Football

SALISBURY, Md. - There is still over a month to go before the Salisbury University football team takes the field for the 2008 season but that hasn't stopped several publications from picking the Sea Gulls in their respective preseason top 25 rankings.

SU is ranked as high as No. 11 in the USA Today Sports Weekly College Football Preview Division III poll. The Sea Gulls were also selected No. 20 in Lindy's 2008 College Football Preview  Division III poll. Salisbury was not ranked in The Sporting News College Football '08 (formerly known as Street & Smith) preseason poll.

Atlantic Central Football Conference rival Wesley College is a heavy favorite for the '08 campaign as the Wolverines were tabbed with No. 2 (USA Today), No. 3 (Sporting News) and No. 6 (Lindy's) preseason ranks.

In addition to the preseason rankings, Salisbury senior defensive end Jarrell Chandler has emerged as an All-American candidate for the 2008 season.

Chandler was selected as a preseason first-team All-American by D3football.com, Lindy's and The Sporting News. Consensus Draft Services picked Chandler for its preseason second team.

Salisbury offensive lineman David Preston earned a spot on the D3football.com and Lindy's All-American preseason second teams, respectively.

Chandler finished last season with a team-high 11 sacks and was ranked second in the ACFC in the same category. Chandler ranked fifth in the nation in tackles for loss per game with a 2.2 average and also forced three fumbles and had one interception. He ranked fourth on the team with 57 tackles and was top on the team in tackles for loss with 31. Last season, he was named to the D3football.com All-American second team, the D3football.com All-South Region third team and was an All-ACFC first team selection on defense.

Preston anchored the Salisbury offensive line that ranked second in the country in rushing per game. The Sea Gulls ran off 323.8 yards per game and scored just under 40 points a contest. Four times last season, SU ran for over 350 yards, highlighted by a 596-yard effort against Becker College. Preston and the rest of the offensive line were honored as the D3football.com Team of the Week on two separate occasions in ‘07. The SU rushing attack averaged 6.5 yards per carry. He was selected to the D3football.com All-South Region second team last season and was an All-ACFC first team selection.

2008 Division III Presseason Top 25 Polls