UD football tabbed No. 5 in Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 poll

From bluehens.com:

CHICAGO, Ill. - With less than a month to go before its season opener, the Blue Hens continue to rack up preseason accolades after a run in the FCS Playoffs this past spring. Delaware is ranked No. 5 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll that was released on Monday.

The Blue Hens, who were voted to finish second in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), return a plethora of experienced players. Delaware placed three players on the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America squad with offensive lineman David Kroll, running back Dejoun Lee and safety Kedrick Whitehead all earning accolades. 

Delaware opens its fall slate on the road at Maine on Sept. 2.

A national media panel selects the Stats Perform FCS Top 25. A first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote 24 points, all the way down to one point for a 25th-place vote.

For the latest on the Delaware football program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @DelawareFB and Instagram @DelawareFootball, and like "Delaware Football" on Facebook.

 STATS PERFORM FCS PRESEASON TOP 25

(With fall 2020/spring 2021 record unless noted)

1. Sam Houston (10-0, 6-0 Southland), 1,228 points (39 first-place votes)

2. James Madison (7-1, 3-0 CAA), 1,180 (8)

3. South Dakota State (8-2, 5-1 Missouri Valley), 1,156 (3)

4. North Dakota State (7-3, 5-2 Missouri Valley), 1,116

5. Delaware (7-1, 4-0 CAA), 1,017

6. Weber State (5-1, 5-0 Big Sky), 927

7. Southern Illinois (6-4, 3-3 Missouri Valley), 888

8. North Dakota (5-2, 4-1 Missouri Valley), 886

9. Montana (2-0), 778

10. Jacksonville State (10-3, 6-1 Ohio Valley), 744

11. Eastern Washington (5-2, 5-1 Big Sky), 659

12. Montana State (2019: 11-4, 6-2 Big Sky), 654

13. Monmouth (3-1, 3-0 Big South), 618

14. Central Arkansas (5-4), 561

15. Southeastern Louisiana (4-3, 4-2 Southland), 559

16. Villanova (2-2 CAA), 440

17. VMI (6-2, 6-1 Southern), 397

18. Chattanooga (3-2, 3-1 Southern), 295

19. Kennesaw State (4-1, 2-1 Big South), 255

20. Austin Peay (4-5, 4-2 Ohio Valley), 227

21. Northern Iowa (3-4 Missouri Valley), 219

22. Nicholls (4-3 Southland), 173

23. UC Davis (3-2 Big Sky), 172

24. Missouri State (5-5, 5-1 Missouri Valley), 168

25. North Carolina A&T (2019: 9-3, 6-2 MEAC), 159

Others Receiving Votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): Murray State (5-2 Ohio Valley) 157, Richmond (3-1 CAA) 113, ETSU (4-2 Southern) 99, Sacramento State (2019: 9-4, 7-1 Big Sky) 57, Alabama A&M (5-0, 4-0 SWAC) 49, Florida A&M (2019: 9-2, 7-1 MEAC) 47, New Hampshire (0-1 CAA) 42, Alcorn State (2019: 9-4, 6-1 SWAC) 35, Holy Cross (3-1, 3-0 Patriot) 22, Samford (4-3 Southern) 20, UIW (3-3 Southland) 19, Sacred Heart (3-2, 2-1 Northeast) 17, Albany (1-3 CAA) 14, Illinois State (1-3 Missouri Valley) 10, Rhode Island (2-1 CAA) 10, South Carolina State (3-1) 10, Stephen F. Austin (6-4) 10, Duquesne (4-1, 4-0 Northeast) 4, Southeast Missouri (4-4, 4-3 Ohio Valley) 3