Last year, the Delaware Valley University football team posted a 9-2 overall record for the third consecutive season and captured its second straight Centennial-Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Bowl Series championship. It was the team's 14^th playoff appearance in the last 15 years.
 
With 16 starters back (six offense, nine defense, one specialty), head coach Duke Greco and the Aggies take aim at capturing the conference championship and an NCAA playoff berth in 2017. They are the favorites to do just that as the MAC coaches selected DelVal first in the preseason poll. The Aggies are also ranked 20^th nationally by D3fooball.com and that ranking will be put to the test right away when they host No. 11 Wesley College in the season opener on Thursday, August 31 (7 p.m.).
 
OFFENSE

The Aggies averaged 35.4 points and 378.4 yards per game a season ago. They have their signal-caller back in junior Dashawn Darden. After taking over the quarterback duties midway through his freshman season, Darden started all 11 contests last year and was named to the all-MAC team as an honorable mention pick. In '16, he completed 131 of 237 passes for 1,850 yards and 18 touchdowns while also rushing for 501 yards and eight trips to the end zone.
 
Senior Devauntay Ellis is a two-time, all-conference first-team honoree at tailback. He split time with teammate and fellow all-MAC tailback Robert Cleveland (now an assistant coach) and racked up 627 yards and eight touchdowns on 109 carries. Ellis, who has two rushing touchdowns of 80-plus yards in his career, is also a threat out of the backfield as he caught seven passes for 175 yards a season ago.
 
A young receiving group is led by junior Marquis Ellis, who played the final seven games of the 2016 campaign for DelVal. He notched 12 catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Tight end Onyeka Anya is back for his senior campaign. He was mostly used as a blocker last year, but did catch a one-yard touchdown pass.
 
Three starters return on the offensive line, including senior all-conference honorees Tyler Sylvester and John Walsh. Sylvester (6-0, 270) shifted to the center position last year and picked up second-team accolades for the second consecutive year. Walsh (6-0, 305) was also a second-team all-MAC pick in 2016. He is expected to move from right guard to right tackle.
 
Thomas McCloughan (6-1, 270) started all 11 games of his freshman campaign at left guard.
 
 DEFENSE

The veteran unit permitted just 14.5 points and 268.3 yards per game a season ago. They did not allow more than 21 points in a contest until the postseason win at Muhlenberg (30-27). Six of the nine returning starters earned all-MAC accolades last year, including three in the secondary. Heading the cast is senior free safety and D3football.com preseason All-American Shawn Miller.
 
Miller shined in 2016 as he racked up 56 tackles, five interceptions for 117 yards, two sacks and a blocked kick. Three of the picks came in the season-opening win at seventh-ranked Wesley College to tie a school record. Miller was named to the all-MAC first team for the second year in a row and was a D3football.com all-East Region selection as well. Miller was also a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award, which annually honors the top defensive player on the NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA levels.
 
Fellow senior Sammy Mohr was a second-team all-MAC honoree in his first year with the Aggies. The cornerback notched 26 tackles, four pass breakups and three interceptions.
 
Jarren McBryde is back at strong safety after he earned second-team accolades as a freshman. His 2016 totals included 46 tackles, four pass breakups, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
 
Senior Jalen Mayes was a starter at cornerback last year and had 37 tackles, six pass breakups and one interception to his credit.
 
The linebacking group has all four starters back as well, including a trio of all-MAC honorees. Senior Nicholas DiGati transferred to DelVal prior to the 2016 season and picked up first-team honors while also being named the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series Most Valuable Player. He recorded 81 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
 
Fellow senior and inside linebacker TJ Waters also came to the Aggies in 2016 and earned second-team all-conference honors. He finished the year with 63 tackles, three fumble recoveries, two sacks and two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown).
 
Nick Wright patrols one of the outside linebacker positions and was an all-MAC honorable mention last season. The senior had 34 tackles, seven pass breakups, three interceptions and one sack.
 
Yet another senior, Michael Ockimey, is at the other outside position. He took over the starting role late in the year and finished with 31 tackles, five sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
 
The defensive line is led by senior Marc Issac, who will move from end to nose guard. Isaac produced 26 tackles, five pass breakups, four sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in '16.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS

Two-year starting placekicker Nick Restaino suffered a season-ending injury during preseason camp. The duties will be handled by freshman Pat Moran.
 
Junior Stephen Adams has also been a two-year starter at punter and is back for 2017. Last season, he averaged 35.2 yards per kick and placed nine inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
 
Mohr returned 14 kickoffs for 357 yards (25.5 avg) a season ago.