Football Tabbed Fourth; Trio Named To Preseason All-NEC Team
Cabral-Martin, Umunakwe and Wood selected to preseason team by league's head coaches
The Central Connecticut football team was selected fourth in the 2022 Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, unveiled Wednesday morning during the conference's media day. Three Blue Devils; Jonathan Cabral-Martin, Chizi Umunakwe and Craig Wood were selected to the All-NEC Preseason Team.
The coaches predicted Sacred Heart as the league champion, followed by Duquesne, Saint Francis U and the Blue Devils. Merrimack was tabbed fifth, followed by LIU and Wagner tied for sixth and league newcomer Stonehill.
Cabral-Martin saw action in all 11 games of his rookie season. He recorded 47 tackles in 2021, recorded two interceptions and broke up six passes. He ranked fifth in the league in passes defended and was one of two players in the conference to recover multiple fumbles during the campaign.
Umunakwe, a 2021 All-NEC Second Team selection appeared in every game last season, recording 50 tackles, 6.0 TFL and 3.0 sacks. He ranked 20th in the NEC at 4.55 tackles per game and 15th in sacks per game. The linebacker also earned NEC Outdoor Track & Field All-Rookie team honors in javelin.
Wood anchored the Blue Devils offensive line, playing in 10 games at center. Central averaged 329.5 yards per game, and 176 yards per game on the ground over the final four games of the season.
The Blue Devils open preseason camp on Thursday, with the season opener, at UConn, scheduled for September 3rd. Central opens its home schedule, and NEC play, on September 10 versus Sacred Heart, at 6:00 pm on ESPN3.
