First time in five years The Rock not ranked preseason

After being a yearly staple in the top-20 or better of preseason national rankings – the initial Lindy’s Sports Division II preseason top-25 does not include the Slippery Rock University football team this year. The Rock graduated 17 players last season, which saw them return to the state championship game and NCAA playoffs. They finished the season at #20 in the national rankings after a 9-3 season. It is the first time in five years The Rock is not among the nation’s top-25. California is ranked #17 in the preseason poll. IUP is 21st. Shepherd is ranked sixth. Notre Dame, Ohio is ninth.
Rock defensive lineman Jeff Marx has been named a second-team All-American in the Lindy’s pre-season report. The senior from Youngstown, Ohio received his first national pre-season honor despite missing half of last season with an injury. Marx is a two-time All-PSAC selection.