For the first time since 2003, when the Blue Streaks were coming off an NCAA semifinal appearance, the John Carroll football program will begin the season nationally ranked in a preseason poll.

D3football.com, which tabbed John Carroll 13th in its final 2013 top 25 poll, has slotted the Blue Streaks 10th in its 2014 preseason rankings.

Defending national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater received all 25 first place votes and 625 total points  Mary Hardin-Baylor (583) and Mount Union (580) were rated second and third, respectively.

John Carroll received 330 points to rank tenth, one spot behind St. John Fisher (376), which eliminated the Blue Streaks from the NCAA Division III Championship.

Seven starters on offense, six on defense, and both the kicker and punter return for a Blue Streak squad that finished last season 9-2 overall and in the NCAA Championship tournament for the first time since 2002.
 
Second-year head coach Tom Arth made a big splash in his rookie campaign, and hopes to follow up with an even better second season.
 
"Again, it's going to be a very competitive conference," said Arth. " We're very fortunate to be a part of the OAC and to play the level of competition that we do week in and week out. Our players have worked very hard since the end of the season. We know that we have a long way to go. We're really excited and really looking forward to the challenge this season."
 
The JCU defense was the surprise unit in all of Division III, improving from 91st in the nation in scoring defense in 2012 to second in 2013 (9.1 ppg), and from 66th in the nation in total defense in 2012 to second in 2013 (229.1 ypg).
 
Six full-time starters – as well as five other players who started at least one game -- return to this unit that will be directed by a new coordinator, Chris Shula. All-league performers David Porter and Frank Pines return to anchor the line, while Jimmy King and 2012 first team All-OAC performer Kevin Cope (injured for all of 2013) will lead the linebacker corps.
 
An experienced secondary led by the likes of Marty Gibbons and Brody Zangaro hope to pick up where the 2013 campaign left off, as JCU was third in Division III in pass efficiency defense.
 
Offensively, senior quarterback Mark Myers (3,288 yards, 28 TD) hopes to build upon a stellar 2013 campaign, and has the talent around him to do so. Tommy Michals is the top returning running back, and the receiving corps is stocked with players such as Aramis Greenwood (OAC leader in receiving touchdowns), Marshall Howell and Brian Kornowski. Zach Strippy emerged as one of the top tight ends in the league last season.
 
The offensive line returns three starters in Jack Corrigan, Alex Manos and Anthony Latina.
 
The kicking game is an area of strength as All-American placekicker Kresimir "Krash" Ivkovic is back for his senior season and sophomore Patrick O'Hearne will look to handle the punting duties once again.

The D3football.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, Sports Information Directors and media members from across the country, and is published weekly.