FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Ephman573]

Angus Leary named to D3football.com's Preseason All-American 3rd team. He gets the only nomination from the NESCAC

[nescac1]

Interesting that Leary is the lone representative.  He's certainly a legitimately great player, but I've been on record before as saying some of Bowdoin's individual defenders get a bit more love (including in all-league rankings) that they otherwise would because of the hyper aggressive scheme they play, which leads to guys (including Leary) year after year wracking up huge stats in sacks and TFLs at the same time the defense is often getting chewed to dust by opponents. 

Surely we will start to see more NESCAC players in the all-American picture now that at least one NESCAC team per year can establish its level against non-league opponents, leading to more visibility for NESCAC players as a whole.  Some guys who I think COULD be in the all-American and certainly in the all-region picture by the end of the season, at least guys with that sort of talent, if they stay healthy and keep improving as players:

QBs: Matt Fitzpatrick, Wesleyan and Owen Johansen, Williams
RBs: Ryan Lynskey, Bates and Connor McClellan, Middlebury
WRs: Zach Falls, Williams, Nolan O'Brien, Trinity, Jack Nye, Colby and Donte Kelly, Wesleyan (with O'Brien coming back a loaded position this year)
TE: Jimmy Montesano, Williams
OL: Miles Roberts, Amherst (maybe a few others but doesn't seem like a loaded position right now)

DL: Leary and Ben Yedid, Williams
LB: Ryan Rozich, Bates and Austin Baker, Wesleyan
DB: Ameer White, Colby
RS: Nolan O'Brien, Trinity and Keller Rogers, Tufts

Trinity will have a few others on the defensive side of the ball but they are very balanced there so hard to pick out one in particular. 

[Patrick Coleman]

We've never had a Bowdoin defensive player on our All-America team, so I don't think they're getting too much love from us.

[BrownBagBowdoin]

I've been on record before as saying some of Bowdoin's individual defenders get a bit more love (including in all-league rankings) that they otherwise would because of the hyper aggressive scheme they play, which leads to guys (including Leary) year after year wracking up huge stats in sacks and TFLs at the same time the defense is often getting chewed to dust by opponents. 

Happy Friday—- Here's my rant for the day:

I'll acknowledge my bias as a Bowdoin supporter, but some of the takes on this board about Bowdoin's pass rushers feel like they're based on a preconceived notion rather than the actual film.

The idea that Angus' production is simply a product of an "hyper-aggressive scheme" is hard to buy when he gets full slides, RB/TE chips, and double teams on a regular basis and still consistently wrecks games. Go watch his career sacks. An overwhelming majority come from four-man pressures where he simply beats the protection.

And the idea that Bowdoin pass rushers only rush the passer is just false. Leary, Price, and Ortiz before him all have run responsibilities and pass drops. They're defensive players within a scheme, not designated pass-rush specialists.

Also, since when did we start judging individual defensive players by team success? Would we have denied Myles Garrett DPOY because the Browns were bad? Individual performance is individual performance.

I think the curmudgeons on this board need to check their egos a little. Some of this is starting to feel less like analysis and more like cope.

[nescac1]

I mean I've watched Bowdoin play.  Every year they have like 4-5 guys who are among the league leaders in TFLs and sacks. Every year Bowdoin supporters hype up some Bowdoin defensive player as the second coming / POTY. And every year there are multiple games where a tailback puts up like 260 yards on 15 carries against Bowdoin's array of near-NFL level front seven players. 

I'm not saying these top Bowdoin guys aren't very good players.  I'm just saying that every Bowdoin star defender is anointed here as an all-timer based on highlight reel plays in the offensive backfield that are enabled in part by a hyper aggressive scheme that most years ends with Bowdoin getting chewed up in total yardage rankings.   And I think the top pass rushers on most NESCAC teams (who of course also get loads of attention from opposing coaches) would put up massive stats in the Bowdoin system, too.   

[lumbercat]

Bowdoin is always undersized and they deploy a gambling defensive scheme based on quickness. Their DC McAlister is a former Bates all conference player who has really grown in that job. There have never been any bull rushers on that D. They guess a lot..... but McAlister has structured a very good defensive scheme in that program.
But let me say specifically that Koy Price was easily as good as any D player in the league including the ultra all conference guys at media factory Wesleyan and hype center Trinity. And let's add N1s flawless purple to the group----if Price was with any of those programs he would be viewed much differently and elevated to a much higher level. Price was one of the premier defensive talents in the conference for at least 2 years.
So, yes, some players from other schools might have achieved some comparable Defensive statistical success in the Bowdoin scheme but I say if Price was at Trin, Wes, Williams he would blow conference D stats away. Leary will continue to excel at Bowdoin but he also might  perform even better with a stronger program.

