DC Picked to Finish Fourth in HCAC

GREENWOOD, Ind. - The 2014 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Preseason Football Poll has been released and Franklin is the favorite to win a fifth-straight HCAC crown, according to a poll of the HCAC's nine head coaches. [Conference Release]

Following close behind Franklin, and a tie for fourth, were the Defiance College Yellow Jackets.  DC received 48 points to tie them with Rose-Hulman in the four spot.

DC finished in sixth place last year with a 3-5 conference record.  DC looks to improve that mark this year and has a strong core of players to lead the way.  The Yellow Jackets have six guys named to the Preseason Players to Watch list.  They are; Daniel Collins (West Springfield, Va. / West Springfield), Andrew Feldhaus (Lutz, Fla. / Steinbrenner), Alex Larson (Highland, Mich. / Milford), Josh Slayton (Fort Wayne, Ind. / North Side), Eric Strickland (West Palm Beach / Seminole Ridge), and Garrett Teague (Webberville, Mich. / Webberville).

The Yellow Jackets defensive unit ranked second in the HCAC in both scoring (21.1 ppg) and total defense (266.5 ypg) during conference play last fall.  The Jackets offense ranked fourth in yards and sixth in scoring during the 2013 season.

The Yellow Jackets will kick-off the season at home on September 6 against Adrian.