Wittenberg, coming off a 10-0 season in 2009, remains the team to beat.
Coaches' predicted order of finish: 1. Wittenberg; 2. Wabash; 3. Allegheny; 4. Wooster; 5. Ohio Wesleyan; 6. Denison; 7. Kenyon; 8. Oberlin; 9. Hiram.
Wittenberg went 10-0 last season and won two playoff games before losing to eventual champion Wisconsin-Whitewater. Wabash most recently won the NCAC title in 2008. Wittenberg is led by returning NCAC and NCAA Division III Defensive Player of the year Eddie Vallery, a senior defensive end. He led the nation in sacks as a junior with 161/2.
Hiram
Coach: Randy Moore, first year.
Last season: 0-10, 0-7 NCAC (10th).
Key players: QB Brendan Rehor (Bay), RB Rodney Jacobs; RB Chris Austin (Glenville); RB Luke Lewis; WR/QB Glenn Campbell (Buchtel); LB Jon Hull.
Notable: Hiram has a new coach in Randy Moore and an almost entirely new coaching staff. Fifteen starters are back, including senior Glenn Campbell, who was all-conference last year. Campbell had 900 yards of the team's 2,298 yards of total offense in 2009. He saw playing time at WR and QB, and led the team in kickoff returns with 290 yards. Two-time All-NCAC LB Jon Hull, a junior, also returns. Hull led the Terriers in tackles for the second straight season with 77 (21 solo, 56 assists). He also tallied 2.5 tackles for loss of 7 yards, one interception, a fumble recovery and a team-high three pass breakups.
Schedule: Today, Westminster (Pa.), 1; Sept. 11 at Kenyon, 1; Sept. 18, Denison, 1; Sept. 25, Oberlin, 1; Oct. 2 at Carnegie Mellon, 1; Oct. 9 at Wittenberg, 1; Oct. 16, Case Western Reserve, 1; Oct. 30 at Wooster, 1; Nov. 6, Allegheny, 1; Nov. 13 at Ohio Wesleyan. 1.
Oberlin
Coach: Jeff Ramsey, first year at Oberlin.
Last season: 2-8, 2-5 (tied for eighth).
Key players: RB Adam Lowther; RB Sean Curtis; WR Ryan Harvey; C Chris Pottmeyer; DL Cody Wiewandt, DL Adam Wigren.
Notable: Injuries in 2009 forced the Yeomen to go with third-stringer David Kalgren at QB in his first college season. This year, Josh Mandel takes over. Ten starters are back on offense, and 10 on defense. Standout recruit Moses Richardson will look to add depth and speed to the Yeomen backfield. The entire starting OL is back. Pottmeyer was a 2009 NCAC honorable mention selection. Defensively, Oberlin is led by all-conference performers Solomon Turner and Cody Wiewandt, both of whom earned honorable mention All-NCAC honors in 2009.
Schedule: Today at Kenyon, 2; Sept. 18 at Wooster, 1; Sept. 25 at Hiram; Oct. 2, Wittenberg, 1; Oct. 9, Case Western Reserve, 1; Oct. 16 at Wabash, 1; Oct. 23 at Washington University (St. Louis), 1; Oct. 30, Denison, 1; Nov. 6, Ohio Wesleyan, 1; Nov. 13, Allegheny, 1.
University Athletic Association overview
Case Western Reserve
Coach: Greg Debeljak, seventh season at Case Western Reserve (44-20).
Last season: 10-1, 3-0 UAA (first).
Key players: Zach Homyk, Sr, WR (69 rec., 1032 yards, 12 TD); Sam Coffey, Sr, PK (9-of-16 FG, 57-of-62 PAT); Shaun Nicely, Sr, WR (45 rec., 459 yards, 7 TD); Dale English, Jr, DT (52 tackles, 6 sacks, 15.0 tackles for loss); Billy Deitmen, Sr, RB (253 yards, 2 TD); Derek Bush, Sr, RB (207 yards, 2 TD); Richard Doolin, Jr, DE (45 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss).
Notable: Case is picked to win its fourth consecutive UAA title. The Spartans return 27 letter winners and eight starters but will be without graduated All-America QB Dan Whalen (Willoughby South) for the first time in four seasons. Senior QB Joey Baum (Walsh Jesuit) will rely on the protection of veteran offensive linemen Marcus Kluczynski, Tony Opperman, Michael Allen and Matt Yanosko (St. Ignatius). Two of the UAA's top WRs return in Homyk and Nicely (Willoughby South). English (Holy Name) was an all-UAA selection at defensive end.
Schedule: Today, John Carroll, 7; Sept. 11 at Rochester, 7; Sept. 25 Denison, 7; Oct. 2 Allegheny, 1; Oct. 9 at Oberlin, 1; Oct. 16 at Hiram, 1; Oct. 23, Wooster, 1; Oct. 30 at Chicago, 1; Nov. 6, Washington University (St. Louis), noon; Nov. 13, Carnegie Mellon, 2.
-- Information from the respective schools' college
sports information departments was used in this report.