FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[quicksilver]

Three NESCACers receive all-American recognition:

Dylan Connors (Wesleyan) - 1st team (DB)
Angus Leary (Bowdoin) - 3d team (DL)
Owen Thornton (Middlebury) - 3d team (LS)

[pbenn97]

NESCAC football,
Thank you for an unforgettable 4 years playing in the conference. While the results were not what we hoped, it has been an unforgettable ride.

Kicking & Quitting - A Film by Parker Huynh Benningfield Bates #97
https://youtu.be/gEStb7TG7iI

[NESCACFball24/7]

Any news on offers that some of the NESCAC transfers have receivers this cycle?

[lumbercat]

Sergio Beltran was wooed by a few programs but will be staying at Bates as a WR.

[muleshoe]

Not sure how many of you stayed up past midnight last night to watch the Alamo bowl, but former Tufts player Jaden Richardson made an insane TD catch. Worth checking out:

[nescac1]

Wow.  That catch is truly insane.  It continues to be crazy that Tufts, with Berlutti throwing to Lutz and Richardson and Tyler Johnson as a lead back, and with two all-conference linemen, went only 6-3 in 2022.  That has to be right up there as the most talented NESCAC offensive team ever. 

[lumbercat]

I saw the Richardson catch also. As good a catch as you will ever see in college football. And it was nice to hear the play by play guy recognize Tufts despite a little sarcasm.

[Trin9-0]

Speaking of Leary, I saw his younger brother is headed to Bowdoin next year. 

Angus Leary had 8.5 sacks last year - playing for a system in which they sell out to try to get into the offensive backfield on nearly every play, which always inflates sack and TFL numbers (while also inflating yards and points allowed).

That's not remotely close to the NESCAC single-season record, and there are some legendary pass-rushers on the single-season sack leader list, in particular Ryan, Yamin, Walker, Mangini and Ferber, which has to be the starting point for any such list.  Yamin was a two-time NESCAC POTY on dominant Amherst defenses who really could not be stopped due to his quickness around the edge.  His last two seasons he combined for 24 sacks and 38.5 TFLs despite a huge amount of attention from opposing coaches. 

15.5 Kevin Ryan, Middlebury, 2006
13.5 Andrew Yamin, Amherst, 2017*
12 Ryan Aldrich, Colby, 1998
Bobby Walker, Williams, 1992
11.5 Eric Mangini, Wesleyan, 1992
11 Kevin Ferber, Amherst, 2011
Terence Ryan, Bates, 2006
Jim Zadronzy, Colby, 1994 

A few Bantams could be added to this single season sack leaders:
14 Rusty Williams, 1981
12 Mike McHugh, 1990
11.5 Scott Elsas, 1983
11.0 Brian Chisholm, 1990

And this doesn't include Trinity's two best pass rushers Jamie Creed (2000-'03) and Mike Blair (2002-'05) who amassed 24 and 23.5 sacks respectively in their careers. Also, Wesleyan's Nick Helbig recorded an amazing 21 sacks in just 26 career games played (2019-'22).

[nescac1]

Trin 9-0 I think I got those sack numbers from the NESCAC site, not sure why Bantams omitted, but maybe the stat-keeping only goes back t0 91 or 92 for some reason? 

Williams announced its captains for next year, and they include Michael Sheskey, a former starter who sat out this past year with an injury.  Although Ngnombouowo is a big loss, the Ephs should return the other four starters from this season, including senior Cam O'Brien who I believe is returning after missing one year due to injury, from a very strong OL unit.  And then will add Ethan Shames, another former starter who I believe was injured this year, Sheskey, and two huge rising juniors who saw some situational time this year, Patrick Sullivan and James Muller, plus a few incoming FYs who seem highly regarded, to the mix, so OL should have quality depth.   

While the Ephs will definitely have some question marks on defense, where defending the pass has been a major issue, the offense could be one of the most stacked units in recent Eph history.  Owen Johansen, another captain, obviously needs to stay healthy, but when healthy no one was able to stop him last year and now he has the benefit of experience.  There is at least some quality depth behind him with Drew Renzella and Mustafa Mozawalla returning as experienced options after playing solid football when forced into action, but Johansen is possibly the best returning overall athlete in NESCAC and brings a different level of dynamism. 

The Ephs should have a ton of weapons for Johansen to throw to, led by Zach Falls, who was unstoppable last year and whose illness-related absence really hurt in the Amherst game, and Jimmy Montesano, another huge target who fell victim to the Ephs' injury plague, but who was almost impossible to cover around the goal line.  Brady Stahelski I assume returns from a season-long injury, giving the Ephs three massive targets down the field.  Henry Machnik really came on after switching positions from QB to WR mid-season, I assume he will have a bigger role next year as a slot receiver.  Holden Gehring remains a wild card if the Ephs want to use him at WR, but I assume next year they play it safer, at least until very late in the year, as he is far more valuable at this point on the defensive side of the ball.  For the first time in seemingly forever, the Ephs will have a sizable array of big-time targets in the passing game.

The only real question on the offensive side of the ball is at tailback and H-back.  Jon Oris is a huge loss and I imagine will be replaced by a committee approach, let by Matt Bott who did have a very impressive sophomore year and brings some speed to the position.  Riley O'Connell is another all-conference player loss and was a powerhouse lead-blocker who will be difficult to replace.  The Ephs could spread it out more with so many receiving options, but they generally like playing an H-back, and typically move a high-level, versatile athlete to that position.  A huge wild-card is Owen McHugh, another elite overall athlete who will return from injury next year.  I assume he could be used at any number of positions, WR, TB, wildcat QB, returner, but he will certainly see time on the field.