Defending NCAA Division III and WIAC champion UW–Whitewater will have a new head coach, two new coordinators and must replace an All-American quarterback and All-American receiver but the Warhawks remain the cream of the Division III crop, according to D3football.com.
Whitewater was named the preseason number one team when D3football.com released its preseason poll last week.
UW–Platteville was ranked just outside the Top 25 with 36 points, behind others receiving votes Heidelberg University (Ohio), Franklin College (Ind.) and Rowan College (N.J.)
The Pioneers finished 7–3 overall and 5–2 in the WIAC to place third in the conference.
UWP head coach Mike Emendorfer lost seven first-team All-WIAC performers, including first-team All-American linebacker Jacob Zilbar, running back Andy Puccini, offensive linemen Jayson Eddy, Brian Lurquin, defensive end Andrew Robinson and defensive back Rob Austin, and four second-team all-conference picks in quarterback Bryce Corrigan, offensive lineman Brian Johnson, receiver Trevor Whitehead and defensive lineman Levi Epley.
First-team All-WIAC receiver Russell Martin, honorable mention defensive back Devon Vance and honorable mention kicker Pat Frio return for the Pioneers and head coach Mike Emendorfer.
The Pioneers open training camp on Aug. 15.
WIAC foe UW–Oshkosh is ranked 18th in the preseason foe. The Titans went 6–4 overall a year ago, but went 6–1 to finish second in the WIAC.
The rest of the D3football.com preseason poll is as follows.
NCAA Division III Preseason Football Pool
# School ’14 rec. pts.
1.UW-Whitewater (18) 15-0 614
2.Mount Union (6) 14-1 603
3.Linfield (1) 11-2 535
4.Mary Hardin-Baylor 11-1 531
5.Wesley 12-2 516
6.Wartburg 12-1 504
7.Wheaton (Ill.) 11-1 430
8.John Carroll 11-2 362
9.St. John’s 10-2 356
10.Wabash 10-2 335
11.North Central (Ill.) 8-2 324
12.Widener 12-1 320
13.Johns Hopkins 11-1 303
14.St. Thomas 8-3 300
15.Washington and Jeff. 10-2 270
16.Hobart 12-1 257
17.Wittenberg 9-2 231
18.UW-Oshkosh 6-4 178
19.St. John Fisher 9-2 170
20.Bethel 7-3 153
21.Texas Lutheran 9-2 104
22.Centre 10-1 100
23.Thomas More 8-2 84
24.Chapman 8-2 70
25.Muhlenberg 9-2 61
Others receiving votes: Heidelberg 44; Franklin 42; Rowan 42; UW–Platteville 36; Delaware Valley 34; Hardin-Simmons 30; Christopher Newport 26; Montclair State 25; St. Lawrence 24; Guilford 24; Ithaca 21; MIT 16; Lycoming 11; Bridgewater (Va.) 9; Pacific Lutheran 8; Framingham State 7; Salisbury 5; Monmouth 3; Amherst 2; Louisiana College 2; Chicago 1; Hampden-Sydney 1; Redlands 1.
