HAMPTON, Va. (July 22, 2026) … Three Hampton University football players were selected to the preseason All-Coastal Athletic Association team, it was announced.
 
Senior offensive lineman Omari Allen, senior defensive lineman Korebe Sogbesan and junior punter Brett Starling was named to the all-conference team in a vote of the league's coaches.
 
Allen will anchor the much-improved offensive line this season while Sogbesan registered 61 tackles in 2026 including 8.5 tackles for loss. Starling averaged 42.3 yards per punt in 2025 with 12 punts of more than 50 yards. A Hampton native, Starling booted 10 punts inside the 20-yard line and another 12 resulted in fair catches.
 
Coming off a 2-10 overall, 0-8 record in the CAA, the Pirates were picked to finish 13th in the conference in 2026.
 
New head coach Van Malone inherits a team with seven returning starters on offense and four back on defense. Malone, former assistant head coach at Kansas State, revamped the offense and defense and overhauled the roster since the end of last season.
 
Hampton opens the 2026 season against Virginia University-Lynchburg on Aug. 29 before taking on Big 10 foe Maryland on the road a week later.
 
CAA Predicted Order of Finish

1. Rhode Island (12) - 144
2. Monmouth - 119*
3. Elon - 115*
4. New Hampshire - 106
5. Stony Brook (1) - 105*
6. Towson - 93*
7. Maine - 88
8. Campbell - 56*
9. Bryant - 50*
10. Sacred Heart - 49*
11. UAlbany - 35
12. North Carolina A&T - 28*
13. HAMPTON - 26

*- Hampton 2026 opponents9