2011 Preseason All-CAA Team

BALTIMORE – Just like most preseason all-conference teams, this listing is mostly chalk. There are too many returning stars in the Colonial Athletic Association to throw many reaches on a preseason team.

So, let’s breeze through those picks and get to a second listing – Ones To Watch. Those are guys who have the talent – and are in the right situations – to have huge seasons and end up unseating the usual suspects by the time the postseason honors come out. That will come out later this afternoon.

But first, the guys who have been there, done that and deserve preseason recognition. Starting on defense.

DEFENSIVE LINE: It all starts with New Hampshire defensive end Brian McNally, who could be inline for a dominant season. He is joined up front by William & Mary’s Marcus Hyde, Delaware’s Michael Atunrase and Towson’s Frank Beltre.

LINEBACKER: This is perhaps the most talented group of linebackers that have played in the CAA in years. UMass’s Tyler Holmes should rival McNally for Defensive Player of the Year honors. But the next three guys shouldn’t be far behind: William & Mary’s Jake Trantin, New Hampshire’s Matt Evans and James Madison’s Stephon Robertson.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Around the CAA, many of the top secondary players were seniors last year. But not William & Mary cornerback B.W. Webb. He is joined by JMU safety Vidal Nelson, Maine’s Jerron McMillian and Villanova cornerback James Pitts.

And now, to the offense. It’s such a deep year at running back, maybe we should just put 11 of them on the team? Of course, the teams that have gone on to succeed in the postseason have invariably had strong quarterback play.

QUARTERBACK: Rhode Island’s Steve Propst and Old Dominion’s Thomas DeMarco are the most experienced quarterbacks in the CAA and both can move teams with their arms and their legs. But we didn’t get to fully see what Aaron Corp is capable of at Richmond after an injury cut his season short. Corp was talented enough to play at USC and – with Tre Gray at wide receiver – should have a big season for the Spiders. Corp is the pick here.

RUNNING BACK: What a group. UMass’s Jonathan Hernandez and Andrew Pierce are absolute studs and their teams will lean on them heavily this season. But no one can do more things to help his team win than William & Mary’s Jonathan Grimes. Throw in a great offensive line and a talented – though unproven – quarterback, and Grimes should be the Offensive Player of the Year.

FULLBACK: Every year you hear that true fullbacks are headed toward extinction, but the CAA has three or four throwback bruisers to play the spot. None is better than Richmond’s Kendall Gaskins.

WIDE RECEIVER: If Corp is going to have the kind of big year we’re predicting, that means Tre Gray will too. He is the Spiders’ top target, has a ton of football under his belt and might be up for his best season yet. If UMass gets even decent play from its new quarterback, Julian Talley should be a major factor as well.

TIGHT END: William & Mary’s Alex Gotleib is the best of the bunch and should help take pressure off quarterback Mike Paulus.

OFFENSIVE LINE: You get just take Delaware’s starting five. Or William & Mary’s group. The CAA has a ton of veteran linemen back. But when running backs sleep at night, they dream of running behind a unit like this: Delaware’s Gino Gradkowski and Rob McDowell, William & Mary’s James Pagliaro, Rhode Island’s Kyle Bogumil and JMU’s Roane Babington.