2013 Lindy's Preseason FCS Top 25 Poll

2013 Schedule
 
Staten Island, NY – The Wagner College football team, which is coming off a 9-4 record, its first-ever Northeast Conference (NEC) Title and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs, has earned preseason recognition as the nation's 24th-ranked squad in the 2013 Lindy's College Football Preview FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll.

The annual publication, which is in its 32^nd year of operation, recently hit newsstands nationwide and features coverage along with rankings from all NCAA football divisions.

“We're excited to be recognized by Lindy's and it's certainly a feather in the cap for our football program and our players in particular,” said head coach Walt Hameline, who has amassed a record of 213-127-2 (.626) in 32 seasons and was named the 2012 FCS National Coach of the Year by the College Football News and the College Sports Journal. 

“With that said, our coaches and players realize that preseason rankings, while important, will not help us block and tackle come the fall,” Hameline added. “I think we've got some really good players in the program but we're awfully young in certain spots.”

Lindy's also projected the Seahawks to finish first in the NEC, ahead of Duquesne and Bryant who were picked second and third, respectively. Robert Morris was tabbed fifth, followed by Central Connecticut, Saint Francis (PA) and Sacred Heart.

The extraordinary 2012 season featured a nine-game winning streak, the school's first NEC Football Title, a 31-20 NCAA FCS Playoff win over No. 24 Colgate, followed by a gallant effort in a 29-19 defeat at No. 4 Eastern Washington.

The Seahawks' 9-4 record was highlighted by a 7-1 NEC mark and a rousing 30-0 win at No.18 Albany, a score that made all followers and fans of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) take notice.  Following the magical season, the Seahawks became the first NEC team ever ranked in the Top 25 of both major FCS polls, finishing 21^st in The Sports Network Poll and 22^nd in the FCS Coaches Poll.

The Green & White finished No. 1 in the nation in least amount of turnovers as Wagner turned the ball over just six times in 13 games.

Wagner will open the 2013 season with home games vs. Georgetown (8/31) and Merrimack (9/6) before taking to the road to meet FBS member Syracuse (9/14), facing the Orange in the 50,000-seat Carrier Dome. Wagner faces another tough test the following week at traditional FCS linchpin Delaware (9/21) before beginning NEC play with a Homecoming Day affair vs. Bryant (9/28).

One Seahawk returnee who has shown plenty in his time at Wagner is also one of the nation's best, namely fifth-year senior running back Dominique Williams (Bridgeton, NJ/ Milford Academy). The strong, agile 5-9, 205-pounder rushed for 1,328 yards last season, placing him seventh on the school's all-time single-season list, in addition to rushing for 13 touchdowns.

A First-Team All-NEC choice last season, Williams was also one of five running backs named to the 2012 College Sports Journal All-America Team. He was also the only NEC player named to the 2012 CSJ All-America Team. His 105.6 yards per game in 2012 rushing ranked third in the NEC through the end of the regular season, as did his 133.3 all-purpose yards per game. Nationally, Williams' 102.54-yard average (NCAA computes stats based on entire season) ranked 25th.

Williams will enter the 2013 season ranked fourth in the Seahawk all-time annals 3,338 yards. The three people ahead of him on the Wagner all-time rushing list are Rick Sarille, the No. 1 all-time rusher with 5,290 yards, followed by Terry Underwood, who gained 5,010 yards from 1985-88, and Alonzo Patterson, who rumbled for 4,177 yards from 1979-1982. Williams is also fifth in all-time scoring with 234 career points.

While Williams is entrenched at the halfback spot, there will be several key position battles, including the competition to determine who will replace record-setting quarterback Nick Doscher. The Staten Island, NY native was a two-time All-NEC choice and a fixture behind center the past four years.