Football Tabbed Fifth in Preseason NEC Poll; Three Named Preseason All-NEC
Blue Devils open the season at home against Lafayette on Friday, Sept. 2.
The Central Connecticut football team was tabbed fifth in the 2016 Northeast Conference Football Preseason Coaches' Poll it was announced on Thursday at league's Social Media Day held at Giants Stadium. Additionally, the Blue Devils had senior Asia Bolling, junior Cameron Nash and junior Randall Laguerre named to the Preseason All-NEC Team.
The Blue Devils are coming off a 2015 season in which they tied for third in the NEC with a 3-3 mark. Central finished 4-7 overall in head coach Pete Rossomando's second season at the helm. With a total of 20 starters returning, including seven on offense and nine on defense CCSU are poised to move further up the NEC standings.
Leading the returnees on defense will be Bolling who was named to the Preseason All-NEC Team for the second consecutive season. Bolling earned All-NEC First Team honors on the defensive line as a junior after compiling 64 total tackles in 11 games. He led the team with 14.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He added a pair of forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Nash burst onto the scene in his first season with the Blue Devils to earn All-NEC Second Team honors at running back. He led the Central rushing attack with three touchdowns on 676 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per carry. He added 218 receiving yards on 18 catches, including an 84-yard touchdown against Bryant.
Laguerre played in all 11 games as a sophomore in Central's linebacker corps and led the Blue Devils' defense with 92 total tackles, including 55 solo efforts. He recorded one sack at Wagner and had 11.5 tackles for loss. Laguerre added two forced fumbles and an interception, picking off a pass in CCSU's 34-0 win over Robert Morris.
Central opens the season against Lafayette at home on Friday, September 2. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Arute Field.
