PITMAN, N.J. – The TCNJ football team was predicted to finish fourth in the NJAC preseason poll released Friday morning by the league office.
 
The Lions slotted just into the upper half of the prognostications from the league's head coaches, with reigning champion Salisbury garnering six of the eight possible first-place votes as the favorite to repeat. Christopher Newport and 'dark horse' Rowan each earned a first-place tally and placed second and third, respectively. Montclair State was right behind the Lions in fifth, followed by Kean, William Paterson, and newcomer Castleton.
 
TCNJ is under new management in first-year head coach Tyler Moody, but the larders are well stocked with talent for a continuation of last season's 6-4 mark, the program's first winning campaign since 2011.
 
Gone are a handful of record-setting playmakers from the offense, including All-American wide receiver Malin Jasinski and all-region tight end Thomas Burke, but senior signal-caller Dean Licari will have plenty of options at his disposal. Seniors Ryan Gill, who had seven touchdown catches in 2024 and has amassed 1,000 yards in his career, and Jaiden Johnson are back alongside junior Alex Dille (19 catches, 302 yards, 3 TDs) and sophomore Ryan Mendes (4-41-1), while junior Andrew Spano and sophomore Jordan Morrell headline a new-look backfield.
 
Transfers Tyler Addonisio joins a senior-laden offensive line led by Tommy Jurcsek, Thomas Roarty, and Aidan Geisenheimer.
 
The defense returns a bevy of all-conference talent, including senior Jameson Sessa off the edge, senior Dave Giulian in the middle of the linebacking corps, and senior Justin Kurc anchoring the secondary. Seniors Christian Bennett and Jack Young in the secondary, Dylan Patscher in the middle, and Nick Surdo and Bill Westerby at linebacker are all expected to retain major roles for an experienced unit.
 
Kicker Tim Willever broke the single-season record with 37 made extra points as a rookie last season.
 
The Lions kick off the 2025 campaign at Lycoming on Saturday, September 6 before taking on Wilkes in the home opener on Saturday, September 13. TCNJ's scheduled non-conference games with the Landmark Conference end at home against Juniata on September 27, with NJAC play opening the following week at Salisbury.