Greg Gattuso confident Great Danes are set up for success in 2024

The 2024 football season is fast approaching, and anticipation is mounting to see how the University at Albany follows up its FCS semifinal run from a year ago.

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The 2024 football season is fast approaching, and anticipation is mounting to see how the University at Albany follows up its FCS semifinal run from a year ago.

The Great Danes - despite losing a lot of talent, including star quarterback Reese Poffenbarger and virtually their entire starting defense - are still expected to do big things.

UAlbany was picked to finish third in the CAA preseason poll, behind only Villanova and Richmond. It's the program's highest-ever placement in that poll.

Glens Falls' Griffin Woodell - coming off a breakout year at running back - was named to the preseason All-Conference team. Woodell was one of three Danes to earn that honor, including offensive linemen Ozzie Hutchinson and Will Marotta.

Gattuso said he believes the team has re-tooled well in the transfer portal. And having played 15 games last year, that allowed a number of younger players to earn valuable experience.

All things considered, Gattuso believes this group is set up for more success in 2024.

"We have the players coming back in key positions that can lead us early," said Gattuso. "It's a tough September [schedule], but there's no conference games, and it gives us a chance to work our way through some things. So, I feel good about where we're at. And I think we're in a nice mental state right now."

UAlbany opens up camp on July 30, and that's where the team will really start to take shape, according to Gattuso.

"Camp is what separates everything. The great attitude we have right now…we're gonna challenge 'em in camp; really push 'em to see if, you know, we can…develop the mental toughness we need to make a run at this…CAA championship, and into playoffs again."

The Great Danes open the season at home on Aug. 31 against Long Island University.