Baltimore, Md. -- During its annual Conference Media Day in Baltimore on Tuesday morning, CAA Football announced the results of its preseason poll of league head coaches and sports information directors. Villanova was predicted to finish ninth in the league standings for the upcoming season.
Media Day returned to M&T Bank Stadium, where the head coaches and selected student-athletes from all 12 conference teams met with the media and took part in other promotional activities.
The Wildcats garnered 84 points in the preseason poll. James Madison was predicted to finish first in the league standings with 238 points, including 20 first place votes. Towson picked up three first place votes and 217 points to rank second, while Maine earned one first place vote and 201 points in the third position.
Three Wildcats earned Preseason Honorable Mention selection, including senior linebacker
Drew Wiley (Pennington, N.J.), senior tight end
Simon Bingelis (Brick, N.J.) and junior cornerback
Jaquan Amos (Philadelphia, Pa.).
Wiley started all 11 games last season and had 55 tackles, a team-high 9.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception and two pass break-ups. His best game of the 2018 campaign came at Delaware in the season finale when he had eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception.
Bingelis is coming off a 2018 season when he tallied 15 catches for 135 yards, including recording a career-high six receptions for 40 yards at Stony Brook.
Amos returns for his third year as a starter in 2019. As a sophomore a season ago, he led the team in tackles with 57 to go with two tackles for loss, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and six pass break-ups.
The Wildcats will open the 2019 season on Saturday, August 24, with a road game at Colgate. Kickoff is set for noon and the game will be televised live on CBS Sports Network.
| CAA FOOTBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH |
| 1 |
James Madison (20 first place votes) |
238 |
| 2 |
Towson (3 first place votes) |
217 |
| 3 |
Maine (1 first place vote) |
201 |
| 4 |
Elon |
164 |
| 5 |
Delaware |
162 |
| 6 |
Stony Brook |
151 |
| 7 |
New Hampshire |
109 |
| 8 |
Rhode Island |
104 |
| 9 |
Villanova |
84 |
| 10 |
Richmond |
62 |
| 11 |
William & Mary |
58 |
| 12 |
Albany |
34 |
