File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

BALTIMORE -- The University of Delaware football squad has some high aspirations for the upcoming 2010 football season.

Those lofty goals were confirmed in some respects Wednesday afternoon as the Colonial Athletic Association announced its pre-season order of finish and all-conference teams as part of the annual CAA Football Media Day held at M&T Bank Stadium. The event was attended by each of the CAA head coaches, selected student-athletes, and various media members who cover the league.

In a vote of the league’s head coaches and sports information directors, the Blue Hens received one first place vote and were predicted to finish fifth in the 10-team conference standings. Defending league and national champion Villanova was the pre-season favorite with 17 first place votes followed by William & Mary, New Hampshire (two), James Madison, Delaware (one), Richmond, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Towson.

In addition to Villanova, William & Mary, New Hampshire, and Richmond all advanced to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoffs a year ago.

“We have an outstanding senior class and a proven senior at quarterback in Pat Devlin,” said ninth-year Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler, who welcomes back 40 letterwinners and 17 starters from last year’ squad that posted a 6-5 record and went 4-4 in league play. “I think we all would be disappointed if we weren’t in the hunt for the conference title as the season unfolds. We just need to come out strong and play the way I know we are capable of playing.”

Delaware, looking to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since advancing to the national championship game in 2007, will begin pre-season camp next Friday, August 6 in preparation for the 2010 opener Sept. 2 at home vs. West Chester at Delaware Stadium. The Hens will host seven home games this season, including matchups with 2009 NCAA Tournament participants South Dakota State and Villanova.

“I think we are ready to meet the challenge,” said Devlin, who attended the event. “We can’t wait to get on the field next week to begin practice and show the league what kind of team we have.”

Devlin, who led the CAA in passing last season when he threw for an average of 242.2 yards per game, is a solid All-American candidate who has already been named to the Walter Payton Award and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch lists. The Payton Award honors the top player in the NCAA FCS classification while the Unitas Award goes to the top quarterback in the nation regardless of division. He was the only FCS player selected to the Unitas Award watch list.

Individually for the Blue Hens, senior strong safety Anthony Bratton (at right) was the lone Delaware player selected to the 28-member pre-season All-CAA team. Bratton, a native of Manassas, Va. (Osbourn Park High School), earned second team All-CAA honors a year ago when he posted 49 tackles and tied for the team lead with four interceptions despite missing two games with an injury.

Bratton teams with 2009 All-CAA selection Anthony Walters, senior cornerback Tyrone Grant, and sophomore cornerback Marcus Burley to give the Blue Hens one of the nation’s top defensive secondary units. The Hens are also backed defensively by returning starting linebackers Matt Marcorelle, Benard Makumbi, Andrew Harrison, and Paul Worrilow. Chris Morales and Siddiq Haynes lead an improving defensive line contingent.

Offensively, Devlin will lead the way once again for the Hens and will be supported by a strong committee of running backs in sophomores David Hayes and Leon Jackson, seven of the top eight returning receivers led by Mark Mackey, and a deep and emerging offensive line that is spearheaded by junior center Rob McDowell.

Villanova senior wide receiver and kick returner Matt Szczur was named the CAA pre-season Offensive Player of the Year while Villanova senior linebacker Terence Thomas was picked as the Defensive Player of the Year.

AGATE:

Pre-Season Colonial Athletic Association Coaches/Sports Information Directors Poll: 1. Villanova (17 1st place votes); 2. William & Mary; 3. New Hampshire (2); 4. James Madison; 5. Delaware (1); 6. Richmond; 7. Maine; 8. Massachusetts; 9. Rhode Island; 10. Towson.

Pre-Season All-CAA Team:
Offense - QB - Chris Whitney (Villanova); RB - John Griffin (UMass), Jonathan Grimes (W&M); FB - Kendall Gaskins (Richmond); WR - Tre Gray (Richmond), Kevin Grayson (Richmond), Matt Szczur (Villanova); TE - Emil Igwenagu (UMass); OL - Brant Clouser (Villanova), Keith Hill Jr. (W&M), Ben Ijalana (Villanova), Drew Lachenmayer (Richmond), Theo Sherman (JMU).

Defense - DL - Ronnell Brown (JMU), Yaky Ibia (Towson), Brian McNally (New Hampshire), Martin Parker (Richmond); LB - Tyler Holmes (UMass), Eric McBride (Richmond), Terence Thomas (Villanova), Jake Trantin (W&M); S - Anthony Bratton (Delaware), John Dempsey (Villanova); CB - Justin Rogers (Richmond), Dino Vasso (New Hampshire).

Special Teams - RS - Matt Szczur (Villanova); K - Nick Yako (Villanova); P - David Miller (W&M)

Offensive Player of the Year: Matt Szczur (Villanova)

Defensive Player of the Year: Terence Thomas (Villanova).