The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team is ranked sixth in Street & Smith's College Football preview magazine heading into the 2018 season, which kicks off Sept. 1 at Dubuque (Iowa).
 
The Warhawks finished the 2017 campaign ranked 23rd in the nation by D3football.com after winning their final six games for a 7-3 record, including a 6-1 mark in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
 
Senior defensive lineman Harry Henschler (Janesville, Wis./Craig) and senior linebacker Bryce Leszczynski (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) were each named to Street & Smith's Preseason All-America Team. Henschler also garnered first team Division III Preseason All-America accolades in Lindy's College Football National 2018 Preview.
 
Henschler was selected third team D3football.com All-America, first team All-West Region and first team All-WIAC last fall after posting 14 sacks, good for first in the conference and third in the nation. He also led the league in tackles for loss (17.5) and totaled 41 tackles for the year.
 
Leszczynski, one of four team captains in 2017, led UW-Whitewater and ranked second in the WIAC with 90 tackles, a school record. He earned first team All-WIAC honors following the season.
 
The Warhawks have won six national championships since 2007 and 10 WIAC titles in the last 13 years.
 
UW-Whitewater's home opener is scheduled for Sept. 8 against Concordia Moorhead (Minn.). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Perkins Stadium with a pregame concert to begin at 11 a.m. outside the stadium.