Football ranked 14th in College Football America Yearbook preseason poll
TYLER, Texas - For a third straight year, Carson-Newman has been featured in a preaseason publicationl as a nationally-ranked club.
TYLER, Texas - For a third straight year, Carson-Newman has been featured in a preaseason publicationl as a nationally-ranked club.
College Football America Yearbook has tabbed C-N 14th in its annual prognostication.
Carson-Newman returns four starters from its offense and defense from 2019's NCAA Playoff team. The Eagles were 1-0 in the spring of 2021 with a riveting 40-37, four-overtime win over UVA Wise to kick off the Mike Clowney era.
The skill players are certainly there offensively, with the return of Romain Kelly at receiver and 2019 SAC Offensive Freshman of the Year Troy Dendy at running back.
Dendy exploded onto the scene in his first season as an Eagle. The Laurens, S.C., native has rushed for 700 yards on 85 carries, accounting for six touchdowns. He has powered his way to a trio of 100-yard performances, including a 23-carry, 200-yard performance en route to South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week honors at Limestone. The 200-yard day against Limestone registered as the 37th all-time 200-yard rushing performance in Carson-Newman football history, and the first by a freshman.
He also had a seven-carry, 149-yard, two-touchdown day against UNC Pembroke. Dendy broke the 100-yard barrier against Mars Hill on Nov. 2 with 110 yards on 12 carries.
Derrick Evans graduates at quarterback after three straight all-SAC campaigns, however, Trey Mitchell completed 12-of-25 passes at UVA Wise for 282 yards and two scores. His 89-yard connection with DeQuan Dudley goes down as the third-longest pass completion in school history. He also rushed three times for 10 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, Carson-Newman must replace its entire secondary, including All-Americans Desmond Fairell and Darius Williams, as well as its interior defensive line as All-Decade team members Brian Bembry and Montel Presley graduate. Carson-Newman is set at its end and fox positions with the return of Wycleff Phanor, Trayzel Jureidini-Wyche and Nick Owens. Rondrow Peebles, a preseason All-American, Daniel Dixon-Brooks and Alonzo Houston anchor the linebacking corps.
Carson-Newman opens the season Sept. 2 under the lights of Burke-Tarr Stadium at 7 p.m. against West Georgia.
2021 College Football America Division II Preseason Top 30
1. West Florida
2. Minnesota State
3. Slippery Rock
4. Ferris State
5. Notre Dame (OH)
6. Northwest Missouri State
7. Lenoir-Rhyne
8. Texas A&M-Commerce
9. Valdosta State
10. Kutztown
11. Central Missouri
12. Ouachita Baptist
13. Indiana (PA)
14. Carson-Newman
15. CSU-Pueblo
16. Shepherd
17. Colorado Mines
18. Bowie State
19. Wingate
20. Indianapolis
21. Lindenwood
22. Harding
23. West Chester
24. Miles
25. Tiffin
26. Sioux Falls
27. Augustana (SD)
28. Henderson State
29. Truman State
30. Ohio Dominican
