University of Richmond Athletics
Six Spiders Named to Patriot League Football Preseason All-League Team; Byrd Named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
07/29/2026 | Football
Richmond, Va. – Six University of Richmond football student-athletes have been selected to the 2026 Patriot League Football Preseason All-League Team, announced Wednesday by the conference. In addition, graduate student defensive lineman Camden Byrd was selected as the Patriot League Football Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
The Spiders' six preseason All-League selections include Byrd, running back Aziz Foster-Powell, offensive lineman Ronald Anderson, linebacker Carter Glassmyer, and defensive backs Jordan Allen and Tayshaun Burney.
Byrd becomes the first Spider to earn the league's preseason defensive player of the year recognition and represents Richmond among the Patriot League's major preseason award winners. Lehigh running back Luke Yoder was selected as the 2026 Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
Richmond was selected to finish tied for third in the 2026 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll, receiving 57 points alongside William & Mary. Villanova was picked first with 79 points and seven first-place votes, followed by Lehigh in second with 75 points and three first-place votes. Lafayette was selected fifth with 55 points, followed by Holy Cross (38), Colgate (36), Fordham (19), Georgetown (19) and Bucknell (15).
Richmond's six preseason honorees return from a 2025 squad that ranked among the Patriot League leaders on both sides of the ball. The Spiders ranked third in the conference in rushing offense with 1,772 yards, averaging 147.7 yards per game. Richmond's offensive line allowed just 14 sacks during the season (1.17 per game), ranking third in the Patriot League and 14th among FCS programs, while quarterback Kyle Wickersham led the conference in completion percentage at 64.6 percent.
Defensively, Richmond led the Patriot League and ranked fourth nationally in passing defense, allowing 155.3 passing yards per game. The Spiders ranked second in the conference in scoring defense, allowing 22.7 points per game, and ranked third in the Patriot League with 11 interceptions. Richmond finished second in the league and sixth nationally in total defense, allowing 290.3 yards per game, while ranking third in the conference in tackles for loss with 6.1 per game.
Foster-Powell, a junior running back, played in all 12 games and started seven contests in 2025. He led Richmond in rushing with 594 yards on 125 carries, recording four rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. Foster-Powell ranked eighth in the Patriot League in yards per carry (4.54) and rushing yards per game (47.3). He recorded a career-high 108 rushing yards on eight carries, including a career-long 27-yard rush, at Bucknell.
Anderson, a senior offensive lineman, played in all 12 games and started 11 contests in 2025. He was part of an offensive line that helped Richmond rank third in the Patriot League in rushing offense with 1,772 yards and allowed just 14 sacks on the season. The unit also helped Wickersham lead the Patriot League in completion percentage at 64.6 percent.
Glassmyer, a graduate student linebacker and team captain, played in and started 10 games in 2025. He finished second on the team with 82 tackles, including 40 solo stops, and recorded five tackles for loss (-43 yards), three sacks (-39 yards), and a pass breakup. Glassmyer recorded a season-high 12 tackles in Richmond's win over Fordham.
Allen, a graduate student defensive back and team captain, started all 12 games at strong safety. He finished third on the team with a career-high 74 tackles, including 41 solo stops. Allen recorded 1.5 tackles for loss, an interception returned 14 yards against North Carolina, and four pass breakups. He posted a career-high 14 tackles against Howard.
Burney, a junior defensive back, started all 12 games at nickel in 2025. He recorded 49 tackles, including 25 solo stops, and led the Spiders with 10 pass breakups. Burney added 1.5 tackles for loss (-4 yards), a forced fumble, and a quarterback hurry. He recorded six tackles, an interception, and two pass breakups in his collegiate debut against No. 14 Lehigh.
Byrd, a graduate student and team captain, earned Second Team All-Patriot League honors in 2025 after starting all 12 games. He recorded 34 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss totaling 83 yards, and ranked second in the Patriot League and 15th nationally in forced fumbles with three. Byrd finished second on the team with 8.5 sacks (-66 yards), which ranked fourth in the Patriot League and 24th nationally. He also recorded six quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.
The Spiders open the season at home on Aug. 29 when they host Bucknell under the lights at 6:00 p.m. during Red Out Robins. Tickets for all six home games at Robins Stadium are available by calling 1-877-SPIDER-1, visiting the Robins Center Ticket Office, or online at the link here.
The Spiders' six preseason All-League selections include Byrd, running back Aziz Foster-Powell, offensive lineman Ronald Anderson, linebacker Carter Glassmyer, and defensive backs Jordan Allen and Tayshaun Burney.
Byrd becomes the first Spider to earn the league's preseason defensive player of the year recognition and represents Richmond among the Patriot League's major preseason award winners. Lehigh running back Luke Yoder was selected as the 2026 Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
Richmond was selected to finish tied for third in the 2026 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll, receiving 57 points alongside William & Mary. Villanova was picked first with 79 points and seven first-place votes, followed by Lehigh in second with 75 points and three first-place votes. Lafayette was selected fifth with 55 points, followed by Holy Cross (38), Colgate (36), Fordham (19), Georgetown (19) and Bucknell (15).
Richmond's six preseason honorees return from a 2025 squad that ranked among the Patriot League leaders on both sides of the ball. The Spiders ranked third in the conference in rushing offense with 1,772 yards, averaging 147.7 yards per game. Richmond's offensive line allowed just 14 sacks during the season (1.17 per game), ranking third in the Patriot League and 14th among FCS programs, while quarterback Kyle Wickersham led the conference in completion percentage at 64.6 percent.
Defensively, Richmond led the Patriot League and ranked fourth nationally in passing defense, allowing 155.3 passing yards per game. The Spiders ranked second in the conference in scoring defense, allowing 22.7 points per game, and ranked third in the Patriot League with 11 interceptions. Richmond finished second in the league and sixth nationally in total defense, allowing 290.3 yards per game, while ranking third in the conference in tackles for loss with 6.1 per game.
Foster-Powell, a junior running back, played in all 12 games and started seven contests in 2025. He led Richmond in rushing with 594 yards on 125 carries, recording four rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. Foster-Powell ranked eighth in the Patriot League in yards per carry (4.54) and rushing yards per game (47.3). He recorded a career-high 108 rushing yards on eight carries, including a career-long 27-yard rush, at Bucknell.
Anderson, a senior offensive lineman, played in all 12 games and started 11 contests in 2025. He was part of an offensive line that helped Richmond rank third in the Patriot League in rushing offense with 1,772 yards and allowed just 14 sacks on the season. The unit also helped Wickersham lead the Patriot League in completion percentage at 64.6 percent.
Glassmyer, a graduate student linebacker and team captain, played in and started 10 games in 2025. He finished second on the team with 82 tackles, including 40 solo stops, and recorded five tackles for loss (-43 yards), three sacks (-39 yards), and a pass breakup. Glassmyer recorded a season-high 12 tackles in Richmond's win over Fordham.
Allen, a graduate student defensive back and team captain, started all 12 games at strong safety. He finished third on the team with a career-high 74 tackles, including 41 solo stops. Allen recorded 1.5 tackles for loss, an interception returned 14 yards against North Carolina, and four pass breakups. He posted a career-high 14 tackles against Howard.
Burney, a junior defensive back, started all 12 games at nickel in 2025. He recorded 49 tackles, including 25 solo stops, and led the Spiders with 10 pass breakups. Burney added 1.5 tackles for loss (-4 yards), a forced fumble, and a quarterback hurry. He recorded six tackles, an interception, and two pass breakups in his collegiate debut against No. 14 Lehigh.
Byrd, a graduate student and team captain, earned Second Team All-Patriot League honors in 2025 after starting all 12 games. He recorded 34 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss totaling 83 yards, and ranked second in the Patriot League and 15th nationally in forced fumbles with three. Byrd finished second on the team with 8.5 sacks (-66 yards), which ranked fourth in the Patriot League and 24th nationally. He also recorded six quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.
The Spiders open the season at home on Aug. 29 when they host Bucknell under the lights at 6:00 p.m. during Red Out Robins. Tickets for all six home games at Robins Stadium are available by calling 1-877-SPIDER-1, visiting the Robins Center Ticket Office, or online at the link here.
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballSaturday, April 11
Wednesday, April 01
Wednesday, April 01
Wednesday, November 19