A second publication has placed the Central College football team in its preseason rankings as College Football America Yearbook is listed at No. 19 in NCAA Division III. Central was previously tabbed as No. 11 in Lindy’s National College Football Magazine. Central, which captured a share of its 31st conference championship in 2019 and gained its 21st Division III playoff berth, finishing with a 10-2 record, posted a 2-0 mark in its abbreviated 2021 spring season.

Dutch defensive lineman Blade Durbala was named to the Division III preseason Starting Lineup. Lindy’s also named him a preseason All-American and D3football.com placed him on it’s All-American team for the shortened 2020-21 campaign. Durbala was a first-team all-league selection in 2019 and was a third-team pick for the D3football.com All-West Region team. He made 55 tackles in 2019, with 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. In just two games this spring he had nine stops with 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. He was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week following both games and received league defensive player of the week recognition as well April 6.

The University of Mount Union (Ohio) is the preseason No. 1 in College Football America Yearbook’s rankings. Coach Jeff McMartin has posted a 128-42 (.752) mark over 17 seasons. The Dutch open the 2021 campaign Sept. 4 at St. Olaf College (Minn.).