Blinn Buccaneers Ranked Sixth and Eighth in Preseason Polls
The Blinn Buccaneers have been ranked sixth and eighth in the preseason Southwest Junior College Football Conference polls. In the media poll, Blinn earned 29 points from 11 media members, placing them ahead of Cisco by seven points and New Mexico Military Institute by nine points. However, they fell short of fifth-place Navarro, which received one first-place vote, by 25 points.
The coaches' poll saw a similar ranking, with the Buccaneers in eighth place after garnering 16 points from the league's coaches. Tyler topped both polls with 75 and 57 points respectively.
Blinn coach Ryan Mahon spoke at the conference's media day, expressing his gratitude for the team's administrators and fellow coaches. He also welcomed Snow College to the conference, noting that they would bring a new level of competition to the team.
Mahon highlighted the returning talent on the offense, including starting quarterback Jack Emerson and running back Bryson Batts, who is expected to start after rushing for 358 yards in four games last year. The coach also mentioned the addition of Caleb Bailey from North Shore High School and David Richardson as a transfer from Athens.
On defense, Mahon praised linebacker Jude Hernandez for his leadership during non-contact preseason practices and cited Kamrun Berry as a standout on the defensive line.