WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ- Monmouth University's football program is currently ranked 11^th in the nation according to the Athlon Sports Poll released on Monday, tied for the highest the Hawks have ever been ranked.
 
The Athlon Sports poll has the Hawks at 11^th, while STATS Perform Media Poll has Monmouth at 12^th and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 13^th.
 
The 11^th ranking ties the highest in the 28 seasons of Monmouth football (AFCA 2019), while the 12^th in the STATS Perform poll ties the previous high in that poll as well ( also in 2019).  
 
Monmouth is 3-0, recently winning its second consecutive Big South Championship after dispatching the then-seventh ranked Kennesaw State Owls 42-17 on Saturday. The Hawks are scoring 41.7 points per game which leads the Big South and is fifth in the NCAA. Defensively, Monmouth is allowing 17.7 points per game which is 18^th nationally, with the opportunistic bunch ranking second in turnover margin and first in sacks among all FCS players.
 
Individually, the Hawks are led by running back Juwon Farri who leads the NCAA in scoring average after reaching the endzone nine times in three games. Freshman Quarterback Tony Muskett was recently named National Freshman of the Week after throwing for 290 yards on 18-of-22 passing with four touchdowns. Muskett's 170.4 passing efficiency is second in the NCAA. Senior safety Anthony Budd has two interceptions in three games (10^th nationally) while Kahari Scarlett's 1.17 sacks per game is ninth among FCS players.
 
The Hawks will await their NCAA Playoff first round opponent on Sunday, April 18 during the NCAA selection show.