GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— Colorado Mesa University senior George Jones was named to the Preseason All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference team while the Maverick men's soccer team was projected projected to finish seventh in the league's coaches' poll.  The Preseason All-RMAC Team is made up of returning players in the order of coaches' voting from last year's all-conference selection process.

Jones, who hails from Braunton, England, is coming off an impressive season as he was named to the All-RMAC Team in 2025 as an honorable mention pick. He played 1,580 minutes on defense and started in all 18 games for the Mavs, totaling one assist with four shots on goal at the offensive end.

Each year's preseason poll features the votes of each of the conference's 11 head coaches, who ranked their opposition as they vote without voting for their own school. 

Colorado Mesa, which finished sixth in last year's conference standings, earned 57 out of a possible 100 points. They finished last year's campaign with a record of 8-7-3, including a winning 5-3-2 conference record.

UCCS was projected to finish first, amassing all 100 possible points and ten first place votes. They were followed by Regis (85), Fort Lewis (75), MSU Denver (71), CSU Pueblo (63), and Westminster (61).

The Mavs finished well ahead of Colorado School of Mines (31), South Dakota Mines (30), Colorado Christian (23) and Adams State (9) in the poll.

The Mavs begin their season on Aug. 27 when they face off against UT Dallas at the UTD Soccer Complex in Richardson, Texas. Kick-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. CDT (7 p.m. Mountain).