ANGOLA, Ind.-- The Trine football team is ranked 25th in the nation in the Lindy's Sports 2016 NCAA Division III Top 25 Preseason Poll.
The Thunder are the lone MIAA representative to appear in the preseason poll. Last season, Trine finished with a 6-4 overall record in head coach Troy Abbs first year at the helm of the program. The Thunder finished 4-2 in conference play. The team projects to return six all-conference performers from last season, but will have to replace four All-MIAA First Team honorees. This is the second straight year Trine has been ranked in the Lindy's Sports preseason magazine.
The Thunder expect to return the bulk of its offensive firepower, including All-MIAA Second Team running back Mark Wilson (Indianapolis, Ind. / Lawrence Central). Wilson rushed for 837 yards in four starts last season. Wilson will be running behind an offensive line that projects to return four starters, including fellow second team honoree Derek Scott (Niles, Mich. / Niles).
The passing game returns a pair of quarterbacks with starting experience. Brandon Rooze (Lafayette, Ind. / Benton Central) threw for more than 1,100 yards in three starts, while Evan Wyse (Archbold, Ohio / Archbold) drew one starting assignment. Andrew Bonfiglio (Toledo, Ohio / St. Francis de Sales) returns as Trine's top receiving threat after catching 54 passes last year.
All-MIAA First Team linebacker Taylor James (LaPorte, Ind. / LaPorte) returns as the anchor of the Thunder defense. James is a two-time all-conference performer. The defense also returns All-MIAA Second Team defensive lineman Me'Leick Miles (Indianapolis, Ind. / Pike) and cornerback Marcus Winters (Toledo, Ohio / Central Catholic).
The special teams will get a boost from the return of D3Football.com All-North Region return specialist Jeffery Barnett (Fremont, Ohio / Fremont-Ross). Trine has also produced a All-MIAA kicker each of the last four years.
The season kicks off under the lights Thursday, Sep. 1 when the Thunder travel to Manchester for the traditional in-state opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The home-opener follows in week two as Trine hosts Bluffton Saturday, Sep. 10 at 6 p.m. in Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium.
The complete Lindy's Sports 2016 NCAA Division III Top 25 Poll is listed below. The magazine was founded in 1982. The company produces 21 sports annuals.
Lindy's Sports Division III Football Top 25 Preseason Poll
1. Mount Union
2. UW-Whitewater
3. St. Thomas (Minn.)
4. Wesley
5. Mary Hardin-Baylor
6. Linfield
7. UW-Oshkosh
8. Wabash
9. Washington & Lee
10. John Carroll
11. Ohio Northern
12. Wheaton
13. Delaware Valley
14. Franklin
15. Texas Lutheran
16. North Central
17. Hendrix
18. Westminster
19. Monmouth
20. Guilford
21. Berry
22. Dubuque
23. Hardin-Simmons
24. Saint John's (Minn.)
25. Trine