Repeating a CAA Championship is a difficult task for any team in any sport. Rhode Island football is looking for its first repeat championship in almost 4 decades. The team has a solid core of returning players in key positions though a dozen starters did what they intended to do as freshmen, they graduated!
The fan base is very excited to see how the team will perform under the offensive leadership of Associate Head Coach Mike Flannagan. He has brought an “NFL type of pro offense” this year, in an expansion of what was featured last season. Flannagan has returning QB Devin Farrell (CAA 3rd Team and offensive player of the week for his performance against Holy Cross, and All American and Rhode Island local WR Marquis Buchanan to work with along with outstanding talent up and down the lineup.
Defensive coach and coordinator, Coach Chris Lorenti has players who have worked hard to fill the shoes of several key players including first-team All-Conference defensive tackle Westley Neal Jr and 3d team selections Carson Primrose, Manny Gomes and Cole Brockwell. Returning to lead the defense will be A.J. Pena -CAA First Team; AP/Stats/FCS First-Team All-American; CAA Defensive Player of the Week.
Never say that. Never
Blocking a hard rushing linebacker is no easy task. But ya, the tackle is up for it!
Going down the rabbit hole of highlighting players from last season and this season, leads to overlooking the contributions of all of the players who suited up in 2024 and those on the field in 2025. Because the team has yet to kick off the new season, there is a natural tendency to reflect back on the glory 2024 season and then attempting to peer into the looking glass of 2025 and make comparisons and predictions. To see how successful this exercise is – look back no further to August of 2024 when the URI Rams were “predicted” to finish 8th in the 2024 CAA preseason poll, far from the top—yet they soared past that to clinch a conference championship and a post season victory.
So yes expectations are high this season, but every victory will have to be fought for and secured by hard play and precise execution. The RI Rams will have the champion’s bullseye on their backs as every team will give them their best shot. The Rams have the strength of being 2 deep in most positions – important as the season gets into November. The team is led by coaches who have the experience and knowledge of the game. They know how to communicate with athletes as players and people. The team has key returning players, and the team has an impressive group of men who have the speed, strength, experience, and desire to climb the mountain to that second CAA championship – and beyond. Yes, it is one day, one game at a time, but setting the goal of getting a NATI is now a reality.