Football Picked Second in NEC Poll; Three Named Preseason All-NEC
The Central Connecticut football team collected a first-place vote and was picked second in the Northeast Conference preseason coaches' poll it was announced during the league's 2021 Virtual Social Media Day on Tuesday. The Blue Devils seniors J'Von Brown, Tyshaun James and Tre Jones named to the Preseason All-Northeast Conference Team.
Sacred Heart received four first place votes and was predicted to win the league after capturing the league title during an abbreviated spring season in 2021. The Blue Devils, who opted out of playing during the 2020-21 season, tied for second in the poll with Duquesne, which collected two first-place votes. Bryant was picked fourth to round out the top half of the poll. Merrimack will play a full NEC schedule but is not eligible for the league title until 2023 and was not listed in the poll.
NEC Virtual Media Day - CCSU (HC Ryan McCarthy, Tre Jones, Tyshaun James)
NEC Virtual Media Day - CCSU Seniors (Jones, James, J'Von Brown)
Central's offense the NEC in scoring and yardage during the 2019 season and had Brown and James represent it on the Preseason All-NEC Team. The Blue Devils piled up 415.9 yards per game and scored 34.3 points per game in its last season of action. Brown is back as an anchor on the offensive line after being limited to just four games due to injury in 2019. He was named a Preseason All-America on Monday. James led the NEC and ranked 23rd nationally as a junior with 14 total touchdowns. An All-NEC First Team choice in 2019 he ranked 12th in the NCAA with 20.38 yards per reception and totaled 978 receiving yards.
The defensive unit was represented by Jones on the Preseason All-NEC Team. He earned All-NEC First Team honors in 2019 after ranking fourth in the NEC with 8.0 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss, along with 58.0 tackles. The Blue Devils led the league in scoring defense (20.2) and total defense (282.5) in 2019. Central also allowed a league-low 73.2 rushing yards per game in 2019.
The league also announced its ESPN3 feature games schedule. The Blue Devils' home game against Bryant on Nov. 6 will be carried on ESPN3. The Nov. 13 and 20 game weeks will be flex and feature the top game in the league each week. CCSU plays at Duquesne on Nov. 13 and hosts Saint Francis U on Nov. 20.
The Blue Devils were represented by head coach Ryan McCarthy and James and Jones at the league's kickoff event, which was held virtually. CCSU set a program-record with an 11-2 record in 2019 and went unbeaten in league play. The Blue Devils finished the season ranked No. 22 in the American Football Coaches Association FCS Coaches' Poll and 23rd in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 after earning its second trip to the FCS Playoffs.