montclair State, Christopher Newport, The College of New Jersey, William Paterson, and Southern Virginia rounded out the poll, finishing in that order.

The Wolverines report to preseason camp on Wednesday, August 10. The squad opens their season schedule with a non-conference contest against regionally-ranked Delaware Valley College on Sept. 2 before beginning the grind of the NJAC schedule by hosting Frostburg State on Sept. 10.