PSAC releases football preseason polls
8/6/2026 2:30:00 PM | Football
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The football coaches of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) released their annual preseason polls Thursday, kicking off the start of the 2026 season.
The Marauders enter 2026 with a new identity under Drew Folmar '01, a Millersville Hall of Fame member. Folmar takes the reigns of a program that suffered a winless season in 2025 and was subsequently picked seventh in Thursday's preseason poll. Folmar overhauled the coaching staff, bringing in Ron Rankin to lead the defense and Rod White Jr. to lead the special teams. Brian Ferguson returns as the offensive coordinator. The roster also has a much different look from 2025 as the team returns just 28 letterwinners, three starters on offense, seven on defense, and must replace all of its specialists.
"I am really excited to be back here and have a chance to get this program back on track," said Folmar. "I believe in our University, I believe in the athletic department, and I believe in where the program can be, should be and will be. Our guys did a great job through the spring and are working hard to prepare for a great season. I'm excited to get back out there coaching them at Biemesderfer Stadium."
Millersville's lone returning All-PSAC East performer is linebacker Bryce Beutler, who registered 103 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 3 1/2 sacks as a redshirt sophomore in 2025. Captain and defensive lineman Max Hostetter also returns, as does defensive tackle Paul Vidal. In the back end of the defense, Nick Romano, also a former captain, returns after missing the bulk of 2025 with an injury, and Kai Stiansen, who started eight games in Romano's absence returns after picking off two passes. On the offensive side, Ryan Zeltt and Tommy Hunsicker enter camp looking to claim the starting quarterback role. Both players played significant snaps in 2025. They have talented targets in Colin Hastings and Isaac Sines. Hastings led the team in catches and yards, and Sines has 75 career catches despite missing most of the 2025 season win an injury.
"Coming together quickly is key," said Folmar. "We have a large group of new players joining us in August because our first game will be on us before we know it. We have to make sure we will continue to grow and develop on a weekly basis. Just like with any team in the country, we need to stay healthy because it is a grueling schedule going through this conference."
Kutztown, which won the PSAC and reached the NCAA Semifinals in 2025, earned the top spot and six of seven first-place votes in the PSAC East's preseason poll. Shepherd, picked third, picked up the other first-place vote. East Stroudsburg was picked second. In the West, IUP, the defending division champs, earned five first-place votes and Slippery Rock landed in second with three first-place votes.
Millersville's fall camp begins on Aug. 10. The opening game of the season is Sept. 3 at Glenville State.
EASTERN DIVISION
1. Kutztown (6)
2. East Stroudsburg
3. Shepherd (1)
4. West Chester
5. Bloomsburg
6. Shippensburg
7. Millersville
WESTERN DIVISION
1. IUP (5)
2. Slippery Rock (3)
3. California
4. Edinboro
5. Clarion
6. Seton Hill
7. Lock Haven
8. Gannon
The Marauders enter 2026 with a new identity under Drew Folmar '01, a Millersville Hall of Fame member. Folmar takes the reigns of a program that suffered a winless season in 2025 and was subsequently picked seventh in Thursday's preseason poll. Folmar overhauled the coaching staff, bringing in Ron Rankin to lead the defense and Rod White Jr. to lead the special teams. Brian Ferguson returns as the offensive coordinator. The roster also has a much different look from 2025 as the team returns just 28 letterwinners, three starters on offense, seven on defense, and must replace all of its specialists.
"I am really excited to be back here and have a chance to get this program back on track," said Folmar. "I believe in our University, I believe in the athletic department, and I believe in where the program can be, should be and will be. Our guys did a great job through the spring and are working hard to prepare for a great season. I'm excited to get back out there coaching them at Biemesderfer Stadium."
Millersville's lone returning All-PSAC East performer is linebacker Bryce Beutler, who registered 103 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 3 1/2 sacks as a redshirt sophomore in 2025. Captain and defensive lineman Max Hostetter also returns, as does defensive tackle Paul Vidal. In the back end of the defense, Nick Romano, also a former captain, returns after missing the bulk of 2025 with an injury, and Kai Stiansen, who started eight games in Romano's absence returns after picking off two passes. On the offensive side, Ryan Zeltt and Tommy Hunsicker enter camp looking to claim the starting quarterback role. Both players played significant snaps in 2025. They have talented targets in Colin Hastings and Isaac Sines. Hastings led the team in catches and yards, and Sines has 75 career catches despite missing most of the 2025 season win an injury.
"Coming together quickly is key," said Folmar. "We have a large group of new players joining us in August because our first game will be on us before we know it. We have to make sure we will continue to grow and develop on a weekly basis. Just like with any team in the country, we need to stay healthy because it is a grueling schedule going through this conference."
Kutztown, which won the PSAC and reached the NCAA Semifinals in 2025, earned the top spot and six of seven first-place votes in the PSAC East's preseason poll. Shepherd, picked third, picked up the other first-place vote. East Stroudsburg was picked second. In the West, IUP, the defending division champs, earned five first-place votes and Slippery Rock landed in second with three first-place votes.
Millersville's fall camp begins on Aug. 10. The opening game of the season is Sept. 3 at Glenville State.
EASTERN DIVISION
1. Kutztown (6)
2. East Stroudsburg
3. Shepherd (1)
4. West Chester
5. Bloomsburg
6. Shippensburg
7. Millersville
WESTERN DIVISION
1. IUP (5)
2. Slippery Rock (3)
3. California
4. Edinboro
5. Clarion
6. Seton Hill
7. Lock Haven
8. Gannon
Players Mentioned
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