Baseball season is about a month away, but the accolades are already rolling in for Selma University.

Blackcollegenines.com, an independent blog partially made up of members of the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s Black College Legends and Pioneers Committee, ranked the Bulldogs No. 5 in the small school portion of its Historic Black College University preseason poll.

The Bulldogs are expected to return eight of their nine starters from last year’s team. One of those returning starters, third baseman Keifer Kilcrease is expected to miss some time due to a shoulder injury.

Despite that, Selma University has large expectations.

“Any time we can put our school among these elite HBCUs, that’s good for Selma University and the city of Selma as well,” said Selma University head baseball coach Adrian Holloway.

The website also named its preseason All-Americans for the 2016 season. Selma University had four players recognized.

First baseman Deshun Bolling and pitcher Shane Jeffcoat were first team All-Americans. Bolling hit .401 last year and had six home runs and 35 RBIs. Jeffcoat went 10-2 in twelve games started and had 148 strikeouts.

Kilcrease and catcher Travis Jean were named second team All-Americans. Kilcrease batted .375 and had 20 RBIs and 11 doubles. Jean batted .414 last year with 39 RBIs and 32 walks.

“I’m just extremely proud of those guys,” Holloway said. “All four of those kids are good kids. They aren’t just baseball players, they are good kids also. They are a good representation of Selma University, and I couldn’t be prouder of any four kids because of how they carry themselves on and off the field. They embody what an All-American is.”

With so much talent back, Selma University is ramping up its schedule this season. The Bulldogs will play two Division I programs — Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Eastern New Mexico in a neutral site game in Peachtree City, Georgia.

“This year I wanted to step it up. We are expecting to have a really good team this year and I wanted to test my guys and try to do something special,” Holloway said.

“We are looking to make a run for a national championship this year and I want to make sure my guys are ready.”

Selma University went 17-10 last year and had around 20 games rained out. The Bulldogs compete as an independent team in the National Christian College Athletic Association.

Selma will kickoff the 2016 season in Montgomery with a doubleheader Feb. 10 against Tuskegee University.