[Trin9-0]

The Bill Connelly 2026 SP+ ratings with data will be released later this week but he did share a listing of every college football program in America. Here's his preseason ranking of the NESCAC among D3 programs:

35. Trinity
58. Wesleyan
92. Williams
100. Middlebury
123. Tufts
137. Amherst
149. Colby
192. Bates
195. Bowdoin
202. Hamilton

[Trin9-0]

Updated list of known Trinity Class of '31 commitments and offers (other known offers included):

Commitments:
Luke Benato, DT, Choate, Wallingford, CT
Max Brown, LB, Wachusett, Holden, MA (Bates)
Aidan Cassidy, WR, Iona Prep, New Rochelle, NY (Colby)
Samson Davis, RB, St. Paul School, Concord, NH (Bates, Endicott, St. Anslem)
Jack Donnelly, QB, John Burroughs School, St. Louis, MO (Illinois College, McPherson, Simpson, Westminster)
Luke Gialanella, RB, Pope John XXIII, Sparta Township, NJ
Jack Guinipero, ATH, Pomperaug, Southbury, CT
Thomas Hall, WR, Noble and Greenough School, Dedham, MA (Bates)
Ajani Kromah, WR, Belmont Hill, Belmont, MA
Tucker Larson, DB, Choate, Wallingford, CT (Colby, West Point, Colgate)

Offers:
Maxwell Blake, OL, Dennis-Yarmouth, Yarmouth, MA (Middlebury, Wesleyan, RPI, Rochester, Union)
Eric Camacho, LB, Iona Prep, New Rochelle, NY
John Breton, DE, Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale, IL
Thomas Esposito, OL, Bergen Catholic, Oradell, NJ
Logan Evans, ATH, Haverford School, Haverford, PA (Colby, Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Ithaca, Union)
Jarrett Hercules, DL, Seton Hall Prep, West Orange, NJ
Jacob Macarz, RB, Cheshire Academy, Cheshire, CT (Amherst, Colby, Tufts, Bentley)
Alex Menard, OLB, Choate, Wallingford, CT (Colby, Middlebury, Wesleyan, UChicago)
Yemi Onamade, OLB, St. John's Prep, Danvers, MA (Colby, Oberlin)
Willie Reeves, OLB, Iona Prep, New Rochelle, NY
Will Tassmer, OL/DL, Arlington, Arlington, MA (Bates, Endicott, Dickinson)
Ayden Watkins, CB, BC High, Boston, MA (Bates, RPI)
Jacob Webster, OL, Gilman, Baltimore, MD (Middlebury, Tufts, Gettysburg, Carnegie Mellon, RPI)

[TheJeff]

Hi all! Long time reader, first time poster looking to increase Amherst representation on this forum. Amherst looks poised for another year of improvement with a lot of returners on offense and you can always rely on Bussard and Mills' having a good defense. Other big news I heard is that former Co-DPOY, Kemit Fisher, is back to help out with the D-Line this year.

[Patrick Coleman]

Welcome, TheJeff!

[lumbercat]

Colby bringing in a high rated transfer QB from Trinity University (Tx.). Stephen Gill 6'1" 200.  2 years of eligibility.

[Trin9-0]

Happy reporting day in the NESCAC!

I came across an interview that Devanney had done a few months ago. It's long but there's a TON of great insight into a variety of topics including recruiting philosophy, transfer portal, the major advantages of staff continuity, upcoming impact of in-game technology (tablets, helmet-to-helmet communication, even instant replay). He also gives his opinions on the likelihood of an eventual addition of an out of conference game (the answer may surprise you).

He talks about the loss at Wesleyan, the (for once) legitimate parity in the NESCAC and the reasons for it, and his expectations for Trinity this season. Definitely worth a watch.

There are also interviews with Cosgrove and Hammer on the page.

[nescac1]

Some thoughts on the updated Williams roster, which now has 75 guys on it and appears close to final (but for positions and weights, which may or may not be updated to be more accurate based on past practices):

https://ephsports.williams.edu/sports/football/roster?sort=class

On the plus side, the offense looks absolutely stacked.  The Ephs have tremendous depth and talent at the skill positions.  Owen Johansen was elite before getting hurt last year and Owen McHugh (who I imagine is too good an athlete not to see the field somewhere) and Drew Renzella are very experienced back-ups who should be able to fill in in a pinch, but keeping Johansen healthy is critical and as much of a running threat as he is, he probably has to be used more judiciously on the ground until the Little 3 games to keep him upright. 

