BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell linebacker DaVonyae Pettis has been named honorable mention Preseason All-CAA, while the Fighting Camels were picked eighth in the conference's preseason poll, as selected by the CAA's head coaches.

Rhode Island, which took the CAA title last season, was the unanimous choice to claim the championship again in 2026, picking up all 12 possible first-place votes (coaches can't vote for their own team) and 144 points in the preseason poll.

Monmouth was chosen second with 119 points, while Elon was close behind in third with 115 points. Placing fourth was New Hampshire with 106 points, and Stony Brook, which got one first-place vote, took fifth with 105 points. Towson (93 points) finished sixth in the poll, followed by Maine (88 points), Campbell (56 points), Bryant (50 points), CAA newcomer Sacred Heart (49 points), UAlbany (35 points), North Carolina A&T (28 points) and Hampton (26 points).

Headlining the preseason all-conference teams, Rhode Island quarterback was chosen as the CAA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Monmouth safety Jaeden Jones was selected as the CAA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Campbell's Pettis, meanwhile, earned the honorable mention nod after posting 25 tackles, including team highs of 8.5 stops for loss and 4.0 sacks, while forcing three fumbles, registering seven QB hurries and breaking up three passes in his first season at Campbell in 2025.

The Shelby, N.C. native, selected as a team captain heading into the 2026 season, has been nominated for the 2026 Good Works Team, recognized for leadership in community service and announced by Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

The Fighting Camels under third year head coach Braxton Harris return six full-time starters on the offensive side of the ball, and four on defense from 2025.

Campbell will open its 2026 season on the road at East Tennessee State on August 29, then making its home debut on September 5 vs. Western Carolina at 3:30 p.m.

2026 CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)
OFFENSE
Name, School, Pos.
Devin Farrell, Rhode Island, QB
Mitch Summers, Sacred Heart, RB
Myles Thomason, New Hampshire, RB
Jimmyll Williams, Elon, RB
Dylan Magazu, Elon, FB/HB
Marcus Middleton, Monmouth, TE
Marquis Buchanan, Rhode Island, WR
Aboraa Kwarteng, Rhode Island, WR
Gavin Nelson, Monmouth, WR
Tre Alexander, Rhode Island, OL
Omari Allen, Hampton, OL
KJ Brooks, Towson, OL
Tim Hogan, Elon, OL
Anthony Iliano, Maine, OL
Andrew Kocan, Maine, OL

DEFENSE
Name, School, Pos.
Chris Bacon, Maine, DL
Case Mankins, Rhode Island, DL
Sebastian Regis, Stony Brook, DL
Korede Sogbesan, Hampton, DL
Brodie Carroll, Elon, LB
Rohan Davy, Rhode Island, LB
Anthony Ferrelli, Stony Brook, LB
Moses Meus, Rhode Island, LB
Jamaree Gibson, Maine, CB
Miles McGoy, Stony Brook, CB
Tony Hart III, Elon, S
Jaeden Jones, Monmouth, S

SPECIAL TEAMS
Name, School, Pos.
Keylijah Williams, Bryant, KR
Elijah Kennedy, North Carolina A&T, PR
Luke Barnes, Elon, PK
Brett Starling, Hampton, P
Jaeden Jones, Monmouth, SPEC

CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Devin Farrell, QB, Rhode Island

CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jaeden Jones, S, Monmouth

Honorable mentions: Andrew Indorf, QB, Towson; Brendon Barrow, RB, Rhode Island; Rashawn Marshall, RB, Maine; Drew Danson, FB/HB, New Hampshire; Landyn Backey, WR, Elon; Tra Neal, WR, Monmouth; Colby Ramshaw, TE, New Hampshire; Andrew Dorsey, OL, North Carolina A&T; Beau Riley, OL, New Hampshire; Kevin Shriner, OL, Monmouth; Tim Suk, OL, Sacred Heart; Wyatt Whalen, OL, Bryant; Ta'Kai Chisholm, DL, Maine; Cameron Garner-Young, DL, New Hampshire; Dillon Pardue, DL, Elon; Darren Burton, LB, New Hampshire; Dillon Dunathan, LB, UAlbany; DaVonyae Pettis, LB, Campbell; Trey Lubin, CB, Rhode Island; Andre DePina-Gray, S, Rhode Island; Jojo Garcia, S, Stony Brook; Elijah Kennedy, KR, North Carolina A&T; Samuel Tremblay, PK, Maine; Luke Schabel, P, Monmouth; Danny Anderla, SPEC, Towson

2026 CAA FOOTBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)
1. Rhode Island (12 first-place votes), 144
2. Monmouth, 119
3. Elon, 115
4. New Hampshire, 106
5. Stony Brook (1 first-place vote), 105
6. Towson, 93
7. Maine, 88
8. Campbell, 56
9. Bryant, 50
10. Sacred Heart, 49
11. UAlbany, 35
12. North Carolina A&T, 28
13. Hampton, 26