2017 was an incredible chapter in the last 15-year run of the Delaware Valley University football program. The Aggies went undefeated in the regular season and captured the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) championship for the seventh time in the last decade and a half. They went to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the seventh time as well and served as a top seed in one of the four brackets. DelVal won a pair of home postseason contests and then rallied from a 21-point, fourth-quarter deficit before falling on a last-second field goal to Brockport in the quarterfinals. The 12-1 record and quarterfinal appearance matched program highs as did a number five ranking during the year.
 
Now it is time to turn the page to 2018 and the starting lineup will look vastly different for MAC Coach of the Year Duke Greco as just nine returnees (five offense, two defense, two specialty) are back atop their positions on the depth chart. However, many on the returning roster saw valuable time last year.
 
The MAC coaches have selected DelVal to repeat as conference champions and D3football.com has the squad 17^th in its preseason poll. That ranking will be put the test in the August 31 season opener when the Aggies travel to No. 9 Wesley College.
 
OFFENSE
Two-time all-MAC honoree Dashawn Darden is back for his senior season at quarterback. Darden took over the starting duties midway through his freshman season and the dual threat is in the DelVal all-time top 10 in both passing (fifth - 4,954 yards) and rushing (10^th - 1,799 yards).

Last year, Darden was a second-team honoree as he completed 163 of 295 passes for 2,408 yards and 27 touchdowns while being intercepted just six times. He also rushed for 704 yards (tops among returnees) and nine scores on 142 attempts.

The top two returnees in receptions, tight end Dan Allen and wideout Aaron Nelson, are a pair of juniors who will move into starting positions this year. Allen hauled in 21 passes for 423 yards and six touchdowns, including two scores in the NCAA second-round win over Husson. Nelson was the team's deep threat in '17 as he notched 14 receptions for 317 yards and four trips to the end zone.

Senior John Graham was a started at wideout a year ago and caught 16 passes for 169 yards and one touchdown.

The tailback position is up for grabs with the graduation of 2017 MAC Offensive Player of the Year Devauntay Ellis. Sophomore Donte Simmons netted 76 yards in a backup role last season

Senior Austin O'Neill is expected to play a key blocking role in the DelVal rushing attack from his fullback spot once again. He was a second-team all-MAC selection in 2017.

Up front, the Aggies return a pair of starters in junior Thomas McCloughan and sophomore Hess Jenkins. McCloughan (6-1, 280) has been a two-year starter at left guard and will be sliding over to center this year. Jenkins (6-3, 302) is back at his right guard position. The rest of the starting line is expected to be senior Dante Reynolds (6-1, 300) at left guard, junior Michael Cooper (6-2, 270) at right tackle and sophomore Corey Schriver (6-2, 270) at left tackle.

DEFENSE
Just two starters are back from a dominating unit that allowed just 10.5 points per game in 2017. Both returning starters were all-MAC picks in first-teamer Christian Snowden and second-teamer Vincent DiLeo.
 
Snowden, now a senior, shined in his first year as a starter at defensive end as he notched 57 tackles, five sacks, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

DiLeo was at the other end in DelVal's 3-4 scheme, but the junior will move back to outside linebacker this year. He finished the '17 campaign with 30 tackles and a team-best 8.5 sacks. He had 3.5 sacks in the NCAA playoffs, including three in the second-round win over Husson.

A young trio of linebackers will move into starting roles in juniors Ryan Barrett and Billy Walsh and sophomore Anthony Tedesco. The three saw time last season and combined for 52 tackles and two sacks.

Joining Snowden up front are juniors Kenyonn Jones and Mike Merlino. Jones, an end, had 17 tackles and 1.5 sacks last year while Merlino, a nose guard, had six stops.

The starting secondary will have a new look as well as all four from 2017 are gone, including All-American safety Shawn Miller. Senior Kahleel Pettey (20 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and junior Carlos Hernandez (1 tackles) head the corners while juniors Anthony Thomas (13 tackles) and Timaun Williams (12 tackles) head the safeties.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Both specialists from last year return for the Aggies including D3football.com All-America punter Stephen Adams (honorable mention after 2017 season, second team 2018 preseason).

Adams finished 19^th in Division III and second on the Aggies' single-season list with an average of 40.5 yards per kick. He placed 20 of his 58 boots inside the opponent's 20-yard line and had six kicks of 50 or more yards (long of 62).

Junior Colin Fasolka was 29-for-37 on extra-point attempts for 29 points last season.

Nick Restaino is also back after missing the '17 season with an injury. He kicked seven field goals and notched 98 points in his first two years with DelVal.