HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Hampden-Sydney College has been picked fifth in the 2025 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Football Preseason Poll. The Tigers garnered 39 points among the nine schools, finishing last season with a final record of 5-5 overall, including 3-4 in the ODAC – tying for fifth place. H-SC is competing in its 131st season of football this fall, while under the direction of second-year head coach Vince Luvara, and begins the campaign with a roster of 138 team members, including 75 returners and 63 newcomers.

Randolph-Macon College was picked first with 64 points, ahead of Washington and Lee University (53), Shenandoah University (49), Bridgewater College (45) and H-SC (39) among the top five. Roanoke College (22), Averett University (21) and Guilford (NC) College (21), along with Gallaudet (DC) University (10) complete the coaches' poll. RMC received eight first-place votes, while SU got the other first-place vote. Roanoke is playing its first season of collegiate football since 1942, while Gallaudet is an associate member of the conference in football this season.

H-SC will be led offensively by senior quarterback and team captain Carter Sido (Dallas, TX), a Third Team All-ODAC selection a year ago. He started the first nine games before a season-ending injury, completing 142-237 passes (59.9%) for 1,842 yards and 22 touchdowns with four 250-yard passing games. Carter added 200 rushing yards on 89 attempts and two rushing touchdowns for 2,042 yards of total offense. Junior running back Terry Hicks (Clayton, NC), also a Third Team All-ODAC selection a year ago, returns after starting all nine games he played and finished with 855 rushing yards on 164 rushing attempts and nine rushing touchdowns, including a career-high 207 rushing yards at Bridgewater on November 2 among four 100-yard rushing games. Terry added 18 receptions for 162 receiving yards to total 1,017 all-purpose yards. Redshirt-sophomore wide receiver Manning Lasso (Raleigh, NC) will lead a talented group at the position after earning Second Team All-ODAC honors last season. He started all 10 games and had 40 receptions for 517 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns, including two 100-yard receiving games.
 
The Tigers will be led defensively by senior linebacker and team captain Robert Clarke (Atlanta, GA), a Second Team All-ODAC selection a year ago. He started the first eight games as a junior before a season-ending injury and was second on the team with 64 total tackles, including 28 solo and 36 assists, 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two pass breakups and two fumbles recovered. Robert had three games with at least 10 tackles, including a career-high 14 tackles at Ferrum College on October 19. Sophomore linebacker Frank Brewer (Charlotte, NC) started the last five of 10 games played and was third on the team with 53 total tackles, including 22 solo and 31 assists, 2.0 tackles for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry, two pass breakups and one fumble recovered. Senior safety Markevus Graves-Franklin (Lynchburg) started the final five games as a junior after a preseason injury and was fourth on the team with 52 total tackles, including 28 solo and 24 assists, 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception and one pass breakup. He had two games with at least 10 tackles, including a career-high 16 tackles at Shenandoah on November 9.
 
H-SC will open the season on the road at non-conference opponent Delaware Valley University on Saturday, September 6, at 12 p.m. in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. The Tigers' first home game is against visiting Washington & Jefferson (PA) College on Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. on Fulton Field at Lewis C. Everett Stadium. All games can be heard locally on WVHL Radio, Kickin' Country 92.9 FM, and will also be available worldwide on the Internet at wvhl.net or via the TuneIn Radio App.