Defending Liberty League football champion Hobart College has been selected by the coaches as the unanimous choice to repeat in 2012. The Statesmen, who went 5-1 in Liberty League play last season while capturing the league title and NCAA bid, received seven first-place votes. Springfield College, new to the league in football this fall, was picked second while Union College was selected third.

Hobart returns 35 letterwinners, including 12 starters. Seven returning Statesmen earned All-Liberty League honors in 2011. Junior linebacker Devin Worthington, the 2011 Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year, and sophomore defensive end Tyre Coleman, the 2011 Rookie of the Year, also garnered All-East Region accolades from D3football.com last year. Worthington was also tabbed a 2012 D3football.com preseason All-American. Hobart also returns a number of key offensive performers including senior quarterback Nick Strang, senior running back Bobby Dougherty and junior running back Steven Webb.

Springfield joins the Liberty League in football in 2012 after nine years as a perennial title contender in the Empire 8. Since 1998, Springfield has appeared in postseason play nine times, including five NCAA tournament appearances (1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2006) and four ECAC championship games (1995, 2004, 2009, 2010). The Pride, which finished 6-4 last season, will be led offensively by senior running back Mike Davis. Junior quarterback Austin Bateman, who started five games last season, is expected to take over for four-year starter Josh Carter. Senior linebacker Kevin Shields leads a young defensive unit.

Union, picked third, went 6-4 last season and tied for the Liberty League title at 5-1. The Dutchmen, who closed the season with four straight wins, lost the tie-breaker to Hobart, falling 41-24 in the head-to-head matchup. Union, which had the top-ranked passing offense in the Liberty League last fall, will have a much different look this season. Departed senior quarterback Drew Connolly and receiver Justin Gallo had outstanding seasons a year ago, but no other quarterback took a snap for the Dutchmen last season. Senior fullback Tim Hersey and junior tail back T.J. Franzese lead an offense that may rely more on the run than last season. The Union defense returns six of its front seven, led by linebacker Noah Joseph and lineman Bill Meile

RPI, picked fourth, returns one of the league’s most dynamic players in senior quarterback Mike Hermann, the 2011 Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year. As a junior, the dual-threat quarterback led the league in total offense with an average of 300.2 yards per game. Hermann averaged 228.2 yards passing per game. At the same time, he was also the league’s fifth-leading rusher with a total of 648 yards. Hermann also finished second to Union’s Justin Gallo with 15 total touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Steven Burpoe (33 rec., 420 yards) was his favorite target. Senior running back T.J. Strunk totaled 330 yards on the ground last season.

The University of Rochester, picked fifth, ranked second in the league in total defense last season, allowing 300.8 yards per game, behind only Hobart (283.1). Junior linebacker Tony Ortega, who totaled 99 tackles for a league-leading 11.0 per game, is a two-time All-Liberty League performer. Offensively, the Yellowjackets will be looking to replace departed senior running back Clarence Onyiriuka and senior quarterback Braezen Subick. Junior quarterback Dean Kennedy is Rochester’s most experience passer returning, having thrown for 388 yards in five games last season. Senior running back Chris Lebano is the top returning rusher from 2011.

St. Lawrence, picked sixth, allowed only 20.6 points per game in 2011, ranking second in scoring defense behind only Hobart (17.1). The Saints also ranked third overall in total defense, allowing just 303 yards per game. The key for St. Lawrence this season will likely be finding increased offensive production. The Saints ranked seventh in both scoring offense (15.9) and total offense (246.8) a year ago. The strength of the St. Lawrence offense was a running game led by departed senior running back Marcus Washington, the Liberty League’s leading rusher (1,176 yards). Washington’s success can be attributed in part to a strong offensive line that features returning All-Liberty League performers Victor Coker and Don Rohauer. Junior quarterback Nik Busharis also returns, providing the Saints with an experience signal caller.

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy led the Liberty League in rushing offense a year ago at 239.4 yards per game. Senior dual-threat quarterback Alex Coviello threw for 581 yards and rushed for 789. Sophomore offensive lineman Jake Margrey returns to anchor the line after earning All-Liberty League first team honors as a rookie.

WPI, which was picked in a tie for seventh, went 1-5 in Liberty League play last season, but the Engineers were in every game. Of the six losses WPI suffered against Division III teams last season, five came by seven points or less. The strength of the WPI team lies in its defense where nine starters return to a unit that ranked fourth in the league in total defense. A solid core of seniors led by defensive end Nick Chambers, inside linebacker Hussein Yatim and defensive back William Alves should be the team’s strength. The Engineers lose the bulk of production in the running game with the loss of departed seniors Ernie Mello (931 yards) and Manny Cambra (185). Junior quarterback John Antonopoulos returns after throwing for 1,094 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Six Liberty League teams open up this Saturday, Sept. 1. League play begins Sept. 22.

LIBERTY LEAGUE PRESEASON FOOTBALL POLL

1. Hobart, 49 (7)
2. Springfield, 40 (1)
3. Union, 36
4. RPI, 31
5. Rochester, 25
6. St. Lawrence, 17
7. (tie) Merchant Marine, 13
7. (tie) WPI, 13

(first-place votes in parentheses; coaches cannot rank their own teams)