After Bloomsburg wrapped up the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division championship in November, the focus was shifted to the 2014 season and a new slate for each of the eight teams in the east.

All eight teams were represented by their head coach and two or three captains at the PSAC football media day, held last Monday afternoon at Kutztown University.

Each team was introduced by its respective sports information director, and that was followed by the preason poll.

Picked to finish in first place with seven of the eight votes by the East's SID's was West Chester. East Stroudsburg is in second place receiving one vote.

The remainder of the poll was Bloomsburg in third, followed by Shippensburg, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Millersville, and Cheyney.

Four former Trojan players are represented on two of the top teams in the East poll, and most of them are expected to make some contributions to their respective clubs.

The 2013 NCAA Division II Semifinalist West Chester sits atop the preseason poll for the first time since 2010, and for the third time in program history. Two PHS graduates are in their second year with the Golden Ram program.

Redshirt freshman Jarel Elder received high praise from head coach Bill Zwaan after sitting out his freshman season.

"He could outdo our running back that graduated last year, he's got that kind of talent," said Zwaan about Elder passing Rondell White. "He's just got to stay healthy and keep getting better, which I expect him to do.

"He's got the same kind of athleticism and shiftiness that Rondell White had. We're excited to see what he can bring to the table."

Sophomore offensive lineman Michael Unger was also listed on the Golden Rams roster, and will provide depth along the front.

West Chester opens at New Haven on Saturday afternoon, September.

The team picked to finish just behind the Golden Rams, the East Stroudsburg University Warriors also boast two Parkland alumni.

Junior offensive lineman Eric Burleson has played in 17 of his 22 career games, starting 10 (all in 2013). He helped ESU rank second in the PSAC and seventh in Division II in offense (508 yards per game).

"He has good size at 6-3, 300 pounds," said head coach Denny Douds in his 41st season at the helm of the Warriors. "It's exciting because he is only a junior and has started a lot of games for us.

"He has an idea of what needs to be done and how to get it done. Eric has the talent and experience to keep being really good for us."

Also on the radar is redshirt freshman Tim Baranek, who transferred in from Lock Haven.

After playing quarterback during his high school career, and for the start of his collegiate career, Douds and his staff will use the 6-foot-1 athlete as a wide receiver.

It is always tough to crack the wide receiver rotation in the first year of the program, but Douds believes that Baranek could provide some competition for playing time, and his genes help him.

"We recruited him when he was in high school, and we know his dad really well," Douds said about Andy Baranek, ESU's starting quarterback from 1982-84.

The four former Trojans are primed to have big years in a competitive PSAC East, and will give Parkland football fans something to follow at the Division II level come the fall.