.png&type=webp)
University of New Hampshire Athletics
Photo by: Alex Miller
Ten Football Players Garner Phil Steele Preseason Honors
8/3/2026 12:31:00 PM | Football
DURHAM, N.H. – Senior running back Myles Thomason (Montclair, N.J.) of the University of New Hampshire football team garnered First Team, Second Team and Third Team honors to highlight a total of 10 Wildcats selected to the Phil Steele CAA 2026 Preseason All-Conference Team on Monday.
Thomason was selected First Team running back, Second Team punt returner and Third Team all-purpose. Earlier this summer, he was named to the 2026 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team as a running back.
Seven other 'Cats were named to Phil Steele's Second Team – Trevor Barry (Elma, N.Y.), Darren Burton II (Newark, N.J.), Cohen Cook (Somers Point, N.J.), Drew Danson (Wrentham, Mass.), Cameron Garner-Young (Laurel, Md.), Colby Ramshaw (Londonderry, N.H.) and Luke Swaine (Sebring, Fla.).
Thomason was joined on the Third Team by senior wide receiver Ja'Carree Kelly (Gainesville, Fla.) and grad student offensive lineman Beau Riley (Sebring, Fla.).
UNH football kicks off the 2026 season Aug. 28 (7pm) at UAlbany and the home opener is Sept. 12 (6:03pm) vs. Stonehill for 603 Day, which includes Youth Sports Day. CLICK HERE to buy season, half-season or single game tickets as well as parking.
Thomason started all 13 games and helped lead the Wildcats to an NCAA tournament berth a year ago, when he was UNH's leader in rushes (193), rushing yards (736), punt returns (18), punt return yards (233) and all-purpose yards (1,229); those numbers calculated to 94.5 all-purpose yards per game.
Thomason was UNH's top ground gainer in eight games and had a career-high 130 yards with a touchdown on 21 carries against the College of William & Mary.
In other stats, he ranked second in rushing TDs (four) as well as third in receptions (30) and fourth in receiving yards (233).
Barry, a sophomore linebacker, led UNH with 78 tackles (41 solo, team-high 37 assisted) as he started all 13 games a year ago. Barry established a career high of 10 tackles in the opener at N.C. Central and matched that total at Rhode Island. He was the team's top tackles in five games.
Burton II, a senior linebacker, lined up as the starting strong safety in all 12 games he played last season. He recorded 36 tackles (23 solo, 13 assisted), including seven for loss, as well as two pass breakups, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Cook, a sophomore safety, started every game in the 2025 season, when he ranked second on the team in total tackles with 66 (36 solo, 30 assisted). His other stats included four tackles for loss, an interception and two pass breakups. Cook recorded a career-high 11 tackles at William & Mary.
Danson, a senior fullback/halfback, was UNH's starting tight end the last 10 games of the '25 season. He was primarily a blocking TE who had six catches for 39 yards.
Garner-Young, a senior defensive lineman, started eight games a year ago, when he made 17 tackles (five solo, 12 assisted) and blocked three kicks.
Ramshaw, a second-year captain and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee, started the first three games of the 2025 season before being sidelined the rest of the season by injury. He led the Wildcats' tight ends in both receptions (15) and receiving yards (127) in '24 with three TDs.
Swaine, a senior, anchored UNH's offensive line as the starting center every game in 2025.
Kelly caught 34 passes for 327 yards and one TD in 12 games last season at the University of Delaware. In three seasons, he had 52 catches for 503 yards and two touchdowns in 27 games.
Riley returned to action a year ago as the starting right tackle all 13 games after being sidelined by injury in the 2024 season.
GoCatsTravel
Whenever or wherever you travel to cheer the Wildcats, book your hotel at GoCatsTravel.com — it is the same rate as anywhere else, and 50 percent of proceeds go back to Wildcat Athletics. Pick your team, book your stay.
CLICK HERE to view the Phil Steele press release
Phil Steele CAA 2026 Preseason All-Conference Team: New Hampshire
First Team
Myles Thomason, RB
Second Team
Trevor Barry, LB
Darren Burton II, LB
Cohen Cook, DB
Drew Danson, FB/HB
Cameron Garner-Young, DE
Colby Ramshaw, TE
Luke Swaine, OL
Myles Thomason, PR
Third Team
Ja'Carree Kelly, WR
Beau Riley, OL
Myles Thomason, AP
Thomason was selected First Team running back, Second Team punt returner and Third Team all-purpose. Earlier this summer, he was named to the 2026 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team as a running back.
