Villanova, which went 10-3 overall last season and earned a share of the CAA Football championship for the first time since 2012, has been picked to capture the CAA Football title again in 2022 according to a vote of the league’s head coaches and media relations directors.

The Wildcats got 16 first-place votes and 270 points in the poll, topping rival Delaware, which received seven first-place votes and finished second with 235 points. Rhode Island placed third with 224 points and Richmond was close behind in fourth with 219 points. William & Mary, which picked up two first-place votes, and Elon, which received one first-place vote, finished fifth and sixth respectively in the poll. Stony Brook placed seventh followed by Maine, New Hampshire, Monmouth, Towson, UAlbany and Hampton.

Villanova returns many of its top offensive performers from last year’s team that advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2014 and was ranked No. 8 nationally. Back for the Wildcats are receivers Rayjoun Pringle and Jaaron Hayek, who combined for 17 touchdown catches, running backs Jalen Jackson and DeeWil Barlee, and All-America offensive lineman Michael Corbi. On defense, safety Ethan Potter is among three returning starters.

Delaware begins its first season under new head coach Ryan Carty. Nine starters are back for the Blue Hens defensively, including All-America safety Kedrick Whitehead and All-CAA performers Johnny Buchanan, Noah Plack, Artis Hemmingway and Chase McGowan. Offensively, quarterback Nolan Henderson returns after a season-ending injury in 2021, along with top receiver Thyrick Pitts.

Rhode Island is coming off a 7-4 campaign, which marked its highest win total since 2001. The Rams feature quarterback Kasim Hill, All-CAA tight end Caleb Warren and an offensive line that returns four starters. Seven starters are back on the URI defense, highlighted by All-CAA cornerback Jordan Jones and leading tackler Evan Stewart.

Richmond closed the 2021 season on a four-game winning streak to finish 6-5 overall. Running back/returner Aaron Dykes tops a group of seven starters back for the Spiders’ offense, which has added graduate transfer quarterback Reece Udinski and receiver Jakob Herres. There are also seven starters back on the Richmond defense, including All-America linebacker Tristan Wheeler.

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 the past nine 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

CAA Football also announced its preseason all-conference team. Delaware led all schools with five players honored while Villanova had four. Stony Brook running back Ty Son Lawton, who rushed a league-high 1,088 yards and 10 TD’s in 2021, was named the preseason Offensive Player of the Year. William & Mary defensive end Nate Lynn, who was among the nation’s best with 12 sacks and six forced fumbles in 2021, was chosen as the preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

2022 CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches and Media Relations Directors)

OFFENSE

Name, School                                         Cl.           Pos.       Ht.          Wt.       

Tony Muskett, Monmouth                          Jr.           QB          6-2          195    

Ty Son Lawton, Stony Brook                      Sr.           RB           5-10       215         

Bronson Yoder, William & Mary                 Sr.           RB           5-11       195       

Luke Hamilton, Towson                               Sr.           FB           6-0          245        

Jackson Parham, Elon                                 Sr.           WR         6-3          205    

Thyrick Pitts, Delaware                                Gr.          WR         6-3          200  

Rayjoun Pringle, Villanova                           Jr.           WR         5-9          190    

Caleb Warren, Rhode Island                        Sr.           TE           6-3          235        

Michael Corbi, Villanova                               Gr.          OL           6-3          335   

Nick Correia, Rhode Island                           Jr.           OL           6-6          330    

Colin Gamroth, Villanova                              Gr.          OL           6-4          305         

Michael Gerace, Maine                                 Gr.          OL           6-4          305         

Kyle Nunez, Stony Brook                              Gr.          OL           6-2          340      

DEFENSE

Name, School                                         Cl.           Pos.       Ht.          Wt. 

Artis Hemmingway, Delaware                   Sr.           DL           6-2          265      

Nate Lynn, William & Mary                         Sr.           DL           6-3          265      

Chase McGowan, Delaware                       Sr.           DL           6-1          240         

Josiah Silver, New Hampshire                   So.          DL           6-2          234         

Jackson Ambush, UAlbany                         So.          LB           6-0          222        

Johnny Buchanan, Delaware                      Sr.           LB           6-0          230        

Tyler King, Stony Brook                                So.          LB           6-1          235         

KeShaun Moore, Hampton                          Sr.           LB           6-3          240        

Tristan Wheeler, Richmond                         Jr.           LB           6-2          228      

Jordan Jones, Rhode Island                       Sr.           CB           6-0          170      

Ryan Poole, William & Mary                        Sr.           CB           5-11       185     

Cole Coleman, Elon                                       Sr.           S              5-10       193      

Kedrick Whitehead, Delaware                     Sr.           S              5-11       195       

SPECIAL TEAMS

Name, School                                           Cl.           Pos.       Ht.          Wt.     

Aaron Dykes, Richmond                                Sr.           KR           5-11       202    .

Eddie Morales III, Monmouth                       Gr.          PR           5-9          180     

Skyler Davis, Elon                                           Sr.           PK           5-8          170        

Tyler Pastula, UAlbany                                   Jr.           P             6-3          200        

TD Ayo-Durojaiye, Villanova                          Sr.           SPEC      5-11       210      

CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Ty Son Lawton, RB, Stony Brook

CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Nate Lynn, DL, William & Mary

Honorable Mention

Nolan Henderson, QB, Delaware; Kasim Hill, QB, Rhode Island; Freddie Brock, RB, Maine; Juwon Farri, RB, Monmouth; Malachi Imoh, RB, William & Mary; Jadakis Bonds, WR, Hampton; Jaaron Hayek, WR, Villanova; Shawn Bowman, TE, Maine; Patrick Flynn, OL, New Hampshire; Colby Sorsdal, OL, William & Mary Anthony Lang, DL, UAlbany; Torrence Williams, DL, Elon; Evan Stewart, LB, Rhode Island; Tre’Von Jones, CB, Elon; Pop Bush, S, New Hampshire; Noah Plack, S, Delaware; D’Ago Hunter, KR/PR, Towson; Jourdan Townsend, PR, Delaware; Ryan Kost, P, Monmouth; Alex Washington, SPEC, William & Mary

2022 CAA FOOTBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches and Media Relations Directors)

Villanova (16 first-place votes)                   270

Delaware (7 first-place votes)                     235

Rhode Island                                                   224

Richmond                                                        219

William & Mary (2 first-place votes)          206

Elon (1 first-place vote)                                 191

Stony Brook                                                     151

Maine                                                                134

New Hampshire                                               117

Monmouth                                                        105

Towson                                                                81

UAlbany                                                               64

Hampton                                                             31