NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Making history as just the second offensive player in Christopher Newport football history to garner Preseason All-American accolades, senior offensive lineman Andrew Belford was named a first team selection by D3football.com on Wednesday afternoon.

The preseason honor for Belford marks the eighth time a Christopher Newport player has been selected a D3football.com Preseason All-American and the first offensive selection since CNU Hall of Famer Tunde Ogun started the 2009 season with top billing. It is the first pick for the Captains since Trey Hayes was a 2024 second team honoree as a return specialist and Belford joins a list that includes Ben Garbarini (3rd team Punter - 2020), Damian Jiggetts (2nd team CB - 2019), Shaun Copening (1st team DT - 2014), Rob Rodriguez (2nd team CB - 2006), and Kareem Morse (2nd team LB - 2005). 

Last season, Belford became the 15th All-American in program history when he was recognized as a second team pick by D3football.com. He added first team All-Region and All-State honors while he was a first team All-Conference lineman in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. 

Belford was a key piece to a unit that protected All-American quarterback Connor Barry and allowed the Christopher Newport offense to shatter a number of program passing records. He and the rest of the O-Line yielded just 21 sacks in 11 games played while also opening holes for the run game to average over 176 yards per game. The Captains rushed for 28 touchdowns, third most in program history, and passed for over 3,000 yards amd 30 touchdowns for the first time in a single season, setting a program mark at 3,025 yards and 37 scores. In total, the Christopher Newport offense piled up over 451 yards of offense per game, shattering the previous record by over 23 yards per game. 

The Division I transfer from Morehead State University has earned first team All-Conference honors in each of his first two seasons with the Captains. He is the third CNU offensive lineman in the last three years to collect All-American plaudits. Powered in part by Belford's dominance on the line, the Captains recorded its first-ever undefeated regular season in 2025 and won the New Jersey Athletic Conference title for the second time. 

D3football.com has announced Preseason All-America teams for 27 years. Click here for a complete list of the 2026 Preseason All-Americans from D3football.com.