TUSKEGEE, Ala. __ Tuskegee football finds itself ranked fourth he 2023 Preseason HBCU Division II Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW, one spot higher than their final ranking of fifth in the last 2022 poll.
The Golden Tigers received 146 total points and one first place vote, just behind Virginia Union with 147. Benedict (219) and Fayetteville State (180) begin the season predicted to repeat as respective conference champions, while Fort Valley State (127) rounds out the top five.
Bowie State comes in at six with 115 points, followed by another SIAC member Albany State at seven with 99. Meanwhile, Virginia State (52), West Virginia State (48), and Lane (16) round out the final slots in the top ten.
The BOXTOROW publication also announced their All-American teams this week, with senior punter
Ryan Duff earning a nod as a specialist. A three-year starter as a punter out of Mobile, Duff led the SIAC last season with a 42.9-yard average on 41 kicks for 1,760 yards. During the year, he accounted for 14 punts of 50+ yards, including a long of 61 in the season finale against Benedict in the SIAC Championship Game. Duff also was recently named to the 2023 SIAC Preseason First-Team along with SIAC Commissioner's All-Academic honor roll.
The
HBCU Division II Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW is administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW, and is voted on by the HBCU NCAA Division II coaches.
The full rankings can be found below.
2023 Preseason HBCU Division II Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW
| No. |
Team |
W-L |
Pts |
2022 Final Rank |
| 1 |
Benedict (17) |
11-1 |
219 |
1 |
| 2 |
Fayetteville State (3) |
9-3 |
180 |
2 |
| 3 |
Virginia Union (1) |
9-2 |
147 |
3 |
| 4 |
Tuskegee (1) |
8-3 |
146 |
5 |
| 5 |
Fort Valley State |
8-2 |
127 |
4 |
| 6 |
Bowie State |
6-4 |
115 |
8 |
| 7 |
Albany State |
7-3 |
99 |
7 |
| 8 |
Virginia State |
6-4 |
52 |
9 |
| 9 |
West Virginia State |
7-4 |
48 |
10 |
| 10 |
Lane |
5-5 |
16 |
NR |
Others receiving votes: Savannah State (5-5) 14, Shaw (4-6) 12, Edward Waters (5-6) 10, Winston-Salem State (3-6) 5, Miles (1-9) 3, Kentucky State (4-6) 2, Johnson C. Smith (2-7) 2, Lincoln (Pa.) (2-7) 2, Bluefield State (4-4) 1, Allen (2-8) 1, Central State (3-7) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
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