RICHMOND, Va. — Eight William & Mary football standouts garnered preseason all-conference honors during the CAA's annual media day event on Wednesday.
Representing W&M on the first team were cornerback
Jalen Jones, defensive lineman
Davin Dzidzienyo, linebacker
Luke Banbury, fullback/halfback
Trey McDonald and punt returner
Carson Jenkins, while tight end
Sean McElwain, offensive lineman
Ryan McKenna and defensive lineman
Ty Gordon earned honorable mention distinction.
The Tribe's three first-team selections on defense were the most of any team in the league.
The CAA's preseason poll was also announced and the Tribe was picked to finish seventh. Both the preseason all-conference team and preseason poll were selected based on a vote by the CAA's 14 head coaches.
Chosen as a first-team All-America selection by numerous organizations last season, Jones was selected a finalist for the 2024 Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the FCS national defensive player of the year. The Chesapeake, Va., native ranked first nationally in passes defended (22), passes defended per game (1.8) and pass breakups (20). Additionally, the two-time All-CAA standout ranked tied for eighth in the conference in interceptions (2) and tied for sixth in forced fumbles (2).
Jones enters his senior season ranked sixth at W&M in career passes defended (39), while he has also totaled six interceptions, a pick-six, 89 tackles, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Dzidzienyo emerged as one of the CAA's top defensive lineman last season and earned honorable mention all-conference accolades after finishing the fall with 50 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 5.5 TFL, a forced fumble, fumble recovery, two pass breakups and three quarterback hurries.
The Northwest, D.C., native enters his third season as a starter with 81 career tackles, 3.0 sacks and 6.5 TFL.
A grad transfer from Cornell, Banbury earned first-team All-Ivy League honors last season after totaling a league-leading 87 tackles with 2.5 sacks, 6.0 TFL, two interceptions, seven passes defended, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
During his time with the Big Red, Banbury appeared in 30 games and totaled 141 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 8.0 TFL, two interceptions – including a pick-six – seven passes defended, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
McDonald enters his third season as a starter and emerged as an all-conference selection in 2024. The Kinnelon, N.J., native has totaled 20 receptions for 253 yards with a touchdown during the last two seasons.
Jenkins garnered first-team all-conference honors as a punt returner last fall after averaging 26.5 yards per return with a touchdown. The Gate City, Va., native finished the season with six punt returns for 159 yards and was also honored as a Virginia Sports Information Directors All-State first-team honoree.
McElwain emerged as a full-time starter last season and earned All-CAA honorable mention distinction after finishing the season with 20 receptions for 361 yards and five touchdowns. During the last two seasons, the Glen Allen, Va., native has totaled 42 catches for 673 yards.
After earning All-CAA accolades the past two years, McKenna has established himself among the nation's elite offensive linemen and enters his fourth season as a starter. Last year, he helped W&M rank fourth nationally in rushing (232.8) and 24th in total offense (413.2), marking the third consecutive year in which the Tribe has ranked among the country's top 13 in rushing.
A 2024 Campbell Trophy Semifinalist, the Doylestown, Pa., native is a two-time team captain and a National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society selection.
After transferring from Syracuse prior to last season, Gordon posted a breakout campaign during his first year at W&M and earned multiple freshman All-America honors. The Gainsville, Va., native ranked second on the team in sacks (5.5) and TFL (6.0) while also recording an interception and two pass breakups.
W&M enters the 2025 campaign having posted four consecutive winning seasons, marking the first time the program has accomplished the feat in the last 25 years. The Tribe opens its season at Furman on Aug. 30, while it will host Maine for its home opener on Sept. 6. Season tickets, as well as mini plans, are available at
TribeAthletics.com.
2025 Preseason Predicted Order of Finish (First Place Votes)
1. Rhode Island (8 first-place votes) 163
2. Monmouth (4 first-place votes) 142
3. Villanova (2 first-place votes) 139
4. Stony Brook 125
5. New Hampshire 119
6. Towson 108
7. William & Mary 104
8. Elon 98
9. Maine 71
10. Campbell 53
11. Hampton 50
12. UAlbany 47
13. Bryant 32
14. North Carolina A&T 23
2025 CAA Football Preseason Offensive Players of the Year
QB – Derek Robertson, Monmouth
2025 CAA Football Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
LB – A.J. Pena, Rhode Island
2025 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team – Offense
QB – Derek Robertson, Monmouth
RB – David Avit, Villanova
RB – Roland Dempster, Stony Brook
FB/HB – Trey McDonald – William & Mary
TE – Jack Neri, Monmouth
WR – Marquis Buchanan, Rhode Island
WR – Josh Derry, Monmouth
WR – TJ Speight, Monmouth
OL – Tre Alexander, Rhode Island
OL – Brock Bethea, Rhode Island
OL – JT Cornelius, Monmouth
OL – Nico Papic, Stony Brook
OL – Jake Picard, Villanova
OL – Korion Sharpe, North Carolina A&T
2025 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team – Defense
DL – Davin Dzidzienyo, William & Mary
DL – Rodney Faulk, Stony Brook
DL – Obinna Nwobodo, Villanova
DL – Michael Otty, Bryant
LB – Luke Banbury, William & Mary
LB – Shane Hartzell, Villanova
LB – A.J. Pena, Rhode Island
LB – AJ Roberts, Stony Brook
CB – Jalen Jones, William & Mary
CB – Myles Brodie, Towson
S – Deuce Lee, Monmouth
S – Xavier Terry, Towson
2025 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team – Special Teams
KR – Trevin Ewing, Maine
KR – TJ Speight, Monmouth
PR – Carson Jenkins, William & Mary
PK – Enda Kirby, Stony Brook
P – Jeff Yurk, Elon
SPEC – Calvin Harrison
2025 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team – Honorable Mention
QB – Devin Farrell, Rhode Island
QB – Carter Peevy, Maine
RB – Rodney Nelson, Monmouth
FB/HB – Dylan Magazu, Elon
TE – Sean McElwain, William & Mary
WR – Caleb Burke, New Hampshire
WR – John Dunmore, Towson
OL – Ryan McKenna, William & Mary
OL – Stephane Voltaire, Villanova
DL – Ty Gordon, William & Mary
DL – Kahmari Brown, Elon
LB – Anthony Ferrelli, Stony Brook
LB – Rodney Roane, Towson
LB – Christian Thomas, Maine
CB – Jamaree Gibson, Maine
CB – Brandon Guzman, Campbell
CB – Ayinde Johnson, Rhode Island
S – Zahmir Dawud, Villanova
S – Will Hicks, Hampton
S – Thomas Joe-Kamara, UAlbany
S – Devin Vaught, Maine
KR – Aaron Harris, North Carolina A&T
LS – Jonathan Ward, Hampton
