SOMERSET, NJ – Coming off a victory in the first Northeast Conference football championship game in April, Sacred Heart University was selected by the league coaches to repeat the feat in the fall. The Pioneers were voted number one in the preseason poll released on Tuesday.

Sacred Heart received four of the seven first-place votes to claim the top spot. It's the first time the Pioneers have been picked first in the preseason poll since 2014 when SHU was coming off it's first of back-to-back NEC titles. Duquesne and Central Connecticut State tied for second. The Dukes got two first-place votes and the Blue Devils received one.

"The NEC is an outstanding conference and any team can win the championship in any given season," SHU head coach Mark Nofri said. "Our league is competitive from top to bottom and there are no easy games. It's an honor to be picked to win the conference by your peers, but all that matters is who is the top team come the end of November. We had a very good spring season, earning the NEC Championship, and we look forward defending our championship this fall."

In addition to the preseason poll, the league also released its Preseason All-NEC teams. Sacred Heart led the way with eight selections between offense, defense and special teams.

Highlighting the SHU selections was consensus All-American Julius Chestnut. The senior running back led the nation in rushing yards, all-purpose yards and touchdowns during the spring. A native of Bowie, Md., Chestnut was third Walter Payton Award voting.

Chestnut was joined on the offensive side of the ball by wide receiver Naseim Brantley as well as linemen J.D. DiRenzo and Josh Sokol. It's the second year in a row DiRenzo, who earned All-America honors in the spring, and Sokol were named Preseason All-NEC.

The Pioneers had three defensive players selected as well. Defensive lineman Kevin Peprah, linebacker Chris Outterbridge and defensive back Randy Brito transferred their 2020-21 All-NEC selections into a preseason nod. All-American punter Noah Gettman was also selected for the squad.

Sacred Heart opens the 2021 campaign on September 4 when it plays host to Bucknell at 6 p.m. The Pioneers will take on CCSU and Duquesne in back-to-back weekends on October 16 and 23. 

2021 NEC Football Coaches Poll
Predicted Order-of-Finish (First-Place Votes)
1. Sacred Heart (4)
2. Duquesne (2)
Central Connecticut (1)
4. Bryant
5. Saint Francis
6. Long Island
7. Wagner