INSTITUTE, West Virginia -- The West Virginia State University football team has been picked to end up fifth in the MEC this season by a vote of the conference coaches.Though it may not be the respect the Yellow Jackets feel they should have earned with last season's fourth place league finish this marks their highest ranking in the pre-season poll in the five-plus year history of the Mountain East Conference.
Entering last season WVSU was voted 10th. The Jackets were eighth in the 2016 poll, ninth in 2015, 11th in 2014, and 10th prior to the league's first season in 2013.
The Yellow Jackets finished the 2017 campaign with a 6-5 overall record and were 5-5 in MEC play.
Offensively WVSU returns leading rusher Calil Wilkins who rolled to 834 yards on the ground as a freshman in nine games last fall. Austin Hensley is expected to take over at quarterback after showing flashes of great play in relief the last two years and Tyrell Henderson will be looking to haul in several of his passes. Henderson had 34 receptions in eight games a year ago and led the squad in yards per catch at 13.2.
Defensively the Jackets return second leading tackler Moises Valcarcel who finished with 55 solo tackles last season and assisted on 29 others.
The full poll is below.
The Yellow Jackets open the season on Thursday, August 30, at the University of Charleston.
Watch live streaming of MEC Football Media Day at 1 p.m. today on the Mountain East website at: www.mountaineast.org
2018 MEC Preseason Poll
1. Shepherd (6) -- 94
2. Fairmont State (3) -- 88
3. Notre Dame (1) -- 87
4. Charleston (1) -- 63
5. West Virginia State -- 61
6. West Liberty -- 45
7. UVa-Wise -- 44
8. West Virginia Wesleyan -- 42
9. Glenville State -- 35
10. Urbana -- 34
11. Concord -- 12
() indicates first-place votes
* Coaches not able to vote for own team
WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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