WALTHAM, Mass. – More than 90 players are expected to report Sunday when the Bentley University Falcons return to campus for the opening of preseason football camp.

It'll be the first camp of the Alvin Reynolds era for the Falcons. The longtime NFL assistant and member of the Bentley coaching staff since 2018 was named the program's sixth head coach earlier this year.

Reynolds takes over a team that was 9-2 last season and made Bentley's first appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs since 2004.

Graduation hit the Falcons hard, but Bentley returns four players who earned All-Northeast-10 honors last fall. That list is headed by first-team D2CCA All Super Region 1 defensive end Cedie Dashiell II (Buena Park, Calif./Buena Park HS), the NE10 Defensive Lineman of the Year. In 2021, he had 10 sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Also back are senior cornerback Jailen Branch (Randolph/Milton Academy), senior wide receiver Noah Neville (Boston/Newton North HS) and senior punter Charlie Ogletree (Needham/Needham HS). Branch and Neville received first-team honors last year and Ogletree was a second-team selection after averaging 40.6 yards.

Branch had ten pass break-ups, two fumble recoveries and an interception while Neville was Bentley's top receiver with 32 catches for 555 yards and six TDs.

Other returnees included second leading tackler Salvatore Lupoli Jr. (Chelmsford/ Chelmsford HS) (90 tackles), senior running back Nate Larkins (Huntington, N.Y./ John Glenn HS) (558 rushing yards), and 6'9", 330-pound offensive tackle Gavin Olsen (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset HS), a graduate student who began his career at Harvard.

Reynolds will have a number of holes to fill during camp as he'll have to find replacements for three-year starting QB Stephen Sturm, leading rusher Andrew Brazicki and NE10 Defensive Player of the Year Cole McCubrey, and most of the offensive line.

Bentley opens its schedule on Friday, Sept. 2 at West Chester University. The home opener will be eight days later against Pace University.