FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

Still taboo, and the NESCAC Presidents don't want to hear anyone complain about it until 2035.

[RedAndBlack]

Agree with all the excitement for '26 season.  One note on Bates, I think QB Sergio Beltran has completed his four years in Lewiston.

Young Sergio was injured in Week 3 (early in the game against Wes, btw). We believe he can apply for an injury exemption for the 2025 season from the NCAA and more than likely it will be granted. We fully expect him to be back guiding the Kittie flex option in 2026. 

Bates does not have a graduate school.... so if he comes back he will have to leave a few credits to have a class in the fall. NCAA allows eligibility with a non-fulltime schedule if you are completeing a degree, so it is possible. Or he may take spring semester off?

[nescac1]

Typically, NESCAC players who decide to play a fifth year due to extra (typically injury-related) eligibility will just take the Spring semester off -- this happens routinely.  Tufts, Wesleyan and Trinity do offer some graduate programs, but even there, those might not be the right fit for all players inclined to return. 

[maineman]

Agree with all the excitement for '26 season.  One note on Bates, I think QB Sergio Beltran has completed his four years in Lewiston.

Young Sergio was injured in Week 3 (early in the game against Wes, btw). We believe he can apply for an injury exemption for the 2025 season from the NCAA and more than likely it will be granted. We fully expect him to be back guiding the Kittie flex option in 2026. 

If Sergio can reclaim a year of eligibility, and he has already spent 4 years at Bates won't he likely graduate in the spring and be better off taking his 1 year at a school with graduate programs?  I suppose he could decide not enroll in January and save his last semester for next fall?

[lumbercat]

All of the options mentioned are in play but I don't believe Sergio has made a final decision yet.

[Nescacman]

All of the options mentioned are in play but I don't believe Sergio has made a final decision yet.

If Sergio decides to graduate and leave UBates, we expect Soph Connor Hennessey to have the inside track on the starting job at QB for the Kitties. Hennessey started game #9 for the Kitties and performed well in the loss to Hamilton.

This would mean UBates would join Middlebury as the only NESCAC teams with a new signal caller in 2026.

[lumbercat]

If Beltran comes back it may be as an all conference WR, his former role. He was thrust into the QB position after Seneca Moore decided to transfer to USC.
If Hennessy continues to mature in Spring and Pre Season that might be the scenario.

[Nescacman]

If Beltran comes back it may be as an all conference WR, his former role. He was thrust into the QB position after Seneca Moore decided to transfer to USC.
If Hennessy continues to mature in Spring and Pre Season that might be the scenario.

We could see that. Makes sense to us. A key to an improved Kitties squad in 2026 will start with improved play at the QB position, regardless who the starter is.  Of course, having a healthy Ryan Lynskey back won't hurt either.

[Charlie]

In terms of the transfer portal are the players that have entered going to finish school. I would think if they would want an opportunity to play on another level they would have to leave at the end of Winter break to get to these schools to participate in Spring ball to have any chance at playing which would mean missing graduation. Only alternative would be if they take a red shirt year at a higher level school. I think the D2 and D1 levels put a great deal of emphasis on spring ball.

[NESCACFball24/7]

In terms of the transfer portal are the players that have entered going to finish school. I would think if they would want an opportunity to play on another level they would have to leave at the end of Winter break to get to these schools to participate in Spring ball to have any chance at playing which would mean missing graduation. Only alternative would be if they take a red shirt year at a higher level school. I think the D2 and D1 levels put a great deal of emphasis on spring ball.

The ones who Leah after th first semester of their senior year have normally finished their coursework early either through heavy course loads or summer classes. Others leave after the spring. Very much an individual decision for kids and her families but yes leavin in time for spring bal generally for them more opportunities in the portal.

[nescac1]

Updated list of Williams 2026 commits, including other offers they announced (where applicable) via social media.  Given that Williams typically brings in between 19-24 players, I suspect there will be a few more names added, but not very many.   

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
Danny Montesano - 6'4 240 TE/LB, Saint Joseph (Middlebury)
Benjamin Quinn - 6'3 250 DE/OL, Randolph H.S. (Trinity and Hamilton)
Michael Ballan, 5'10 WR/CB, Ramapo H.S. (Bates)
Joe Capasso, 5'11 185 QB, Notre Dame H.S.
Ryan Brooks, 6'2 210 LB/TE, New Canaan (Marist, Amherst, Wesleyan, Tufts, Middlebury, Colby, Bowdoin, and W&L)
Steele Haubner, 6'1 260 C/OG, St. Joseph H.S. (Amherst, UChicago)
Jake Falls, 6'2 205 ATH, Duxbury (Rochester)
Dante DaCosta, 6'3 190 WR/DB, Pascack Valley (Bates, Colby, F&M)
James Deyermond, 6'4 235 TE, Eldred (Cortland, Gettysburg, Alfred)

The class is very heavy on TE/H-back/DE types.  Falls, Machnik, and Montesano all will have brothers on the team for the next few years ... hopefully they will get at least one more TB as that is a very thin position on the roster heading into next season (although perhaps one that will benefit from some position switches).