FOREST, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Football Team has been picked to finish fifth in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference by the league's seven head coaches, ODAC officials announced Friday.

The Wasps, who finished last season with a 5-5 record, return 15 starters from last year's squad and welcome back senior linebacker Ed Smith (Church Hill, Tenn.), who missed the 2010 season with an injury. However, E&H will be without recent graduate and three-time First-Team All-ODAC running back Caleb Jennings.

"You don't replace Caleb Jennings," said Wasps' Head Coach Don Montgomery, who is entering his seventh season this fall. "He ran for 1,300 yards last season and was hurt. You have to count on the rest of the team to come in and not be so centralized on one person because if they go down, you're not in a good position. We will look to open it up a little bit and throw the ball more."

The Wasps' offense will be led by senior quarterback Dustin Beck (Connelly Springs, N.C.), senior wide receiver Preston Jennings (Banner Elk, N.C.) and junior fullback Zack Santolla (Roanoke, Va.). On the defensive side of the ball, Smith will be joined by senior defensive back Daniel Woods (Bristol, Va.), senior defensive lineman Daniel Preston (Kingsport, Tenn.) and junior linebacker Ross Ellis (Abingdon, Va.). The Wasps return senior punter T.J. Frazier (Roanoke, Va.) and junior placekicker Matt Turchin (Salisbury, N.C.).

Washington & Lee University was picked to repeat as conference champion, winning five first-place votes and 35 points behind a strong running game and 19 returning starters. The Generals were followed by the Tigers of Hampden-Sydney College and the Eagles of Bridgewater College with one top-spot nod each. Randolph-Macon College was selected as the fourth team in this year's poll, followed by E&H. Catholic University and Guilford College round out this season's picks.

The 2011 E&H Football season is slated to begin on Saturday, Sept. 3. The Wasps will host Ferrum College at Fred Selfe Stadium at 1:00 p.m.

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2011 ODAC FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL 

First-place votes in parenthesis