The 2026 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All‑America team showcases an unusually deep pool of talent from CAA Football, with eleven players earning conference‑wide recognition before a single snap has been played.
Leading the selections, Marquis Buchanan of Rhode Island earned first‑team honors after a breakout season that saw him catch 78 passes for 1,337 yards and eight touchdowns, a combination that placed him among the nation’s most productive receivers.
A Conference Poised for Impact
The rest of the honorees reflect the conference’s breadth, from dominant defensive playmakers to reliable special‑teams contributors, each bringing a distinct skill set that should shape the upcoming campaign.
Brodie Carroll from Elon, a second‑team choice, recorded 104 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, underscoring his all‑around defensive presence.
Rohan Davy, also from Rhode Island and a second‑team pick, posted 101 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and seven sacks, a relentless pass‑rush that helped anchor the defense.
Jaeden Jones of Monmouth joined the second team after ranking third league‑wide with 118 tackles, adding 5 tackles for loss, an interception and three pass breakups to his résumé.
Special‑teams standout Luke Barnes of Elon earned second‑team recognition as a kicker, converting 15 of 18 field‑goal attempts and remaining flawless on extra points.
Other notable second‑team selections include Elijah Kennedy from North Carolina A&T, who topped the nation in punt‑return average and scored twice, and Tre Alexander from Rhode Island, whose blocking helped the URI offense average 31.3 points and nearly 430 yards per game.
Maine’s Anthony Iliano, Case Mankins of Rhode Island and Anthony Ferrelli from Stony Brook each received third‑team accolades, with Iliano’s blocking contributing to a 355‑yard‑per‑game attack while limiting sacks to just 18, Mankins tallying 55 tackles and four sacks, and Ferrelli posting 109 tackles and a forced fumble.
Rounding out the list, Keylijah Williams of Bryant ranked 21st nationally in kick‑return average and capped the season with a touchdown, illustrating the conference’s depth across all phases of the game.
The concentration of talent across offense, defense and special teams signals that CAA Football could be a major factor in the national conversation this fall, with several players expected to be early‑season All‑America candidates.