From IUP Sports Information
PSAC football pre-season poll
West
1. IUP – six first-place votes
2. California – two votes
3 Slippery Rock
4 Edinboro
5 Gannon
6. Sent Hill
7. Clarion
8. Mercyhurst
East
1. West Chester – eight votes
2. Kutztown
3. Shippensburg
4. Bloomsburg
5. East Stroudsburg
6. Lock Haven
7. Millersville
8. Cheyney
IUP opener is Thursday, August 31 vs. Ashland University
Coming off the program’s 17th trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs, IUP is the favorite to win the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division as voted on by the league’s football coaches.
The annual preseason poll was released by the PSAC on Monday morning via the league’s official Twitter account.
IUP received six of the eight first place votes to lead the West by a wide margin according to the coaches. Defending PSAC champion California (Pa.) was picked second with the remaining two first place votes, with Slippery Rock following in third.
Coming off its best season in years, Edinboro was chosen fourth, while Gannon followed in fifth, Seton Hill sixth, Clarion seventh, and Mercyhurst eighth.
In the Eastern Division, West Chester was the unanimous choice with all eight first place votes. Kutztown is believed to be the biggest competition for the Rams, coming in second, with Shippensburg following in third. Bloomsburg was picked fourth, East Stroudsburg fifth, with Lock Haven, Millersville and Cheyney, respectively, rounding out the rest of the voting
The Crimson Hawks welcome back 47 letterwinners – including 15 starters – from last year’s 10-2 team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs and finished ranked in the top 12 of the coaches and media national polls.
IUP returns one of the nation’s best offenses, led by the return of dynamic junior quarterback Lenny Williams, Jr. Despite limited playing time due to a late season injury and several blowout wins during the year, Williams totaled 2,426 yards and 26 touchdowns, boasting an incredible 214.0 passer efficiency rating. Several of Williams’ top targets return, including senior receiver Walt Pegues, who enters the season ranked third in program history in yards and fourth in receptions. Sophomore running back Samir Bullock led one of the nation’s best run games with 989 rushing yards last year.
The IUP defense welcomes back an incredibly deep defensive line, which includes nine players from last year’s rotation and headlined by all-region players in senior Jemal Averette and junior Deandre Easterling. Preseason All-American cornerback Jay Watkins enters his senior season with 24 straight starts and 11 career interceptions. He’ll anchor a defensive backfield that includes fellow returning starters in senior safety Takhi Turner and junior corner Mikale Makle, as well as the addition of Notre Dame transfer Max Redfield.
