Moon Township, Pa. - According to a poll of Northeast Conference (NEC) head coaches, the Robert Morris University football team has been picked to finish second in the NEC in 2010.

The Colonials received three first-place votes in the preseason poll and trail only NEC defending champion and 2010 preseason favorite Central Connecticut State, which garnered four first-place votes. The Blue Devils posted an overall record of 9-3 in 2009, including a 7-1 mark in the NEC.

Following CCSU and RMU in the poll are Albany (7-4, 6-2), Wagner (6-5, 5-3), Monmouth (5-6, 4-4), Bryant (5-6, 4-4), Duquesne (3-8, 2-6), Sacred Heart (2-8, 2-6) and Saint Francis (2-9, 1-7). The Great Danes and Seahawks, picked third and fourth, respectively, each received a first-place vote.

Robert Morris returns 19 starters in 2010, including 10 on offense. The Colonials closed the 2009 campaign on a five-game winning streak to finish with an overall record of 5-6, including a mark of 5-3 in the NEC that was good enough to tie for third in the league standings with Wagner.

"Every year is a different year," head coach Joe Walton said. "You never know how good the other teams are going to be, because they get better, too. A key for us that has me excited is that we have more depth this year than we've had in a long time. In the last two or three years, whether it's been an injury here or an injury there, we've had a number of guys that have gained experience through playing. Our team has experience now, but it's all going to depend on our leadership and how this team blends together."

Four Colonials were named to the 2010 All-NEC Preseason Team, including senior running back Myles Russ (Boca Raton, Fla. / West Boca). Russ, 5'8" and 170 pounds, enters his final season of eligibility in 2010 with 2,908 career rushing yards, which is tied for second all-time at Robert Morris with inaugural running back Tim Hall (1994-95). Russ finished the 2009 season ranked fourth in the NEC in rushing with 1,059 yards, averaging 5.0 yards per carry on 212 attempts.

Joining Russ on the 2010 All-NEC Preseason Team are a trio of seniors in cornerback Rolf Bathold (Naples, Fla. / Lely), linebacker Alex DiMichele (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Sto-Rox) and kicker Garrett Clawson (Duncansville, Pa. / Hollidaysburg). 

Bathold, 5'10" and 175 pounds, was named to the 2009 All-NEC Second Team after leading the NEC in passes defended with 15, compiling 12 pass breakups and three interceptions. He also added 53 tackles last year, including 39 solo stops.

The 6'2", 240-pound DiMichele became the fastest Colonial in school history to reach 200 career tackles last season, accomplishing the feat in his 16th game. He led Robert Morris with 109 takedowns in 2009, including 50 solo stops, and also produced three sacks, a pair of interceptions, four pass breakups and a team-high four fumble recoveries.

The lone Colonial named to the 2009 All-NEC First Team, Clawson established an RMU single-season record with 14 field goals last season. He finished fifth in the NEC in scoring with 64 points, tops for all league kickers, and on three occasions tied the Colonial single-game mark with a trio of field goals. Clawson, 5'11" and 175 pounds, was also named NEC Special Teams Player of the Week three straight times last season, becoming the first player in NEC history to turn the trick.

Led by the only coach in the history of the program in Walton, RMU opens its 17th intercollegiate football training camp Monday, August 9, at Joe Walton Stadium. The Colonials will open the 2010 season Saturday, Sept. 4, with a 1:00 p.m. tilt against Dayton at Welcome Stadium in Dayton, Ohio.

For the first time in league history, the winner of the NEC regular-season championship will earn an automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. The NCAA recently expanded the Division I FCS championship bracket to 20 teams, and the NEC has one of 10 automatic berths in the field for 2010.