BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb is ranked No. 22 in the Hero Sports FCS Preseason Top 25 poll, marking the first preseason national top-25 ranking for the Runnin' Bulldogs since the summer of 2003, when GWU was ranked No. 25 in the USAToday Coaches' Poll.
HERO SPORTS PRESEASON TOP 25 POLL
Head Coach Tre Lamb welcomes back 17 starters on offense and defense from the 2022 Big South Conference Championship season, which saw the 'Dogs go 5-0 in league play to win their first conference crown since 2003.
The success continued in the FCS Playoffs, as Gardner-Webb made its first-ever appearance last into the round of 16, beating A-Sun Champion Eastern Kentucky on the road behind an impressive ground attack that produced 405 yards.
Narii Gaither (Rock Hill, S.C. / Rock Hill HS) headlines the returning group on offense after running for a career-high 1,019 yards on 154 carries in just 10 games played. Gaither also caught 23 passes for 220 yards and returns for his fifth season as one of the top all-purpose backs in the country.
Gardner-Webb's defense is stocked with experience and talent, led by All-America defensive end Ty French (Moultrie, Ga. / Colquitt County HS), All-America corner Raequan Ousley (Orlando, Fla. / Evans HS) and three-time All-Conference choice William McRainey (Shallotte, N.C. / West Brunswick HS) at linebacker.
That trio is part of a returning group that features 19 of the team's top 24 men on the final depth chart and 10 starters. Gardner-Webb's defense has 15 players returning with starting experience.
Gardner-Webb joins No. 11 Southeast Missouri State as Big South/OVC Football Association teams ranked in the Hero Sports preseason top-25. Those two teams will not meet in 2023 as part of the combined leagues' unbalanced schedule.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will have a challenging non-conference FCS schedule, with a home game vs. No. 21 Eastern Kentucky – a rematch of last year's playoff battle – set for October 21 in Spangler Stadium.
Non-conference opponents Elon (Sept. 9) and Austin Peay (Oct. 14) also received votes in the Hero Sports rankings. Big South/OVC foe UT-Martin will also garner preseason votes as polls continue to debut throughout June and July.
Gardner-Webb opens its 2023 schedule on Saturday, Sept. 2 at FBS Appalachian State. Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm ET in Boone (ESPN+).