BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—The Samford football team was ranked 19^th in the STATS Preseason FCS poll, released by the organization Monday morning.
 
Samford is one of four Southern Conference teams to be ranked in the top 25. Wofford is ranked 11^th in the poll, Chattanooga is ranked 12^th, while The Citadel comes in at 16^th. SoCon members Mercer and ETSU, along with non-conference opponent Kennesaw State are among the others receiving votes for the poll.
 
The STATS poll is compiled from votes from media members and sports information directors that cover FCS programs.
 
Samford returns five starters on offense and seven starters on defense from last year's team. The Bulldogs posted a record of 7-5 overall and 5-3 in Southern Conference play last season. The team reached the first round of the NCAA Division I-FCS Playoffs for the second time in the last four years.
 
Samford had five players named to the preseason first team All-SoCon team, including Preseason Player of the Year quarterback Devlin Hodges. Hodges was joined on the first team by wide receiver Kelvin McKnight, defensive lineman Ahmad Gooden, linebacker Shaheed Salmon and defensive back Omari Williams. Punter Austin Barnard was named to the second team.
 
In addition to the All-SoCon honors, Salmon (2^nd team), Hodges (3^rd team) and Williams (3^rd team) were also named to the STATS Preseason All-America team.
 
Samford opens its season on Thursday, Aug. 31, when the Bulldogs host Kennesaw State at Seibert Stadium. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. kickoff. To purchase season tickets, click here: PURCHASE SEASON TICKETS.

 

STATS FCS Top 25 Preseason Rankings
Rank	School	Votes	Prev
1	James Madison (0-0)	4034 (134)	NR
2	North Dakota State (0-0)	3874 (19)	NR
3	Sam Houston State (0-0)	3610 (7)	NR
4	South Dakota State (0-0)	3385 (2)	NR
5	Eastern Washington (0-0)	3270	NR
6	Jacksonville State (0-0)	3081 (1)	NR
7	Richmond (0-0)	3041	NR
8	North Dakota (0-0)	2871	NR
9	Youngstown State (0-0)	2658	NR
10	Villanova (0-0)	2628	NR
11	Wofford (0-0)	2543	NR
12	Chattanooga (0-0)	1995	NR
13	New Hampshire (0-0)	1741	NR
14	Charleston Southern (0-0)	1710	NR
15	Central Arkansas (0-0)	1685	NR
16	Citadel (0-0)	1545	NR
17	Lehigh (0-0)	1369	NR
18	UNI (0-0)	924	NR
19	Samford (0-0)	893	NR
20	Illinois State (0-0)	876	NR
21	Grambling State (0-0)	692	NR
22	Fordham (0-0)	604	NR
23	Cal Poly (0-0)	427	NR
24	Albany (0-0)	418	NR
25	Western Illinois (0-0)	367	NR

Others: North Carolina Central (326) , Weber State (322) , Northern Arizona (307) , McNeese (261) , San Diego (250) , Montana (215) , North Carolina A&T (198) , Kennesaw State (154) , Liberty (134) , Tennessee State (102) , UT Martin (90) , South Dakota (87) , Harvard (36) , Saint Francis U (31) , Delaware (27) , Princeton (23) , South Carolina State (22) , Nicholls (21) , Southeastern Louisiana (20) , Southern Utah (17) , Penn (14) , Duquesne (14) , Stony Brook (13) , Maine (11) , Montana State (6) , Mercer (6) , Southern Illinois (5) , Alcorn State (4) , William & Mary (4) , Eastern Illinois (3) , ETSU (3) , Wagner (3) , Eastern Kentucky (2) , Indiana State (1) , Bethune-Cookman (1) , Dayton (1)