FOREST, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Football Team sits in sixth place in the ODAC Preseason Poll, ODAC officials announced Monday. The conference's nine head coaches are the voters in the poll.

New to the ODAC is Southern Virginia University out of Buena Vista, Virginia, which joined the league as an associate member for football on July 1. The Knights competed as members of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) from 2014-18.

With the addition of SVU, the ODAC is the largest it has ever been as a football conference. The previous high-water mark of eight institutions ran from 2012-16 and again in 2018.

RELATED – ODAC Preseason Poll

Last fall, E&H posted a 4-5 overall record with a 3-4 mark in ODAC contests. The Wasps return six starters on offense seven on defense and one specialist from a year ago. Leading the returners on the offensive side of the ball are senior offensive lineman Tyler Weterrings (Glade Hill, Va.) and senior wideout Derrick Yates (Abingdon, Va.), who were named first- and second-team all-conference in 2018, respectively. Back on defense after a year absence are senior defensive linemen Josh Fleenor (Christiansburg, Va.), who was named to the All-ODAC First Team in 2017, and Da'von Keith (Columbia, S.C.), an all-league first-team pick in 2016.

Reigning conference champion Randolph-Macon College tops the poll earning eight of the nine first-place votes. The Yellow Jackets reached the second round of the 2018 NCAA Division III Playoffs with a 9-3 overall record. Bridgewater College is second with the remaining first-place vote while Hampden-Sydney College and Ferrum College sit just two points apart in third and fourth, respectively.

Emory & Henry will kick off the season on Saturday, September 7 against North Carolina Wesleyan College at 1:00 p.m. It will be the first meeting between the Wasps and Battling Bishops since the 2009 season.

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2019 ODAC FOOTBALL
PRESEASON POLL