BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Three Camels have been selected to 2024 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference teams, while Campbell was picked 11^th in the league's coaches' poll.

CJ Tillman, a senior linebacker, was named Preseason All-CAA, while VJ Wilkins, a sophomore wide receiver and return specialist, and Bobby Cleary, a senior long snapper, took honorable mention accolades.

Villanova, which earned a share of the 2023 CAA Championship and reached the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs last season, was voted as the 2024 preseason favorite by the league's head coaches. The Wildcats received nine of the available 16 first place votes and totaled 217 points, while Richmond took second with one first place tally and 189 points.

UAlbany garnered three first place votes and finished third with 179 points, followed by William & Mary (175 points) and Delaware (163), which also picked up three first place nods. Elon (157) was chosen sixth, followed by New Hampshire (150), Rhode Island (142), Towson (114), Monmouth (95), Campbell (83), Hampton (62), Maine (57), North Carolina A&T (49), Bryant (46) and Stony Brook (42).

Villanova quarterback Connor Watkins was also voted the CAA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Elon safety Caleb Curtain was selected as the CAA Preseason defensive Player of the Year.

Tillman was named Third Team All-CAA in 2023, finishing fourth in the conference with 98 total tackles, and earning all-conference honors for the second straight season (Second Team All-Big South in 2022). The Rockingham, N.C. native posted double figure tackles five times over the season, including a career-high 19 against then-No. 4 William & Mary in the 2023 opener. A junior, Tillman also gathered 5.5 tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks, forcing two fumbles.

A 2023 Freshman All-American (Stats Perform, FCS Football Central), Wilkins was also a finalist for the Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award in addition to earning honorable mention All-CAA recognition. Wilkins finished his rookie campaign with 52 catches for 546 yards and four touchdowns, tacking on four rushes for 22 yards with 616 kick return yards, ranking ninth in the FCS, and a 21.2 yards per return average. A Pfafftown, N.C. native, Wilkins was twice named CAA Freshman of the Week in 2023, posting five games of 50 or more yards receiving.

In his first season as a Camel, Cleary earned an honorable mention All-CAA nod, handling nearly every short and long snap without an off-target snap, playing in all 11 games. The junior from Slinger, Wisc. was credited with three tackles on the year, while downing multiple punts, and did not allow a blocked punt.
 
Campbell will kick off the 2024 season, its first under head coach Braxton Harris, on August 31 on the road at Liberty. The Camels will make their home debut on September 21, hosting CAA foe Stony Brook in the first of six home dates. Season, single game and mini-plan ticket options are available at GoCamels.com/Tickets and by phone through the CU Athletics Ticket Office, at 1-877-GO-HUMPS.

2024 CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)

OFFENSE
Name, School / Cl. / Pos.
Connor Watkins, Villanova / Gr. / QB
Elijah Burris, Hampton / Sr. / RB
Griffin Woodell, UAlbany / So. / RB
Marcus Yarns, Delaware / Gr. / RB
Bronson Yoder, William & Mary / Sr. / RB
Trey McDonald, William & Mary / Jr. / FB/HB
Carter Runyon, Towson / Sr. / TE
Chandler Brayboy, Elon / Sr. / WR
Nick DeGennaro, Richmond / Sr. / WR
Anthony Johnson, Stony Brook / So. / WR
Temi Ajirotutu, Villanova / Gr. / OL
Fintan Brose, Delaware / Gr. / OL
Charles Grant, William & Mary / Sr. / OL
Ozzie Hutchinson, UAlbany / Gr. / OL
Will Marotta, UAlbany / Gr. / OL
Ralph Paige, Jr., Towson / Sr. / OL

DEFENSE
Name, School / Cl. / Pos.
Jeremiah Grant, Richmond / Sr. / DL
Westley Neal, Jr., Rhode Island / Sr. / DL
Michael Otty, Bryant / Sr. / DL
Dylan Ruiz, New Hampshire / Sr. / DL
Josiah Silver, New Hampshire / Sr. / DL
Brendan Bell, Villanova / Gr. / LB
Shane Hartzell, Villanova / Jr. / LB
A.J. Pena, Rhode Island / Jr. / LB
CJ Tillman, Campbell / Sr. / LB
Karon Prunty, North Carolina A&T / Jr. / CB
Isas Waxter, Villanova / Gr. / CB
Caleb Curtain, Elon / Jr. / S
Ty Trinh, Villanova / Gr. / S

SPECIAL TEAMS
Name, School / Cl. / Pos.
Chandler Brayboy, Elon / Sr. / KR
Gabe Sloat, Rhode Island / Sr. / PR
Keegan Vaughan, Towson / Sr. / PK
Aaron Trusler, Richmond / Gr. / P
Jabril Hayes, Richmond / Sr. / SPEC

CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Connor Watkins, QB, Villanova
CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Caleb Curtain, S, Elon

HONORABLE MENTION: Matthew Downing, QB, Elon; Derek Robertson, QB, Monmouth; Malachi Imoh, RB, William & Mary; Marquis Buchanan, WR, Rhode Island; Joe Gillette, WR, Maine; Jaylan Sanchez, WR, Villanova; Logan Tomlinson, WR, New Hampshire; Cooper Heisey, TE, Maine; Ryan McKenna, OL, William & Mary; Dion Crews-Harris, DL, Towson; Cazeem Moore, DL, Elon; Wayne Galloway, LB, Richmond; Ryan Toscano, LB, New Hampshire; Tyron Herring, CB, Delaware; Marcus Barnes, S, William & Mary; JoJo Bermudez, KR, Delaware; TJ Speight, KR, Monmouth; VJ Wilkins, KR, Campbell; John Opalko, PK, UAlbany; Josh Cupitt, P, Delaware; Bobby Cleary, SPEC, Campbell

2024 CAA FOOTBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)
1. Villanova (9 first place votes) 217
2. Richmond (1) 189
3. UAlbany (3) 179
4. William & Mary 175
5. Delaware (3) 163
6. Elon 157
7. New Hampshire 150
8. Rhode Island 142
9. Towson 114
10. Monmouth 95
11. Campbell 83
12. Hampton 62
13. Maine 57
14. North Carolina A&T 49
15. Bryant 46
16. Stony Brook 42