Seven other 'Cats were named to Phil Steele's Second Team – Trevor Barry (Elma, N.Y.), Darren Burton II (Newark, N.J.), Cohen Cook (Somers Point, N.J.), Drew Danson (Wrentham, Mass.), Cameron Garner-Young (Laurel, Md.), Colby Ramshaw (Londonderry, N.H.) and Luke Swaine (Sebring, Fla.).
Thomason was joined on the Third Team by senior wide receiver Ja'Carree Kelly (Gainesville, Fla.) and grad student offensive lineman Beau Riley (Sebring, Fla.).
UNH football kicks off the 2026 season Aug. 28 (7pm) at UAlbany and the home opener is Sept. 12 (6:03pm) vs. Stonehill for 603 Day, which includes Youth Sports Day. CLICK HERE to buy season, half-season or single game tickets as well as parking.
Thomason started all 13 games and helped lead the Wildcats to an NCAA tournament berth a year ago, when he was UNH's leader in rushes (193), rushing yards (736), punt returns (18), punt return yards (233) and all-purpose yards (1,229); those numbers calculated to 94.5 all-purpose yards per game.
Thomason was UNH's top ground gainer in eight games and had a career-high 130 yards with a touchdown on 21 carries against the College of William & Mary.
In other stats, he ranked second in rushing TDs (four) as well as third in receptions (30) and fourth in receiving yards (233).
Barry, a sophomore linebacker, led UNH with 78 tackles (41 solo, team-high 37 assisted) as he started all 13 games a year ago. Barry established a career high of 10 tackles in the opener at N.C. Central and matched that total at Rhode Island. He was the team's top tackles in five games.
Burton II, a senior linebacker, lined up as the starting strong safety in all 12 games he played last season. He recorded 36 tackles (23 solo, 13 assisted), including seven for loss, as well as two pass breakups, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Cook, a sophomore safety, started every game in the 2025 season, when he ranked second on the team in total tackles with 66 (36 solo, 30 assisted). His other stats included four tackles for loss, an interception and two pass breakups. Cook recorded a career-high 11 tackles at William & Mary.
Danson, a senior fullback/halfback, was UNH's starting tight end the last 10 games of the '25 season. He was primarily a blocking TE who had six catches for 39 yards.
Garner-Young, a senior defensive lineman, started eight games a year ago, when he made 17 tackles (five solo, 12 assisted) and blocked three kicks.
Ramshaw, a second-year captain and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee, started the first three games of the 2025 season before being sidelined the rest of the season by injury. He led the Wildcats' tight ends in both receptions (15) and receiving yards (127) in '24 with three TDs.
Swaine, a senior, anchored UNH's offensive line as the starting center every game in 2025.
Kelly caught 34 passes for 327 yards and one TD in 12 games last season at the University of Delaware. In three seasons, he had 52 catches for 503 yards and two touchdowns in 27 games.
Riley returned to action a year ago as the starting right tackle all 13 games after being sidelined by injury in the 2024 season.
GoCatsTravel
Whenever or wherever you travel to cheer the Wildcats, book your hotel at GoCatsTravel.com — it is the same rate as anywhere else, and 50 percent of proceeds go back to Wildcat Athletics. Pick your team, book your stay.
CLICK HERE to view the Phil Steele press release
Phil Steele CAA 2026 Preseason All-Conference Team: New Hampshire
First Team
Myles Thomason, RB
Second Team
Trevor Barry, LB
Darren Burton II, LB
Cohen Cook, DB
Drew Danson, FB/HB
Cameron Garner-Young, DE
Colby Ramshaw, TE
Luke Swaine, OL
Myles Thomason, PR
Third Team
Ja'Carree Kelly, WR
Beau Riley, OL
Myles Thomason, AP
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
S
/ Football
TE
/ Football
DL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
TE
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
RB
/ FootballThursday, May 28
Wednesday, May 06
Monday, May 04
Friday, January 02