Four Black Bears Named to Preseason All-CAA Team
7/22/2026 9:30:00 AM | Football
Three Black Bears Named Honorable Mentions
Orono, Maine -- The CAA announced their Preseason All-Conference teams on Wednesday morning prior to the CAA Media Day. The University of Maine was represented by four student-athletes, two on offense and two on defense, along with three honorable mentions on the team.
On the offensive side of the ball, Anthony Iliano and Andrew Kocan were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team while Rashawn Marshall was an honorable mention.
Iliano is coming off of a season in which he was named to the CAA All-Conference Second Team and was recently named a Preseason Third-Team All-American. Kocan served on the same offensive line last season for the Black Bears as Iliano, where the group allowed only 18 sacks (1.5 per game) on the season.
Marshall is coming off of a Freshman All-American season where he racked up 831 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry and 12.3 yards per reception.
On the defensive side of the ball, Jamaree Gibson and Chris Bacon were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team while Ta'Kai Chisolm was an honorable mention.
Gibson was named a All-CAA Honorable Mention after last season where he recorded 34 tackles and five pass breakups while starting in 11 of the 12 games for the Black Bears.
Bacon had his best season to-date last season for the Black Bears as he started in all 12 games, recording 35 tackles, 7.5 of them being for loss, along with four sacks, eight QB hurries and breaking up two passes.
Chisolm recorded 30 tackles, five tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks for the Black Bears across 10 games last season. His 4.5 sacks were tied for the third-most on the Black Bears a season ago.
Also earning an Honor Mention spot was Samuel Tremblay, who across all 12 games for the Black Bears last season, went 9-for-10 on his field goal attempts and 35-for-36 on his PATs. He was named a finalist for the Fred Mitchell Award.
In the Preseason Poll, the Black Bears have been picked to finish seventh, earning 88 points in the poll.
1. Rhode Island (12 first-place votes) 144
2. Monmouth 119
3. Elon 115
4. New Hampshire 106
5. Stony Brook (1 first-place vote) 105
6. Towson 93
7. Maine 88
8. Campbell 56
9. Bryant 50
10. Sacred Heart 49
11. UAlbany 35
12. North Carolina A&T 28
13. Hampton 26
-UMaine-
Developing Champions with Integrity
Integrity | Accountability | Toughness | Excellence
On the offensive side of the ball, Anthony Iliano and Andrew Kocan were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team while Rashawn Marshall was an honorable mention.
Iliano is coming off of a season in which he was named to the CAA All-Conference Second Team and was recently named a Preseason Third-Team All-American. Kocan served on the same offensive line last season for the Black Bears as Iliano, where the group allowed only 18 sacks (1.5 per game) on the season.
Marshall is coming off of a Freshman All-American season where he racked up 831 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry and 12.3 yards per reception.
On the defensive side of the ball, Jamaree Gibson and Chris Bacon were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team while Ta'Kai Chisolm was an honorable mention.
Gibson was named a All-CAA Honorable Mention after last season where he recorded 34 tackles and five pass breakups while starting in 11 of the 12 games for the Black Bears.
Bacon had his best season to-date last season for the Black Bears as he started in all 12 games, recording 35 tackles, 7.5 of them being for loss, along with four sacks, eight QB hurries and breaking up two passes.
Chisolm recorded 30 tackles, five tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks for the Black Bears across 10 games last season. His 4.5 sacks were tied for the third-most on the Black Bears a season ago.
Also earning an Honor Mention spot was Samuel Tremblay, who across all 12 games for the Black Bears last season, went 9-for-10 on his field goal attempts and 35-for-36 on his PATs. He was named a finalist for the Fred Mitchell Award.
In the Preseason Poll, the Black Bears have been picked to finish seventh, earning 88 points in the poll.
1. Rhode Island (12 first-place votes) 144
2. Monmouth 119
3. Elon 115
4. New Hampshire 106
5. Stony Brook (1 first-place vote) 105
6. Towson 93
7. Maine 88
8. Campbell 56
9. Bryant 50
10. Sacred Heart 49
11. UAlbany 35
12. North Carolina A&T 28
13. Hampton 26
-UMaine-
Developing Champions with Integrity
Integrity | Accountability | Toughness | Excellence
Players Mentioned
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