The 2018 GLIAC Football Preseason Poll was released on Tuesday (July 31), and Ashland University's is pick third for the second year in a row. In each of the last four seasons, Ashland has finished higher than its preseason conference prediction.
Ashland has 54 total voting points and one first-place vote in this year's preseason poll. Grand Valley State is the league favorite with 61 points and six first-place votes, while Ferris State is picked to finish second with 56 points and two first-place votes.
So far this offseason, in NCAA Division II national preseason polls, Ashland has been picked 10th by College Football America, 13th by Street & Smith's and 15th by Lindy's.
In 2017, the Eagles finished 11-2 with a first-round D-II postseason home win and a GLIAC championship. Ashland ended the campaign ranked 10th in the final 2017 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches' Top 25 poll.
Heading into the 2018 campaign, Ashland returns 12 starters – six on offense, five on defense and one on special teams. Of the 150 players on the 2018 roster, 44 are returning 2017 letter winners – 21 on offense, 22 on defense and one on special teams.
Ashland's first game in 2018 will be on Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field vs. Indiana, Pa.
Story courtesy of Ashland University