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Moon Township, Pa. – According to a poll of Northeast Conference (NEC) head coaches, the Robert Morris University football team has been chosen to finish third in the league in 2014 as announced by the conference office Monday morning.
 
RMU also claimed four spots on the preseason All-NEC squad, led by senior defensive back Antwan Eddie earning honors at two separate positions.
 
Defending NEC co-champion Sacred Heart, the conference's representative in the 2013 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoffs, was labeled as the unanimous preseason favorite.
 
Following the Pioneers (10-3, 4-3 in 2013) in the poll are Duquesne (7-4, 4-2) and RMU. Central Connecticut State (4-8, 2-4), Wagner (3-8, 2-4), Bryant (5-7, 3-3) and Saint Francis (5-6, 3-3) closed out the preseason conjectures.
 
"The one thing that I've always been proud of is that our teams are physical and our teams play hard," first-year head coach John Banaszak said when discussing his outlook entering the season. "I think that's the one thing whether we win or lose the football game, when I cross the field to shake the opponent coach's hand, I'd like to hear him say 'Your kids played hard'. If that's the case, I can live with that."
 
Robert Morris returns 10 starters and 20 letterwinners from last year's team that controlled its own destiny for a playoff spot in the final two weeks of the season.
 
Eddie earned preseason all-conference honors at both defensive back and return specialist. Seniors Forrest Mason and Duane Mitchell claimed All-NEC preseason accolades at defensive line and wide receiver, respectively.
 
Eddie had already been selected as a preseason All-American by The Sports Network for his punt returning prowess earlier this summer. Eddie returned punts for the first time in his collegiate career a year ago and certainly made the most of his opportunity. He returned 27 punts for a single-season school record 405 yards and a touchdown. He led the league and ranked third nationally in punt returns, averaging 15.0 yards per chance. Eddie was honored in the league's weekly special teams category three different times in 2013 and is the only player in the NEC to win at least three such honors in a single season since 2009.
 
Eddie was also recognized for his work in the defensive backfield. He made 33 tackles a year ago, including 19 solo stops, while adding a trio of interceptions and six pass breakups. He has started 22 career games at cornerback and has tallied five interceptions in his time at RMU.
 
Mason was named All-NEC Second Team last year after posting 46 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, five pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He started 10 games at defensive end in 2013 and had one of his best outings in a victory over Bryant as he finished with six tackles and two sacks.
 
Mitchell broke RMU's single-season school record with 52 receptions last year and tallied 867 receiving yards, the second-most ever by a Colonial in a year. He led the team with seven receiving touchdowns and put up his numbers while facing four of the top 30 passing defenses nationally. Mitchell topped the conference in receptions per game (5.17) within league play and averaged 95.3 receiving yards in NEC play.
 
Led by Banaszak, just the second head coach in program history, RMU opened its 21st training camp Friday, Aug. 1. Robert Morris will open the 2014 season with the first Thursday night home game in program history as the Colonials host Eastern Kentucky, one of the most successful programs at the FCS level, Aug. 28 at 7:00 p.m.
 
2014 NEC Preseason Coaches Poll
(first-place votes in parenthesis)
1. Sacred Heart (6)
2. Duquesne (1)
3. Robert Morris
4. Central Connecticut State
5. Wagner
6. Bryant
7. Saint Francis

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