FREELAND, Mich. -- The Trine football team received first-place votes in the MIAA Football Preseason Poll and was picked to finish fourth in the conference by the league's coaches.

The Thunder received two of seven available first-place votes and earned votes totaling 17 points in the poll. Selected by the conference's coaches, the league poll projects a tight race in the MIAA this fall. Four teams received first-place votes and were separated by just five points in the poll. Trine is coming off a season that saw the Thunder finish 6-4 overall and 4-2 in conference play. The team returns 16 starters off last season's squad, including six All-MIAA performers. The Thunder was ranked 25th in the nation in the Lindy's Sports preseason Top 25.

Two All-MIAA performers highlight Trine's nine returners on the offensive side of the ball. Junior running back Mark Wilson (Indianapolis, Ind. / Lawrence Central) racked up 839 yards on the ground last season and earned All-MIAA Second Team honors despite making just four starts. Explosive runner Lamar Carswell (Toledo, Ohio / St. Francis de Sales) and veteran Frank Vuocolo (Jackson, Mich. / Grass Lake) will also vie for carries in the backfield.

Senior Derek Scott (Niles, Mich. / Niles) returns to anchor the offensive line. Other returners with starting experience on the line are Mitchell Watts (Goshen, Ind. / Goshen), Brandon-David Rau (Battle Creek, Mich. / Pennfield), Thor Daley (San Francisco, Calif. / Sacred Heart Cathedral) and Zachary Schiller (Rives Junction, Mich. / Leslie).

Brandon Rooze (West Lafayette, Ind. / Benton Central) gives the Thunder an experience signal-caller at quarterback. Trine went 3-1 in Rooze's starts last season. The senior threw for 1,143 yards and six touchdowns.

Andrew Bonfiglio (Toledo, Ohio / St. Francis de Sales) returns as the team's top receiving target after catching 54 passes. The Thunder will have to replace the production of all-time leading receiver Gage Corner.

Two-time All-MIAA performer Taylor James (LaPorte, Ind. / LaPorte) returns to lead the defense. James finished sixth in the MIAA in tackles in conference play. Kai Kekoa Sasan (Harvest, Ala. / Sparkman) returns to join James at linebacker after starting last season. Kyle Wiswell (Three Rivers, Mich. / Mendon) also brings starting experience back on the outside.

The defensive line is led by Me'Leick Miles (Indianapolis, Ind. / Pike), an All-MIAA Second Team honoree last year. Miles ranked second in the nation with five blocked kicks in 2015. Joseph Griffin's (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Wayne) seven sacks and 10 tackles-for-loss led the Thunder last season.

The secondary is led by returning All-MIAA Second Team honoree Marcus Winters (Toledo, Ohio / Central Catholic). As a freshman, Winters picked off four passes and notched five pass break-ups. Erik Mawhorter (Ligonier, Ind. / West Noble) and Logan Konopka (Grass Lake, Mich. / Grass Lake) give the Thunder a pair of seniors with experience in the defensive backfield.

D3Football.com All-North Region returner Jeffery Barnett (Fremont, Ohio / Fremont-Ross) gives Trine a threat on special teams. Benjamin Cornell (Grand Ledge, Mich. / Grand Ledge) also returns after handling punt duties each of the last two seasons. Trine has also boasted an All-MIAA kicker each of the last four years.

Trine kicks off its season with the traditional in-state rivalry game against Manchester. This year's opener will be hosted by the Spartans Thursday, Sep. 1 with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CLICK HERE for the complete schedule.

The complete results of the MIAA Preseason Poll are listed below.