Have to include Dylan Connors from Wesleyan in the conversation for best returning defender in the league. He certainly benefited from 6 other 1st Team All NESCAC defenders, but he was all over the field in every game: 8.5 TFLs, 1 sack, 7 PBUs, 2 picks and a blocked punt for a TD. Many of those plays made at critical junctures.

Probably another NESCAC season without an unbeaten champion.

planned roster cap is 84 (with Williams and Amherst leading the charge for limitations). The top half schools are trying for a workaround (JV schedule) to avoid cuts.

I think the playoff roster is 58? NCAA rule

Congrats to all the NESCAC honorees for making All-Region 1. 19 total (is that a NESCAC record, Pat?) and 9 teams had players recognized (Amherst the lone exception).

https://www.d3football.com/awards/all-region/2024/2024-d3football-all-region-1

Ted Rogers was a monster for Williams in the early 90s

Quote from: nescac1 on December 05, 2024, 02:52:14 PMThe most dominant defensive lineman I've seen has to be Ethan Brooks, who of course went on to a long NFL career after switching to offense.  He had no business being in D3 with his speed / size combo, but had a massive growth spurt after his final year of high school football.

Others in the conversation: Alex Bernstein, Amherst, who also played in the NFL; Helbig; Andrew Yamin.  That would be my Mount Rushmore from 1995 forward.  I think I'd put Kenary next after that group, right around the Yamin level, followed by Michael Blair. 

Wesleyan has played JV games each of the last 4 years. 2 games per year. WPI each year and then a mix of Bridgeton Academy and some other post-grad programs. Played Trinity this year and maybe last year as well. Not aware of other NESCAC JV games.

Quote from: Brady12 on December 03, 2024, 04:55:59 PM

Quote from: Jonny Utah on December 03, 2024, 01:45:24 PMIthaca has like 125 players on the roster but on the road they have the same 60 players that play at home.  Having a JV team with young talent can be an advantage but in the end it's a minor obstacle that Nescac teams can figure out how to get around. 

Who if any of the NESCAC schools have JV football and if so who do they play? Also I have asked this before with no answer, but does anyone have any info on players quitting as a result of no playing time to concentrate on studies. All the  freshman and sophomores were undoubtedly major players in high school and now have to go back the beginning only they don't have the luxury of freshman and jv games.

Seems like a few jv games would keep their dreams alive. 

WR Rickey Eng (FAM) is also in the portal for a 5th year

Quote from: nescac1 on November 27, 2024, 09:41:03 AMSeems like Chase Wilson is generating like prior NESCAC receivers a ton of D1 interest, with offers already from URI, Bryant, New Hampshire, and Maine.  Would be interesting if he moved into the Tomlinson spot at New Hampshire.  Abraham has also received several low-D1 offers. Wesleyan senior OL William Aaronson is also in the transfer portal.

Wesleyan will have at least two returning. Declan Welch was all 2nd team All-NESCAC DL in 2023, injured most of this year. They will be loaded on the DL again returning another 7-8 guys that saw meaningful snaps last 2 seasons. Also, there could be a few additional players returning for a 5th year.

Quote from: nescac1 on November 19, 2024, 12:45:17 PMBy my quick count, Trinity returns only four of 12 all-league players and most of the rest of the league return 2-3.  Wesleyan returns only one!  NESCAC looks wide open next year. 

Thank you, that was not so hard now, was it? 

Quote from: BigKat on November 13, 2024, 06:02:50 AM

Quote from: The Mole on November 11, 2024, 09:13:49 AMSmall Cat, thanks for admitting you were wrong, tough to swallow, but much appreciated. The extra motivation for the players that read the board to prove you and the other naysayers wrong is sweet. BTW, we have not been here before, but I suspect that changes going forward. Thank You.

That is abundantly clear Mole. CONGRATS. Maybe next time grace and humility will exude from you 😉

announced tomorrow

C'mon Midd, it doesn't fit the pooper Scoops narrative! Opinions do not matter, except the ones the coaches disclose for All NESCAC, to your point. What is also hilarious is that Wesleyan DC Adam Chicoine recruited Nick Donatio to Colby and he was a big reason #2 came to Wesleyan as a grad transfer this past season. Again Scoops, you are trolling yourself, many thanks. As it relates to "reversion of the mean" as was posted a few days ago, Wesleyan is 56-23 under Dice, a mean of over six wins a year with no losing campaigns. Williams is 40-39. Obviously, one team has already reverted to that mean and it is not located in Middletown. Keep digging that hole, Scoops.

You are welcome. Defensive passing yards per game allowed 1. Wesleyan 156.8, 2. Tufts 177.3. 3. Amherst 178.8.  Of course you are wrong. You have been all offseason and most of this year. Nick was a great addition to our secondary which featured All-American Wesley Abraham, CB Sean Walker #4 in NESCAC in pass breakups and DPOTY Candidate Dylan Connors who was NESCAC special teams player of the week once and DPOTW once and scored two TDs.

Quote from: Scoops on November 12, 2024, 09:38:46 AMMole -

Congrats on your team's championship. Glad to see you handling it exactly how I assumed you would.

Not sure what you're trying to accomplish by bringing up my points about last year's secondary and offensive line? Winning the championship doesn't change how bad they were last season. In fact, their offensive line was still atrocious this year, giving up the most sacks once again. Also you're wrong about them being the top pass defense this year (Tufts 1, Trin 2, Wes 3). And you can thank whoever Colby's DB coach was for getting Nick Donatio to be the player he was. He was light-years ahead of anyone else on the Wesleyan back end, and clearly the difference maker.

That said, please enjoy your championship. The cards won when it mattered, and have every right to lord it over the group for the next year. I'm sure we will all rejoice when the cards inevitably regress to the mean in 2025.

YES! G&P, they were trying to get them to jump and intended to punt it away for better field position. When the left end encroached into the neutral zone, they snapped it and took the free play which lead to the first down. They scored a few plays later to take the lead for good.

Quote from: GroundandPound on November 11, 2024, 11:14:16 AMDid I read correctly that Wes went for and converted a 4-17 on their 48 with 8 minutes left in the game? Wow!!!
Congratulations to Wes and their coaches on an outstanding season.

Small Cat, thanks for admitting you were wrong, tough to swallow, but much appreciated. The extra motivation for the players that read the board to prove you and the other naysayers wrong is sweet. BTW, we have not been here before, but I suspect that changes going forward. Thank You.

Great atta boy here, but with a back handed slap. Did ya see his 52 yard run Saturday? Damn, this is fun

They also brought in talented Choate RB Matt Diaz. But if they can't block for him then it's a waste. The major issue they did not address was their porous secondary. I'm sure opposing OC's are hoping they run that group back out there though.