RICHMOND — Six William & Mary football standouts garnered preseason all-conference honors during the CAA’s annual media day event on Wednesday.
Representing W&M on the first team were offensive lineman Charles Grant, running back Bronson Yoder and fullback/halfback Trey McDonald, while running back Malachi Imoh, offensive lineman Ryan McKenna and safety Marcus Barnes earned honorable mention distinction.
The CAA’s preseason poll was also announced and the Tribe was picked to finish fourth. Both the preseason all-conference team and preseason poll were selected based on a vote by the CAA’s 16 head coaches.
A consensus All-America selection in 2023, Grant enters his fourth season as a starter and is one of the NFL’s top prospects at the offensive line position.
The two-time first-team All-CAA selection ranked as the conference’s top tackle in pass blocking efficiency last season and allowed just one sack on 334 pass blocking snaps. Additionally, he finished the fall grading out at 92 percent with 40 pancakes en route to helping W&M rank 13th national in rushing (196.9).
His impressive junior campaign followed his breakout sophomore season in which he did not allow any sacks in 13 starts and helped W&M rank third nationally in rushing (265.8) and fourth in fewest sacks allowed per game (0.77).
One of the nation’s most productive running backs throughout his career at W&M, Yoder enters his final season ranked among the program’s career top-10 lists in rushing yards (2,660, 8th), rushing touchdowns (25, 8th) and all-purpose yards (4,322, 5th).
Although he was limited to just four games last season due to injury, the two-time All-CAA selection ranked 12th nationally in rushing (1,255) and 14th in rushing touchdown (13) in 2022 en route to garnering first-team all-conference accolades.
McDonald earned a starting role as a sophomore last season and made a significant impact on the Tribe’s offensive attack. In addition to helping bolster W&M’s dynamic rushing game as a blocker, he posted 10 catches for 123 yards with a touchdown.
A starter at W&M for nearly his entire career, Barnes emerged as an all-conference selection last fall after totaling 54 tackles with an interception and a forced fumble.
The Jeannette, Pa., native has totaled 145 tackles with five interceptions, 13 PBU, two forced fumbles and two TFL during his career.
One of the CAA’s most electric running backs, Imoh earned all-conference honors last season after ranking among the league’s top 10 in rushing yards per game (77.7) and all-purpose yards per game (97.1). Additionally, he ranked sixth nationally in yards per carry (6.79).
The Winchester, Va., native enters his senior season with 2,109 rushing yards, 21 total touchdowns (17 rushing, two receiving, two passing) and an average of 7.2 yards per carry (294 attempts).
McKenna emerged as an All-CAA standout last season after helping W&M rank 13th nationally in rushing (196.9). In addition to ranking eighth nationally among all centers according to PFF, he allowed just one sack on 294 pass blocking snaps and graded better than 90 percent in eight games. Additionally, he ranked sixth in the CAA among all offensive linemen with a minimum of 350 snaps.
The Doylestown, Pa., native earned the starting role at center as a sophomore in 2022 and helped W&M rank third nationally in rushing (265.8) and fourth in fewest sacks allowed per game (0.77). In doing so, he ranked tied for first nationally with zero sacks allowed.
In addition to garnering multiple preseason top-20 rankings, W&M enters the 2024 campaign having posted three consecutive winning seasons. Additionally, the Tribe earned a top-25 ranking during each of the last three years.
Season tickets are now on sale and can be purchased at TribeAthletics.com.
Be sure to follow the Tribe through the team’s social media accounts @WMTribeFootball on Twitter, Instagramand Facebook.
2024 Preseason Predicted Order of Finish (First Place Votes)
1. Villanova (9 first-place votes) 217
2. Richmond (1 first-place vote) 189
3. UAlbany (3 first-place votes) 179
4. William & Mary 175
5. Delaware (3 first-place votes) 163
6. Elon 157
7. New Hampshire 150
8. Rhode Island 142
9. Towson 114
10. Monmouth 95
11. Campbell 83
12. Hampton 62
13. Maine 57
14. North Carolina A&T 49
15. Bryant 46
16. Stony Brook 42
2024 CAA Football Preseason Offensive Players of the Year
QB – Connor Watkins, QB, Villanova
2024 CAA Football Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
S – Caleb Curtain, S, Elon
2024 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team – Offense
QB – Connor Watkins, Villanova
RB – Elijah Burris, Hampton
RB – Griffin Woodell, UAlbany
RB – Marcus Yarns, Delaware
RB – Bronson Yoder, William & Mary
FB/HB – Trey McDonald, William & Mary
TE – Carter Runyon, Towson
WR – Chandler Brayboy, Elon
WR – Nick DeGennaro, Richmond
WR – Anthony Johnson, Stony Brook
OL – Temi Ajirotutu, Villanova
OL – Fintan Brose, Delaware
OL – Charles Grant, William & Mary
OL – Ozzie Hutchinson, UAlbany
OL – Will Marotta, UAlbany
OL – Ralph Paige, Jr., Towson
2024 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team – Defense
DL – Jeremiah Grant, Richmond
DL – Westley Neal, Jr., Rhode Island
DL – Michael Otty, Bryant
DL – Dylan Ruiz, New Hampshire
DL – Josiah Silver, New Hampshire
LB – Brendan Bell, Villanova
LB – Shane Hartzell, Villanova
LB – A.J. Pena, Rhode Island
LB – CJ Tillman, Campbell
CB – Karon Prunty, North Carolina A&T
CB – Isas Waxter, Villanova
S – Caleb Curtain, Elon
S – Ty Trinh, Villanova
2024 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team – Special Teams
KR – Chandler Brayboy, Elon Sr. KR 6-1 199 Pembroke, N.C.
PR – Gabe Sloat, Rhode Island Sr. PR 6-0 190 North Kingstown, R.I.
PK – Keegan Vaughan, Towson Sr. PK 5-11 165 Richmond, Va.
P – Aaron Trusler, Richmond Gr. P 5-8 168 Melbourne, Australia
SPEC – Jabril Hayes, Richmond Sr. SPEC 5-11 170 Stephens City, Va.
2024 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team – Honorable Mention
QB – Matthew Downing, Elon
QB – Derek Robertson, Monmouth
RB – Malachi Imoh, William & Mary
WR – Marquis Buchanan, Rhode Island
WR – Joe Gillette, Maine
WR – Jaylan Sanchez, Villanova
WR – Logan Tomlinson, New Hampshire
TE – Cooper Heisey, Maine
OL – Ryan McKenna, William & Mary
DL – Dion Crews-Harris, Towson
DL – Cazeem Moore, Elon
LB – Wayne Galloway, Richmond
LB – Ryan Toscano, New Hampshire
CB – Tyron Herring, Delaware
S – Marcus Barnes, William & Mary
KR – JoJo Bermudez, Delaware
KR – TJ Speight, Monmouth
KR – VJ Wilkins, Campbell
PK – John Opalko, UAlbany
P – Josh Cupitt, Delaware
SPEC – Bobby Cleary, Campbell