Villanova is No. 1 in CAA preseason rankings

It's difficult for Villanova coach Andy Talley to put much stock in his team's preseason No. 1 ranking in the Colonial Athletic Association. This time last year, the Wildcats were picked to finish eighth in the conference but they ended up 8-4 and received an automatic bid to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Talley does, however, appreciate the respect his team is garnering. The Wildcats received 11 of 22 first-place votes from the CAA's coaches and communications personnel.

"We understand, and I enjoy, being at the top," Talley said. "Having that kind of preseason prediction, it's indicative that you're a top-notch program in the country, and that's where we want to be year in and year out."

Including a national championship in 2009, Villanova has made the playoffs in the FCS (formerly Division I-AA) in three of the last four seasons.

Talley and company open their season Aug. 31 at Boston College against former Temple coach Steve Addazio. Addazio enters his first season with the Eagles after beating Villanova handily in each of the last two seasons with the Owls.

The Wildcats' conference slate begins Sept. 21 at home against CAA newcomer Stony Brook, which ousted Villanova in the first round of the playoffs last year. A date with Delaware on Nov. 23 at PPL Park in Chester will conclude the regular season.

Talley has six players who have been named preseason all-conference selections: quarterback John Robertson, running back Kevin Monangai, offensive lineman Josh Bucci, defensive tackle Rakim Cox, middle guard Antoine Lewis, and punter Mark Hamilton. Cox led Villanova with 51/2 sacks last season, while Lewis made 58 tackles - 81/2 of them for loss.

Robertson, the recipient of the Jerry Rice Award last season as the top freshman in the FCS, will again be called on to lead Villanova's offense, which finished fifth in the CAA in scoring last year. The redshirt sophomore completed 60.1 percent of his passes, rushed for 1,022 yards, and accounted for 28 touchdowns - half on the ground, half through the air.

"We didn't really understand how good he could be," Talley said. "He had a magical year and now he comes into every game pretty experienced. He's really been solidified as a leader of this group and our go-to guy."