CAA Football Places 12 Players On 2025 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team
Rob Washburn
Standouts Fill 2025 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team | Opta Analyst
RICHMOND, Va. (July 15, 2025) – CAA Football had 12 players selected to the 2025 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America team on Tuesday.
Chosen to the preseason All-America first team were Monmouth graduate quarterback
Derek Robertson, Stony Brook graduate running back
Roland Dempster, Rhode Island junior wide receiver
Marquis Buchanan, Villanova graduate offensive lineman
Jake Picard, Rhode Island senior linebacker
A.J. Pena, William & Mary senior defensive back
Jalen Jones and Elon senior punter
Jeff Yurk.
Making the second team were Rhode Island senior offensive lineman
Brock Bethea, Monmouth graduate offensive lineman
JT Cornelius and Villanova senior linebacker
Shane Hartzell.
Receiving third team recognition were William & Mary senior tight end
Trey McDonald and Tribe graduate offensive lineman
Ryan McKenna.
Robertson completed 283-of-435 passes for an FCS-best 3,937 yards and a program-record 31 touchdowns with only six interceptions in 2024. Dempster ran for 1,332 yards and 18 touchdowns a year ago, ranking fourth in FCS in rushing TD’s and sixth in rushing yards per game (111.0). Buchanan made 82 receptions for a CAA-best 1,124 yards and eight touchdowns. Picard earned first-team All-CAA accolades last season and helped Villanova average 154 yards per game rushing. Pena recorded 82 total tackles, ranked second in FCS with 12.5 sacks and fourth in FCS with 22.5 tackles for loss. Jones topped FCS with 20 pass breakups and 22 passes defended while adding 48 tackles and two interceptions. Yurk led FCS in punting, averaging 47.9 yards kick with 26 boots of 50+ yards and 19 inside the 20-yard line.
Bethea received all-conference honors a year ago after helping URI allow only 16 sacks and tally the second-most yards of offense (5,072) in program history. Cornelius blocked for a Monmouth offense that led FCS in total yards (489.9 ypg) and ranked second in scoring (39.0 ppg). Hartzell recorded 121 total tackles with 9.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and eight quarterback hurries.
McDonald tallied 10 catches for 130 yards and was a key blocker for a W&M rushing attack that ranked fourth in FCS (232.8 ypg). McKenna is a two-time honorable mention All-CAA pick and helped clear the way for a Tribe offense that averaged 413.2 yards per game.