SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University football team was ranked No. 21 in the Division II Preseason Top 30 poll published in the College Football America Yearbook.
 
The College Football America Yearbook, which is on newsstands now, is the second Division II preseason poll to be released this summer following a poll released by Lindy's Sports. The Rock were not included in the Lindy's top 25, but find themselves ranked No. 21 by College Football America. There are two more preseason polls expected to be released at the Division II level with D2football.com and the American Football Coaches Association yet to announce their polls. The AFCA poll is widely regarded as the official week one national rankings.
 
Slippery Rock is one of eight schools from Super Region One to be listed in the College Football America top 30 and is one of four schools from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
 
Defending regional champion Shepherd is the top ranked team from the region at No. 2, followed by Notre Dame (Ohio) at No. 9. Kutztown sits at No. 12, followed by New Haven at No. 14, California (Pa.) at No. 18 and Slippery Rock at No. 21 to give the region six schools in the top 25. Bentley was ranked No. 28 and Findlay was ranked No. 29 to round out the Super Region One schools in the top 30.
 
Slippery Rock will report for preseason training camp Sunday, August 7, with a roster that looks vastly different than the 2021 squad. With the graduation of 16 seniors, including some of the most decorated players in program history, The Rock recruited heavily on the transfer portal and will bring 20 new transfer students to camp this fall. About half of those transfers were here for the 2021 spring workouts, while the other half will be new additions for the fall. Many of those transfers are expected to slide immediately into starting positions.
 
In addition to the transfer-heavy recruiting class, Slippery Rock will also welcome back 59 players that lettered in 2021 and a total of 14 players that saw significant time in the starting lineup last fall.
 
The Rock named their four captains for the season after spring practices. The four captains for the fall are quarterback Noah Grover, offensive lineman Colton Rossi, defensive tackle Jeff Marx and safety Selvin Haynes.
 
SRU will be looking for a fourth straight PSAC Western Division title and a fourth straight trip to the NCAA Playoffs in 2022. The Rock have claimed seven of the last 10 division titles in the PSAC West and are expected to be picked near the top of the division again when the PSAC releases its 2022 preseason poll Thursday.
 
Slippery Rock will officially open the 2022 season at home Sept. 3 with a 6 p.m. kickoff against Wayne State (Mich.).
 
2022 College Football America Division II Preseason Top 30
1. Ferris State
2. Shepherd *
3. Valdosta State
4. Colorado Mines
5. Angelo State
6. Bowie State
7. Northwest Missouri State
8. Grand Valley State
9. Notre Dame (Ohio) *
10. West Georgia
11. Harding
12. Kutztown *^
13. Nebraska-Kearney
14. New Haven *
15. Newberry
16. West Florida
17. Bemidji State
18. California (Pa.) *^
19. Lenoir-Rhyne
20. Albany State
21. SLIPPERY ROCK *
22. Western Colorado
23. Minnesota Duluth
24. Henderson State
25. Washburn
26. Augustana (SD)
27. Ouachita Baptist
28. Bentley *
29. Findlay *
30. Central Washington

* Super Region One schools
^ SRU opponent in 2022



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