Two Hobart football players drew preseason praise from D3football.com, the premier source of NCAA Division III football news. Senior running back E.J. Taylor was named to the D3football.com Preseason All-America second team, while junior defensive tackle Billy Brosko earned a spot on the third team.
 
Taylor has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons and will begin his senior year second among active players in Division III with 2,883 career rushing yards. In 2025, he posted nine 100-yard rushing games, including seven in a row to end the season. The Liberty League leader in rushing yards in each of the past two seasons ranked in the top 20 in the nation in 2025 in rushing touchdowns (9th with 18), rushing yards (10th with 1,354), scoring (11th at 10.4 ppg), total touchdowns (13th with 19), rushing yards per game (14th at 123.1), total points scored (16th with 114) and rushing yards per carry (18th at 6.27).
 
Taylor rushed for a career-high 196 yards in Hobart's overtime win at Rochester last season. He was named the MVP of the 2025 ECAC James Lynah Bowl following his 172-yard rushing performance. Taylor is a two-time D3football.com All-Region selection and was the 2024 Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year.
 
Brosko is Hobart's top returning tackler from last season. In 2025, he was third on the team with 36 stops, including a team-high 12.5 tackles for loss, earning D3football.com All-Region second team honors. Brosko had a season-high nine tackles at Hilbert and logged seven takedowns in three other games. He posted a season-high 3.5 tackles for loss against St. Lawrence.
 
In 14 career games at Hobart, Brosko has 75 tackles, 15.5 for loss, a sack, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick.
 
Since 2001, 14 Statesmen have been named to the D3football.com preseason All-America teams 19 times.
 
Hobart is scheduled to kick off the 2026 season at home against Alfred at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4.