We’re going to preview the Division I Conferences based on the lesser-known players of all the Division I teams. Let’s have some fun and give some attention to the players you likely don’t know or talk about too much, unless something goes wrong or you say, "Hey, look at that number."

Basically, we’re going to give you each team’s (we hope their starting) Long Snapper, Punter and #69. Then we’ll give you their longest road trip of the season, last conference title, playoff appearance, and a simple Yes or No if they have a new Head Coach. I’m sure I’ll question my choice for doing season previews this way this year, but I’m limited on time due to a myriad of factors. I’ll keep dreaming of being able to do this full time. Maybe one day. If you know of any sponsors, please let us know.

Albany

• Where: Albany, NY

• Last Year's Record: 4-8 (2-6 in conference)

• Longsnapper: Russell Dietz (SR, played in 12 games in 2024), Clayton Ritter (SR, DNP in 2024), Aron Reinhart (JR)

• Punter: Owen Larson (SR, played in 12 games in 2024), Steven Sadek (SO, placekicker but punted in HS), Ethan Blackburn (FR, primarily kicker)

• #69: James Bozek (SR, a kicker! and punter!)

  

  James Bozek, Kicker and Punter and #69!

• Longest Road Trip: 1,023 miles to open against Iowa

• Last Conference Title: 2023 (co-champions with Villanova, Richmond, and Delaware)

• Last Playoff Appearance: 2023 (lost to South Dakota State in the semis, we won’t mention the score)

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): Yes, Jared Ambrose as interim HC after Head Coach Greg Gattuso retired.

Bryant

• Where: Smithfield, RI

• Last Year's Record: 2-10 (0-8 in conference)

• Longsnapper: Clark (Jacob) Miller (RS JR, transferred from Valdosta State after 2023, primary LS in 2024), Sean Cowie (JR, has not played in a varsity game)

• Punter: Sean O’Neill (JR, backup punter last year, transfer from UNH after 2023)

• #69: None

• Longest Road Trip: 2,346 miles to play New Mexico State

• Last Conference Title: 2007 (DII, Northeast-10)

• Last Playoff Appearance: 2007 (DII, lost to Southern Connecticut in the first round 28-45)

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

Campbell

• Where: Buies Creek, NC

• Last Year's Record: 3-9 (1-7 in conference)

• Longsnapper: Steven Mirabile (RS JR), Vince Barefoot (RS FR)

• Punter: Aidan Bonde (RS Sophomore) listed as K/P

• #69: None

• Longest Road Trip: 703 miles to Rhode Island

• Last Conference Title: Never (Independent from 1925-50, no team from 1951-2008)

• Last Playoff Appearance: Never, maybe one day they’ll get over the hump.

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

Elon

• Where: Elon, NC

• Last Year's Record: 6-6 (5-3 in conference)

• Longsnapper: Trey Hoffman (RS SO, primary LS in 2024), Will McCoy (RS SR, played in 9 games in 2024)

• Punter: Jeff Yurk (RS SR, in 2024: first team All-American, first team All-CAA, 3rd across all levels of NCAA football at 47.9 yards/punt, 2-for-3 passing on fake punts), listed on the Ray Guy FCS Punter of the Year watch list!

• #69: Brayden Walker

• Longest Road Trip: 971 miles to Maine

• Last Conference Title: 1981, South Atlantic Conference (DII)

• Last Playoff Appearance: 2022, lost in first round to Furman 6-31

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

Hampton

• Where: Hampton, VA

• Last Year's Record: 5-7 (2-6 in conference)

• Longsnapper: Jonathan Ward (SR, primary LS in 2024), Alexander Labenow (SO, transfer from Bluefield State after 2024)

• Punter: Brett Starling (RS SO, “Local product who handled Hampton’s punting chores in 2024” according to his bio)

• #69: Elijah Blow (FR) was #69 last year but appears to have matured into #77 this year. No 69 listed on the Hampton roster.

• Longest Road Trip: 958 miles to Jackson State

• Last Conference Title: 2006, MEAC (and HBCU National Champion)

• Last Playoff Appearance: 2006, lost in first round to New Hampshire 38-41

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

Maine

• Where: Orono, ME

• Last Year's Record: 5-7 (3-5 in conference)

• Longsnapper: Zach Zoglio (GR, played in 12 games in 2024), Landon Beal (SO, 5-star long snapper, ranked 16th in Class of 2024)

• Punter: Samuel Tremblay (SO, from Quebec City), Anthony Pecorella (GR, transfer from Stony Brook after 2024, was at Maine in 2023 as medical redshirt, played 4 years at Maryland before that)

• #69: None

• Longest Road Trip: 1,271 miles to play Georgia Southern

• Last Conference Title: 2018, CAA

• Last Playoff Appearance: 2018 - First-round bye (ranked #7), Second round: beat Jacksonville State 55-27, Quarter: beat Weber State 23-18, Semi: lost to Eastern Washington 19-50

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

Monmouth

• Where: West Long Branch, NJ

• Last Year's Record: 6-6 (4-4 in conference)

• Longsnapper: Payton Wieczerzak (RS FR, did not see game action last year as a true freshman)

• Punter: Luke Schabel (JR)

• #69: Josh Duran

• Longest Road Trip: 637 miles to Charlotte

• Last Conference Title: 2020, Big South Conference

• Last Playoff Appearance: 2020, first-round loss to Sam Houston State 15-21

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No, Kevin Callahan has spent 33 seasons at Monmouth for the school’s ENTIRE football program history.

