DOVER, Del. - For
the third-straight season, Wesley College's football team is ranked
third in the D3Football.com Preseason Poll, it was announced on Monday
evening. The Wolverines rank just behind top-ranked and defending
National Champion, Wisconsin-Whitewater, and 2011 national runner-up
Mount Union. Rounding out the top-five are Mary Hardin-Baylor at four
and Linfield, who the Wolverines beat in the National Quarterfinals and
Second Round last season, respectively.
In 2012, Wesley will face a pair of teams ranked in the Preseason Top
25 in back-to-back weeks and a third team that is receiving votes. The
Wolverines will travel to face No. 7 Salisbury on September 8 before opening their home slate against the fourth-ranked Crusaders on September 15.
After taking on Mary Hardin-Baylor, the Navy & White will travel to
the 'Bayou State' to take on Louisiana College, who is receiving the
fifth-most votes of teams not in the Top 25.
Head Coach Mike Drass,
who is in his 20th season as Wesley's head coach, will have seven
starters returning on both sides of the ball, including Preseason
All-Americans Justin Sottilare at quarterback and Leon Jones at cornerback. Senior defensive end Devin Hardy, who led the Wolverines in sacks in 2011, also returns.
The Wolverines open the season on September 1 when they travel to Marshall, Texas, to face East Texas Baptist.
