Statesmen 16th in Preseason Poll, Sweeney & Shed All-D3

College Football Preseason polls normally don't go out until August, but publications like Street & Smith (f/k/a The Sporting News) and Lindy's like to jump the gun apparently. Last Wednesday, S&S put out the below Division 3 Top 25 poll, placing Hobart at 16th. I'm still tracking down the Lindy's poll, but I'd suspect it has Hobart in a similar position based on past experience (edit: I did find it and it was kind of surprising. Checking on a couple things before I comment more on it).

While 16th is respectable, it was kind of interesting that the Statesmen were behind Frostburg State, who lost to Wesley 43-7 and didn't even make the NCAAs last season. To their credit, they did beat (a rather thin due to injury) Saint John Fisher team in an ECAC bowl game, 38-14, but I would still have placed Hobart over the Bobcats.

The preseason awards have already started for rising SR QB Shane Sweeney and SR WR Brandon Shed. Lindy's named both to their "All-DIV III" offensive team as shown below:

 



Sweeney was also named to Street & Smith's preseason D3 All-American team. Koree Reed (Hartwick) and Jesse Zubik (W&J) took the WR honors. Reed and Shed have alternated on 1st team All-American awards in 2016, with Shed earning a higher mark by D3football.com, but Reed being given the 1st team nod by the AFCA. The good news they can "settle it on the field" when Hobart plays Hartwick on October 14th.

SR P Rio Schmidt also received preseason All-D3 recognition as a specialist, on the second team. Statesmen fans will recall Schmidt having a great 2016 season, earning co-STPOTY honors from the Liberty League.

While I think Hobart will be placed higher in the upcoming D3football.com and AFCA preseason polls (which will probably come out in August), time will tell where they will end up. My guess is in the 12-15 range, based on last season's results and the number of players coming back in 2017.

Thanks for reading and go 'Bart!