JMU Picked to Win CAA in 2019, Eight Named Preseason All-CAA

BALTIMORE, Md. – James Madison was selected the overwhelming favorite to recapture the Colonial Athletic Association football crown in 2019, and eight Dukes were named Preseason All-CAA, as announced at CAA Football Media Day on Tuesday morning at M&T Bank Stadium.

The Dukes received 20 of 24 first-place votes and were followed by No. 2 Towson (3 first-place votes) and last year's CAA champion and No. 3 Maine (1 first-place vote).

Following the top three were No. 4 Elon, No. 5 Delaware and No. 6 Stony Brook, all of which made the postseason a year ago. Rounding out the predicted order of finish were No. 7 New Hampshire, No. 8 Rhode Island, No. 9 Villanova, No. 10 Richmond, No. 11 William & Mary and No. 12 Albany.

JMU's eight honorees include redshirt senior cornerback Rashad Robinson, redshirt senior defensive lineman Ron'Dell Carter, redshirt senior linebacker Dimitri Holloway, senior safety Adam Smith, redshirt junior punt returner D'Angelo Amos, junior offensive lineman Liam Fornadel, senior offensive lineman Mac Patrick and senior defensive lineman John Daka.

Both the predicted order of finish and Preseason All-CAA team were selected in a vote by the league's 12 head coaches and football communications directors.

The Dukes are coming off a 9-4 season last year, finishing second in the CAA with a 6-2 league mark. JMU advanced to the FCS playoffs for a program-record fifth straight season, reaching the second round. It's also the fifth straight year JMU won at least nine games.

JMU returns 19 starters from last year's squad while also bringing back Robinson, who missed the entirety of the 2018 season to an injury. Curt Cignetti enters his first season as head coach for the Dukes, bringing in a 67-26 record over his eight seasons between Elon and Indiana (Pa.).

The Dukes open the 2019 season, presented by CarMax, on Saturday, August 31 at West Virginia. Season tickets, as well as single-game and mini-plan options, are on sale now and can be purchased at JMUTickets.com, by calling 540-568-3853 or by visiting the JMU Athletics Ticket Office inside the Convocation Center.

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