Montclair, NJ - The Montclair State University football team was selected fifth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll on Monday.

PRESEASON POLL
Christopher Newport received four first place votes to lead the conference, with Salisbury and The College of New Jersey ranking second and third respectively, each receiving first place votes. Rowan was tabbed the "Dark Horse" and ranked fourth, with William Paterson and Kean rounding out the selections below Montclair.

2023 IN REVIEW
The Red Hawks kicked off the season with a 32-21 win at Gettysburg and opened NJAC play later in September with a 42-7 triumph over The College of New Jersey on Homecoming. Montclair followed up that performance with a 27-13 victory over Kean the following week, and later earned a narrow one-point win against William Paterson. The Red Hawks put themselves in contention for the NJAC regular season title with their fourth road victory of the campaign, a 19-14 victory at Christopher Newport. They finished tied for second, their highest mark since the Spring Season of 2021.

KEY RETURNERS
Montclair's returning group is led by the reigning NJAC Defensive Player of the Year NICHOLAS BURGESS, who led the conference in tackles with 101, the most for a Red Hawk since 2010. HENRY LEWIS, the NJAC's leading rusher in 2023, will headline the offense along with ANTHONY ROIGE, who sat atop the conference in receptions a year ago. Other key returning pieces include ALEX BUCHWALD and ERIC COWAN who will look to anchor the defense along with Burgess.

KEY DATES
The Red Hawks will kick off the campaign against Gettysburg on September 14 at Sprague Field, and will host Union College on Homecoming on September 28. Montclair will take on William Paterson at Hinchliffe Stadium on October 26, and will welcome in Christopher Newport for Senior Day on November 9.