Generals' Receive Six First Place Votes, Tigers and Quakers Share Remaining Two

FOREST, Va. --- Defending ODAC champion Washington and Lee University opens the 2016 campaign as the favorite to repeat as the league's coaches voted the Generals to the top of the ODAC Football Preseason Poll.  W&L picked up six first place votes on the way to 48 points. Hampden-Sydney College and Guilford College split the remaining two top nods with the Tigers collecting 41 tallies and the Quakers earning 35 points to round out the top three.

Washington and Lee literally ran its way to a 10-0 regular season record as the nation's best rushing team regardless of NCAA division churned out an ODAC-record 4,773 yards that included the top three team single-game yardage totals --- 649, 508, 506 --- in league history.  The Generals' 7-0 ODAC mark led to a trip to Thomas More College in the NCAA Division III Football Tournament first round.  The Saints bested W&L, 51-21, resulting in the Generals' first loss since November 8, 2014 (at Catholic).

The 2015 campaign also featured several individual awards, led by two-time J. Stokely Fulton Offensive Player of the Year, Matt Pawlowski.  The former Guilford signal-caller was a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, which honors the top Division III player in the country. He along with favorite target Adam Smith and fellow Quakers Tyler Hunt (punter) and De'Eric Bell (kick returner) joined W&L offensive tackle Michael LaSala as D3football.com Third Team All-Americans.

Bell, who will likely open as Guilford's lead running back, and LaSala are two of 38 All-ODAC selections returning in 2016, which includes 14 from the All-ODAC First Team. In addition to Bell, Guilford features three other 2015 first team choices in offensive lineman Pat Shwallon, defensive lineman Gibson Ziah, and linebacker Hunter Hoots. LaSala is one of three first team returning Generals that also includes guard Chris Osier and linebacker Max Garrett.  Emory & Henry College welcomes back a pair from the top team in offensive lineman McFarland Murph and defensive back Tre'von Lightfoot.  The remaining four conference teams feature one first team standout each. Bridgewater College's offense is buoyed by tight end Keith Jennings, while Catholic University returns 2015 receptions leader (100) Lucas Morley. Randolph-Macon College is boosted by the return of defensive lineman Xavier Strothers, while Shenandoah University looks forward to the senior season of running back Cedrick Delaney.

D3football.com's annual preseason predictions include several ODAC entries.  Washington and Lee opens the campaign as the 20th-ranked team in the national outlet's preseason top-25 poll. Guilford and Hampden-Sydney both received votes towards the rankings.  LaSala is touted as a first team preseason All-American, while Bell was picked to duplicate his second team selection at kick returner.

The 2016 season kicks off with non-conference play on Thursday, September 1.  The first conference game is Thursday, September 29 and continues with all eight squads in action throughout that weekend.   If you can't make it to the games, be sure to check the schedules online for live video, audio and statistics links.

For more on ODAC football and its teams entering the season, check out the football virtual guide.  The virtual guide includes specifics about each team as well as interviews with all eight head coaches (also posted below).

Listed below is the 2016 ODAC Football Preseason Poll.  For more information on ODAC Football, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter.