North Dakota State College of Science enters the 2019 season receiving votes in the Preseason NJCAA Football Top 20 Poll, released earlier this month.

The Wildcats finished 27th in voting with five points, trailing national power Trinity Valley by 10 points for the final spot in the top 20.

NDSCS is coming off of a 9-2 campaign and finished just outside the NJCAA Football Top 20 Poll in the season?s final edition.

Head coach Eric Issendorf is entering his second season at his alma mater. His Wildcats could have one of the nation?s top defensive units, returning three of its top five leaders in tackles from last season with Caleb Kennedy (58 tackles), Jamire Jackson (47 tackles) and Tony Madison (47 tackles) all back. Kennedy also led NDSCS in tackles for loss (16) and sacks (9).

NDSCS also welcomes a talented crop of incoming freshmen.

Defending national champion East Mississippi opens as the No. 1 team in the nation, taking home six of seven first-place votes. Garden City (KS), who finished just four points behind Iowa Western, took home the other first-place vote.

Jones (MS) and Hutchinson (KS) round out the top five.

The Wildcats open the 2019 season at home on Aug. 31 (2 p.m.) against Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College.

Rank College (1st Place Votes) Points

1 East Mississippi (6) 136

2 Iowa Western 129

3 Garden City (1) 125

4 Jones 110

5 Hutchinson 92

6 Kilgore 91

6 Snow 91

8 Lackawanna 87

9 Northwest Mississippi 79

10 Butler 73

11 Blinn 67

12 Mississippi Gulf Coast 66

13 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 62

14 Iowa Central 52

15 Monroe College 31

16 Highland (KS) 27

17 Copiah-Lincoln 21

18 Navarro 20

19 Georgia Military 17

20 Trinity Valley 15

Others Receiving Votes

College Points

Nassau 14

Northeast Mississippi 12

ASA Brooklyn 8

Coffeyville 7

East Central (MS) 7

Tyler 7

North Dakota SCS 5

Holmes 3

DuPage 1

Hinds 1

Independence 1