New Hampshire

• Where: Durham, NH

• Last Year's Record: 8-5 (6-2 in conference)

• Longsnapper: Matthew Peicker (GR, transfer from New Haven), Wyatt Rubinoff (SO, transfer from Marist, 5-star snapper rating from Kohl’s Kicking) I found a video of Wyatt longsnapping on YouTube. You got to see a 5 Star long snapper in action.

• Punter: Matt Guidebeck (RS SO)

• #69: Lathan Hudson (FR)

• Longest Road Trip: 798 miles to play Campbell

• Last Conference Title: 2022, co-champions with William & Mary

• Last Playoff Appearance: 2024, first-round loss to UT Martin 41-10.

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

North Carolina A&T

• Where: Greensboro, NC

• Last Year's Record: 1-11 (0-8 in conference)

• Longsnapper: Bryson Ruddy (SR, primary LS in 2022 on extra points and field goals), Damien Jackson Jr. (RS SR, primary LS in 2022 on punts)

• Punter: DJ Page (SO)

• #69: None

• Longest Road Trip: 984 miles to Maine (also travels to UCF)

• Last Conference Title: 2019, MEAC (co-champions with SC State, and HBCU champions)

• Last Playoff Appearance: 2016, first round loss to Richmond 39-10. Went to the 2019 Celebration Bowl, beat Alcorn State 64-44

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): Yes, Shawn Gibbs comes from DII Fort Valley State to take the reigns.

Rhode Island

• Where: Kingston, RI

• Last Year's Record: 11-3 (7-1 in conference)

• Longsnapper: Dillon Keough (RS FR)

• Punter: James Allen (RS SR, Australian, transfer from Trinity Valley CC and Georgia State), Liam Kennett (FR), Randy Leavitt (JR)

• #69: None

• Longest Road Trip: 862 miles from Kingston to Kalamazoo to play Western Michigan

• Last Conference Title: 2024, co-champions with Richmond

• Last Playoff Appearance: 2024, first round win over Central Connecticut 21-17, second round loss to Mercer 10-17

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

Stony Brook

• Where: Stony Brook, NY

• Last Year's Record: 8-4 (5-3 in conference)

• Longsnapper: Trey Wallman (RS JR)

• Punter: Clayton Taylor #99 (SR, Australian via Prokick Australia, played Aussie rules football for 6 years before attending Stony Brook in 2022)

• #69: Cooper Lauersen (SO)

• Longest Road Trip: 2,822 miles to play San Diego State

• Last Conference Title: 2012, Big South Co-Champs

• Last Playoff Appearance: 2018, first round loss to SEMO 14-28

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

Towson

• Where: Towson, MD

• Last Year's Record: 7-5 (5-3 in conference)

• Longsnapper: Daniel Anderla (RS FR, reserve LS in 2024), Gavin Hall (FR) Punter: Bryce Lafollette (RS JR, transferred from Virginia Tech after 2023)

• #69: Ian Markham-Miller

• Longest Road Trip: 373 miles to play Bryant

• Last Conference Title: 2012, CAA (co-champions with Richmond, New Hampshire, and Villanova)

• Last Playoff Appearance: 2018, first round to Duquesne 10-31

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

Villanova

• Where: Villanova, PA

• Last Year's Record: 10-4 (6-2 in conference)

• Longsnapper: Thomas Colello (SO)

• Punter: Luke Larsen (GR, Australian, transfer from East Carolina), Daniel Mueller (JR)

• #69: Jake Picard (GR)

• Longest Road Trip: 429 miles to Elon

• Last Conference Title: 2023, CAA (co-champions with Albany and Richmond)

• Last Playoff Appearance: 2024, first round win over Eastern Kentucky 22-17, second round loss to Incarnate Word 13-6 (Hey, I was at that game)

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

William & Mary

• Where: Williamsburg, VA

• Last Year's Record: 7-5 (4-4 in conference)

• Longsnapper: Michael Kabban (RS FR, played 4 games in 2024), Joseph Williams (FR)

• Punter: Carter Boyd (RS FR)

• #69: Linden Clemmons

• Longest Road Trip: 433 miles to play Furman in Greenville, SC

• Last Conference Title: 2022, co-champions with New Hampshire

• Last Playoff Appearance: 2022 - first round bye, second round win over Gardner-Webb 54-14, quarterfinals loss to Montana State 55-7

• New Head Coach (Yes/No): No

Thanks for reading! Many more previews to come!