William and Mary senior All-American defensive end Mike Reilly highlighted the Tribe’s list of preseason all-conference honorees announced at the annual Colonial Athletic Association Media Day event held at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Wednesday, as he was chosen as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Joining him on the preseason All-CAA team were senior Tre McBride, who garnered distinction as both a wide receiver and a return specialist, senior linebacker Airek Green, junior linebacker Luke Rhodes, junior cornerback DeAndre Houston-Carson and junior center Andrew Jones.
Additionally, the league’s preseason poll was announced at the event, as the Tribe was picked to finish fourth (and received three first-place votes). Both the preseason all-conference team and preseason poll were selected based on a vote by the CAA’s 12 head coaches and media relations personnel.
W&M’s six all-conference selections led the league, as Maine (four) and Towson (four) were the only other programs with more than three selections. Additionally, the Tribe’s eight All-CAA honors were double that of the next most-recognized school.
A 2014 Buchanan Award Watch List selection, Reilly emerged as one of the country’s top defensive ends last fall when he garnered All-America honors from multiple organizations after leading the CAA in sacks (11.5) and ranking fourth nationally in sacks per game (0.96). The first-team all-conference selection also totaled 13.0 tackles for a loss, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery en route to helping W&M’s defense rank second nationally in scoring defense (14.0) and eighth in total defense (305.5). Reilly’s list of 2014 preseason accolades also includes being chosen as an All-American by The Sports Network, Lindy’s and Beyond The Sports Network.
One of the nation’s most dynamic playmakers, McBride has established himself as the Tribe’s top wideout during the past few seasons and earned honorable mention All-America accolades by the College Sporting News last fall after ranking third in the CAA with 127.8 all-purpose yards per game. A two-time all-conference selection as a wide receiver, McBride has totaled 118 receptions for 1,698 yards with 15 touchdown catches during the past two seasons. Additionally, the McDonough, Ga., native was honored as the 2013 CAA Special Teams Player of the Year after leading the conference and ranking 15th nationally with 27.5 yards per kickoff return. McBride’s list of 2014 preseason honors also includes being named as an All-American by The Sports Network and Beyond the Sports Network.
Rhodes, a team captain, is a two-time all-conference selection who earned first-team honors as a sophomore last season. Chosen as a 2014 preseason All-American by the Sports Network, he totaled 98 tackles last fall and ranked 12th in the CAA with 8.2 tackles per game. The Hollidaysburg, Pa., native earned a starting role during his redshirt freshman campaign when he was chosen to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List, which honors the nation’s top freshmen.
Selected as a 2014 preseason All-American by Beyond The Sports Network, Green, who enters his third season as a starter, established himself as one of the nation’s most productive linebackers last fall. In addition to totaling 82 tackles, he posted 13.0 tackles for a loss, 4.0 sacks, three interceptions, seven PBU’s, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Additionally, he recorded a pair of defensive touchdowns – one on a fumble recovery and one on an interception.
Houston-Carson enters his third season as a starter and one of the conference’s elite cornerbacks. As a sophomore last fall, the Woodford, Va., native ranked tied for third in the CAA with 1.08 PBU’s per game and recorded a pair of interceptions en route to earning third-team all-conference honors. He has also excelled on special teams throughout his career and has totaled three blocked kicks (two field goals and one punt).
As a sophomore last fall, Jones earned the starting spot at center and quickly developed into an all-conference caliber standout. The Naples, Fla., native was instrumental in helping All-CAA running back Mikal Abdul-Saboor rank third in the league in rushing yards per game (91.6). Additionally, the Tribe ranked among the top half of the league in fewest sacks allowed.
The Tribe, which is ranked as high as No. 12 nationally in the preseason polls, will open the 2014 campaign when it kicks off its 12-game slate at Virginia Tech on Aug. 30. Season tickets are available for purchase by calling the W&M Ticket Office at 757-221-3340 or by clicking here.
2014 Preseason Predicted Order of Finish (First Place Votes)
1. new hampshire (15)
2. Villanova (2)
3. Richmond (3)
4. William and Mary (3)
5. Towson
6. Delaware
7. Maine
8. James Madison (1)
9. Stony Brook
10. UAlbany
11. Rhode Island
12. Elon
First-place votes in parentheses
2014 CAA Football Preseason Offensive Players of the Year
QB, John Robertson – Villanova
2014 CAA Football Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
DE, Mike Reilly – William and Mary
2014 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team – Offense
QB, John Robertson – Villanova
RB, Omar Osbourne – UAlbany
RB, Nico Steriti – new hampshire
FB, Emmanuel Holder – Towson
WR, Tre McBride – William and Mary
WR, Stephen Barnette – Richmond
WR, R.J. Harris – new hampshire
TE, Nick Boyle – Delaware
OL, Andrew Jones – William and Mary
OL, Austin Gund – Delaware
OL, Ross Hall – Villanova
OL, Bruce Johnson – Maine
OL, Vince Kowalski – Villanova
2014 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team – Defense
DL, Mike Reilly – William and Mary
DL, Trevor Bates – Maine
DL, Ryan Delaire – Towson
DL, Evan Kelly – Richmond
LB, Airek Green – William and Mary
LB, Luke Rhodes – William and Mary
LB, Andrew Bose – Rhode Island
LB, Christophe Mulumba Tshimanga – Maine
S, Christian Carpenter – Towson
S, Dean Marlowe – James Madison
CB, DeAndre Houston-Carson – William and Mary
CB, Tye Smith – Towson
2014 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team – Special Teams
RS, Tre McBride – William and Mary
PK, Sean Decloux – Maine
P, Eric Enderson – Delaware
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