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LOCK HAVEN, Pa.- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) released its football preseason coaches poll on Thursday afternoon, and West Chester was tabbed third in the PSAC East following a 2021 season, which saw the Golden Rams finish the year with a mark of 6-5.
Shepherd, who advanced to the National Semifinals a year ago, earned the top spot in the preseason poll with four first-place votes, while defending PSAC East champion Kutztown was picked second with the other four first-place votes.
On the defensive side of the ball, West Chester returns preseason All-America LB
Jackson Taylor (Glenside, Pa./Abington). Taylor led all tacklers in the PSAC a season ago with 98 stops
, including a team and division-best 59 solo tackles. Taylor posted 10.5 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks, recovered one fumble, intercepted two passes, and notched four QB hurries and one pass breakup. He reached double figures in tackles five times (Edinboro, Shippensburg, East Stroudsburg, Lock Haven, Kutztown) and recorded a season-high 16 stops against Kutztown.
Obi Anyatonwu (York, Pa./Central York) will be a major part of what is expected to be a deep Golden Ram secondary this year, building off a 2021 season that saw him record 38 tackles (27 solo) along with two interceptions (tied with Taylor for the team-high) and six pass breakups (second on the team, first among returners).
On the offensive side, West Chester, who boasted the PSAC's best ground attack throughout the 2021 season, returns two-time First Team All-PSAC selection
Ja'Den McKenzie (Morton, Pa./Springfield Delco), who has rushed for over 900 yards in each of his first two collegiate seasons and has career touchdowns to his name. McKenzie will be joined in the backfield once again by teammate
Phil Poquie (Philadelphia, Pa./Haverford), who is regarded as one of the top kick returners in program history while also being a threat running the ball and catching it out of the backfield.
Under center, West Chester is expected to turn to 2021 Second Team All-Conference selection
Shane Dooley (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) to continue his development in 2022 after ending the 2021 campaign with over 1,700 yards passing (including a season-best 302 yards in the season finale vs IUP) along with 20 touchdowns (including a season-best five on the road at Shepherd).
West Chester is set to open Preseason camp next week and will play its first game of the year on September 2
nd vs non-league foe Bentley beginning at 6 p.m. inside John A. Farrell Stadium.
