FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[lumbercat]

N1

Hear you loud and clear but I'll hold off on expressing my opinion at this point.
I think the rest of the NESCAC tacitly not looking to make this kind of move but I don't know that for a fact. At the end of the day the D1 kid committed to a fine D3 program.

If I am a HS coach or one of these self appointed recruiting authorities like NE Elite this would influence my advice to future prospects, especially QB prospects, relative to the Trinity program.
If rumor is correct Trin is cutting some QBs and have other QBs who are working hard to win the job and now they bring in a D1 QB. 

This kind of scenario, is within the spirit of todays rules but has not been contemplated in the past for NESCAC prospects who might have opportunities at the D1 level but choose to go with a D3 offer specifically to avoid this kind of stuff.
 

[Gate90]

This type of move is certainly no surprise coming from Devanney.   

[quicksilver]

According to his X account, Aronson entered the portal in March. That account also confirms his commitment ot Trinity so it is all looking very definitive  . .

[The Ghost of John Wesley]

This isn't a NESCAC-specific question, but the members of this board have lots of experience with prep leagues in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, and the league recruits from these schools, so I figured it was a good place to ask.

Has the Hun School of Princeton football program officially left the MAPL? I know their schedule has become increasingly "national" in recent years with games against powers from the Midwest and the South, but the schedule for this coming season is almost completely national, with several top 25 teams: Archbishop Spalding of Maryland, St. Frances Academy, IMG Academy, and a slew of other sports specialty schools.

https://www.maxpreps.com/nj/princeton/hun-raiders/football/schedule/

Based on this schedule, they are no longer playing MAPL schools like Blair, Hill, or Peddie. I couldn't find anything on Google about this, but this is reminiscent of St. Frances leaving (or being removed) by the MIAA in 2017-2018.

[Brady12]

With the new roster limits and resulting cuts what is transfer options for these kids? Can they transfer and play within the conference?

[lumbercat]

Any NCAA athlete can transfer at will in any division to any school and be eligible the next year.
Not sure if there are cutoffs in the actual timeline to complete the transition buts it's total free agency........These kids owe a debt of gratitude to Curt Flood.

[quicksilver]

The NESCAC does not impose any limits n transfers, either within or outside the conference. The only restriction is that there are deadlines for the submission of transfer applications and the payment of a deposit to hold a spot at the school for the upcoming semester but I suspect (but do not know) that those deadlines may sometimes be waived to pick up transfers who entered the portal late or are weighing multiple transfer possibilities.

[nescac1]

Williams has what seems like a nice group of early commitments in the first few weeks of 2026 recruiting, lots of size certainly.  The committed players (including other schools who offered, when they've posted that info):

Ryan Murray - 6'4 225 Edge, Fairfield Prep (Middlebury and Hamilton)
Walker Moore - 6'5 230 TE/DE, Bronxville (Middlebury and Amherst)
Jack Fabiano - 5'11 190 RB/LB, Masconomet
Flynn Collins - 6'4 315 OL/DL, Jesuit H.S. (Air Force and Middlebury)
Finn Ryan - 6'1 195 DB, St. Paul's (Wesleyan, Amherst, Middlebury, Colby and Bowdoin)
Evan Sood - 6'1 230 LB, Williston
Jack Kripke - 6'3 230 DE, Brentwood School
William Machnik - 5'10 180 CB/WR, Deerfield

[Brady12]

So 4 of those recruits chose Williams over Middlebury. So clearly both schools recruiting same "type" of student athlete. But none of them by Trinity or Tufts. Is there anything to read into that or is it just coincidence?

Williams has what seems like a nice group of early commitments in the first few weeks of 2026 recruiting, lots of size certainly.  The committed players (including other schools who offered, when they've posted that info):

Ryan Murray - 6'4 225 Edge, Fairfield Prep (Middlebury and Hamilton)
Walker Moore - 6'5 230 TE/DE, Bronxville (Middlebury and Amherst)
Jack Fabiano - 5'11 190 RB/LB, Masconomet
Flynn Collins - 6'4 315 OL/DL, Jesuit H.S. (Air Force and Middlebury)
Finn Ryan - 6'1 195 DB, St. Paul's (Wesleyan, Amherst, Middlebury, Colby and Bowdoin)
Evan Sood - 6'1 230 LB, Williston

[nescac1]

I feel like Trinity is operating in probably a 80 percent different pool than Williams/Amherst/Midd, which seem to have a huge amount of mutual overlap. It's rare that I've seen a recruit come down to Trinity or Williams, though it does occasionally happen. Tufts and Wesleyan seem sort of in the middle - a good amount of overlap, but also looking at other types of prospects. 

Colby, Hamilton and Bowdoin seem to look at a good number of the same recruits as W/A/M but rarely beat the three of them out for those common recruits. I think of lot of their top players must be coming from other pools. 

Bates, I'm not sure, but obviously they are seriously ramping up their talent.   

[SpringSt7]

Loved Aronson at Tufts. Was surprised the jumper never came around but always seemed like a gamer. Best of luck to him at Trin

[lumbercat]

Seeing changes at Amherst in terms of recruiting- they are killing it. 4 or 5 class of '30 high level coveted prospects have committed in the last week alone.
Looks like recent administrative and admissions turmoil has subsided or maybe Mills and staff just working harder. They are going full speed ahead with great results.

[Brady12]

Any update on Thomas Perry?  Is he still trying to make a team or different league? 

[lumbercat]

The ravens signed him following the rookie camp but those are one way deals- he's not on the Ravens preseason roster so they must have let him go. Maybe that's old news but it appears to be the case.
My guess is he might be able to hook up with the Spring League, Europe or maybe the CFL if he still wants to chase the dream.
If the Ravens did indeed let him go prior to preseason camp they would give him an assessment/advice on other venues he might pursue, and possibly, with an offer to bring him back next year if they thought he had some real undeveloped potential.....or they just might have sent him packing.
Rooting for the kid who by all accounts and all the scouting reports is a first class person and a great student. Wish him well.

[HansenRatings]

I put together a "Preseason Magazine" style preview for the NESCAC this season. It's easily the most balanced conference in the country, with 7/10 teams projected 0.500 or better, no team projected with fewer than 2 wins and no team projected with fewer than 2 losses.

(If you right-click and open in new tab, the image resolution will be much easier to read)