With 26 players from last year's 9-1 season now cheering on the St. Lawrence University football team as alumni (and in two notable cases, serving as assistant coaches), the Saints were picked to finish third in the Liberty League's preseason coaches' poll.

But head coach Dan Puckhaber is quick to point out that while several very talented players from last year's team will no longer suiting up on Saturdays, there are also quite a few key contributors returning to this year's squad, which will look to win a third straight Liberty League title.

"This senior class is 25-6," says Puckhaber. "In two of their three years, they've been Liberty League champions, and a lot of those guys have been making plays since they got to campus. Every year you're going to have really special guys graduate, and every year you're going to replace people. But the guys that are in this senior class are very comparable to last year's class."

As a result of the larger than usual senior class on last year's team, the Saints' coaching staff went all out recruiting a new class of players, with 46 rookies on the roster heading into the season opener.

"While we have a lot of returning players who were the best in the league last year, we're still a very young team," says Puckhaber. "There are a lot of first-year players who will have a chance to play a lot of football this season that, as of right now, have never taken a college class. But in the end, it's a great group of people that are not only going to make our team better, I think they're going to make this campus better."

This year's schedule features a number of new opponents, as Ithaca has joined the Liberty League, while Springfield, Merchant Marine and WPI have all left. The Saints will open the season with Utica College and Western New England, Buffalo State and SUNY Brockport in non-league contests. The Saints will continue their non-league rivalry with Norwich for the 40th consecutive season as well.

"With all the changes to the league, it gives us an opportunity to play some teams that we haven't traditionally played," said Puckhaber. "We've added schools that are going to be a good challenge for us. The Liberty League is always going to be tight because of how well we know each other. On any given Saturday, any team in our league can beat any other team."

OFFENSE
Starting quarterback Sean Richardson, who set school records for passing yards (2,457), total offense (2,954) and rushing yards by a quarterback (497) last year, will once again the lead the Saints out of the huddle. A Second-Team All-Liberty League selection, Richardson completed 57.3 percent of his passes, throwing 19 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions in 10 starts last year.

Vincenzo Ferraro, Richardson's top receiver last year, also returns after averaging 103.9 receiving yards per game on 55 receptions in 2016. Ferraro enters the season with 124 career receptions, 44 away from the record set by Mitch Gallagher '17 last year. Junior Travis Marnell made 11 catches for 166 yards last year as a sophomore.

The Saints had two outstanding tight ends in Gallagher and Matt Gardiner '17 last season, but their departure will give seniors John Maye and Tyler Kost an opportunity to break into the lineup. Maye made the most of his opportunities last season, making six catches for 104 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown catch in the Saints' win over Rochester, while Kost spent most of 2016 unable to play due to injury.

Rodrick Payne, who was a First-Team All-Liberty League selection at running back last year, will look to lead the Saints' ground game once again in 2017. Payne had 732 rushing yards, including a season-high 124 with two touchdowns in a win over Union.

Junior Thomas O'Grady was a First-Team All-Liberty League selection and will anchor the offensive line at center, while senior Grant Haffenden also returns in a starting role. Sophomores Andrew Stoltman and Brian Silfer will look to shore up a line that lost three starters from last year's team.

DEFENSE
The defensive line will be the area that sees the most new faces, with three starters graduating from last year's team. Senior captain Ryan Bryne, who has been a starter for the past two seasons, will anchor the squad. Byrne recorded 43 tackles last year, including nine for a loss. Senior Chris Ryan and junior Tyler Mirabile both saw significant action in 2016 and will look to move into starting roles this year, and senior Casey Nuchereno will also play a key role up front.

Senior Skyler Williamson, a Second-Team All-Liberty League selection, will lead the Saints' linebackers, while classmate William Garrity will look to move into a starting role after seeing action in all 10 games last season. Junior John Byrne will also be in the Saints' starting lineup as the Saints begin the season.

The Saints will have senior leadership at defensive back, with Scott Arens and Charlie Maistrellis both returning after starting more than half of the team's games last season. Junior Dan Jeffrey and sophomore Tyler Burns both played in nine games last season, with Jeffrey earning three starts.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior Daly Hebert will handle the kickoff and placekicking duties after going 8-for-10 on field goal attempts last season, while Jackson Reaper opens the season as the team's starting punter. Sophomore Deven Redden, Burns and Maistrellis will all compete for a spot as kickoff and punt returners.