West Chester Football Receiving Plenty Of Attention In Preseason

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Fresh off a 13-2 campaign that saw them reach the NCAA DII national semifinals, West Chester University's football program has received quite a bit of attention in the preseason college football preview magazines this spring.
 
West Chester is ranked sixth by The Sporting News in their college football preview edition while the Golden Rams come in at eighth by Lindy's Sports. Additionally, a pair of Golden Rams also received preseason All-America accolades by the same two publications.
 
Defensively, senior MLB Ronell Williams (Chester, Pa./Chester) was named to The Sporting News' D2 All-America team. Williams, who was an AFCA All-America pick following his sophomore season in 2012, led the Golden Rams in tackles for the third consecutive year with 110 stops, including 9.5 for a loss. He registered 3.5 sacks, intercepted two passes, broke up three others and was credited with four QB hurries. The 6-1, 230 lbs. middle linebacker was an honorable mention All-America pick by Don Hansen's Football Gazette at the end of last year as well as the ECAC defensive player of the year.
 
Offensively, senior C Derek Schatz (Churchville, Pa./Council Rock South) was named to Lindy's Sports' D2 All-America second-team squad. Schatz, who was also a Don Hansen's Football Gazette honorable mention selection at the end of last year, helped pave the way for RB Rondell White to shatter nearly every rushing and all-purpose record in the school record book. The Golden Rams averaged 186.5 rushing yards per game and 461.5 total yards of offense per contest last season. West Chester ranked fifth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in both categories. The 6-3, 285 lbs. senior, who originally transferred from Villanova University after his freshman season, will once again anchor the Golden Rams' offensive line.
 
Lindy's Sports also listed West Chester's Homecoming contest against Shippensburg on Oct. 18 as one of five "Big Ones" in Division II this coming fall. The Golden Rams open their 2014 campaign, the 93rd season of intercollegiate football, on Saturday Sept. 6 at New Haven. West Chester's home opener is slated for the following Saturday, Sept. 13 at 12 p.m. against Mercyhurst on Hall of Fame Day inside John A. Farrell Stadium.
 
Bloomsburg appeared 17th in The Sporting News' Top 25 preseason poll while East Stroudsburg listed at 24th. The Huskies were also ranked 23rd by Lindy's Sports. They were the only other PSAC schools to appear in either preseason Top 25 poll.