NEWARK, Del. – There's no doubt about it. Head Coach Danny Rocco has high expectations and standards for his University of Delaware football team.

For the upcoming 2018 season, those expectations aren't just held by Rocco and his staff as the Blue Hens were ranked #13 in the Athlon FCS Preseason Poll, released on Tuesday afternoon.

It's the first time that Delaware will enter a season ranked in the top-25 since 2012.

The Blue Hens return 18 starters from a year ago when they posted a 7-4 record and narrowly missed out on their first FCS playoff bid in nine years.

Delaware will be led by preseason All-American candidate Troy Reeder (first-team All CAA in 2017), who returns as a team captain for the second consecutive season.

The Blue Hens open their season on Thursday, August 30 when they host the Rams of Rhode Island at Delaware Stadium. Game time is set for 7 p.m.