ANGOLA, Ind.-- The Trine football team is ranked 18th in the nation in the Lindy's Sports 2015 NCAA Division III Top 25 Poll.
The Thunder are the lone MIAA representative to appear in the preseason poll. Trine is coming off a season in which the Thunder finished 6-4 overall, with a 4-2 mark in the MIAA that tied for second in the conference. The 2015 season will be Trine's first under Troy Abbs, who was promoted to the head coaching position in the offseason after serving as the team's defensive coordinator since 2006. Under Abbs, the Thunder defense produced 17 All-MIAA First Team defensive performers, including three defensive MVPs.
Trine is expected to return nine starters on the offensive side of the ball, including the entire offensive line. Headlining the returners is quarterback Taylor Masiewicz (Belmont, Mich./Rockford), the MIAA's Offensive MVP in 2014. The experienced offensive line is anchored by all-conference tackle Dalton Raper (Richmond, Ind./Richmond). The Thunder also return experienced playmakers at the wide receiver and running back positions.
Defensively, Trine returns a pair of All-MIAA Second Team performers. Safety Michael Spears (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) was the team's leading tackler a year ago, while Taylor James (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) ranked second on the team in tackles and is expected to once again lead the linebacking corps.
Overall, Trine will return 18 starters from last season's squad. Seven of those returners come on the defensive side of the ball.
The Thunder will have both returners and newcomers in the mix to replace several key losses from last season, which included D3Football.com All-Region defensive end Ryan Hogan and All-MIAA First Team performers Joel Lopshire (kicker) and Zachary Hess (tight end).
The season kicks off under the lights Thursday, Sept. 3 when the Thunder host Manchester. Kick-off of the traditional, season-opening rivalry is slated for 7:30 p.m. in Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium.
Trine's week two opponent, North Central, is ranked seventh in the nation in the poll.
The complete Lindy's Sports 2015 NCAA Division III Top 25 Poll is listed below. The magazine was founded in 1982. The company produces 21 sports annuals.
Lindy's Sports 2015 Division III Top 25 Poll
1. Mount Union
2. Wisconsin-Whitewater
3. Wheaton (Ill.)
4. St. John's (Minn.)
5. Linfield
6. Wartburg
7. North Central
8. Wesley
9. Washington & Jefferson
10. Mary Hardin-Baylor
11. Hardin-Simmons
12. John Carroll
13. Guilford
14. Texas Lutheran
15. St. Lawrence
16. Bethel (Minn.)
17. Johns Hopkins
18. Trine
19. Monmouth (Ill.)
20. St. John Fisher
21. Delaware Valley
22. St. Thomas (Minn.)
23. Franklin
24. Wittenberg
25. California Lutheran