Matt Bott was a breakaway threat as a sophomore and will I imagine need to be more of a work-horse TB this year  The Ephs have three talented FY TBs on the roster, at least one of whom I expect to be in the mix right away, plus a capable physical back in Jon Marvan who could get some tough yards inside or potentially play as a FB.  Jimmy Montesanno was the best tight end in NESCAC before getting injured last year and is basically unstoppable one-on-one in the red zone.  The Ephs' top receiving threats could all be 6'4 or bigger with big-play threat Brady Stahelski returning from injury to play alongside Montesano and Zach Falls, an elite athlete who could not be guarded down the field last year and still has plenty of upside.  Stahelski will see a lot of single coverage so hopefully he is 100 percent.  Henry Machnik played really well after converting to WR mid-season last year and I expect will be a big threat as a slot receiver this year with Falls surely generating most of the defensive attention down the field.  The Ephs' offensive line is the deepest position on the squad, as it loses only one player from the unit and returns a few guys from injury - eight OL have had meaningful reps, all of them upperclassmen, including two fifth-year seniors who should lead the unit. As always it's a huge and physical unit built to grind teams down in the running game, but I would think with the unusual (for Williams) talent at WR the offense may be more balanced this year.   Really the biggest question mark on offense is who will play the H-back/FB role, which is a key position in the Eph ground attack.     

The Eph defense is a lot more concerning as there is strong high-end talent but massive depth questions.  Per the roster, there are, insanely, only TWO returning players listed as DL - both are all-conference players (Yedid and Gale) who absolutely have to stay healthy.  Really, it's three, as Will Baker made the switch from TE mid-season and made some big plays late in the year just based on sheer athletic ability; hopefully fully devoted to the position he can be a big contributor.  Behind them, though, who the heck knows.  The Ephs have two seniors listed as "student assistant coaches" so I assume both are out for the year with injuries or for some other reason, which is not ideal at such a thin position.  They also previously had one FY DL who is no longer listed on the roster and a sophomore DL who seems to have left the program, so that means they are down four linemen.  This is a position where a big group of FYs will need to be ready to make major contributions right away, and maybe an offensive lineman switches sides to help out. 

The back seven has some strong veterans in Moore, Mangini, Gehring, Cotton, Carroll, Kreakie and Acheson, I imagine most of those guys will end up starting.  Perhaps Mangini could move up to the DL where I think he could be a force and there may be more of a need.  Behind them are again a lot of question marks, the Ephs' rising soph DBs were forced into action due to injuries last year and did not fare well, hopefully that trial-by-far proves beneficial and a few are ready to make a leap as pass coverage especially late in games has been the Ephs' achilles heel for years now no matter who the personnel have been, the Ephs simply can't get burned down the field as often as they have the last two seasons.  Holden Gehring needs to play full-time at CB rather than moonlight at WR (where he'd really just be a luxury) this year as Williams cannot afford to lose him to injury, he's by far the key guy in the secondary. 

The other position to watch is K/P, where all-conference kicker Maiulo is the only punter or kicker listed on the roster.  Another guy who absolutely has to stay healthy as I imagine whoever is behind him is a position guy who handled some kicking in H.S.  The Ephs' rising soph K ended up transferring to Georgetown and while Williams has two capable K/P's already signed up for next year, they won't be around to help this fall! 

I think the Ephs will be fun to watch this year and I expect they will be in a lot of shoot-outs.   I know I mention health a lot but I'm a bit traumatized from last year after McHugh and Stahelski were lost before the season and then Johansen plus his top two back-ups went down, as well as Falls, Yedid, Gehring, and Montessano, among others, all missing critical games.    Hopefully they have better fortune or just do a better job protecting key guys. 

[Brady12]

Colby bringing in a high rated transfer QB from Trinity University (Tx.). Stephen Gill 6'1" 200.  2 years of eligibility.

Will be interesting to see how camp goes as I thought the Miller kid looked pretty good last year when they went to him. Good running the ball as well.

[Trin9-0]

Great analysis of the Ephs, nescac1. The offenses in the league could be terrifying this season as Williams does indeed look very strong.

Meanwhile, Wesleyan returns five All-NESCAC starters on offense, including OPY Matt Fitzsimons at QB and his top two targets, Blake Newcomb, and NESCAC Rookie of the Year Donte Kelly. The Cards also return their top rusher, Angelo LaRose.

Jaxon Carroll is back under center for Trinity, as are his top two targets in POY candidate Nolan O'Brien and Darison Hooper. Tate Hoffmeister and Jack Tosone will likely split carries in the Bantam backfield. Tufts returns their QB Hudson Weidman and their leading rusher, Christian Shapiro returns as do WRs Matt Rios and Keller Rogers. 

The league's leading rusher, Connor McClellan is also back for the Panthers as is 2-time All NESCAC RB, Ryan Lynskey for Bates. Colby's leading rusher, Antone Moreis is back along with All NESCAC WR and former league Rookie of the Year Jack Nye. Amherst similarly returns their QB, Mark Hill, their leading rusher, Demitrius Smith and All NESCAC WR Christian Moore is back as well.

Even Hamilton brings back an All-NESCAC passer and his top two receivers, Matthew Kearns and Jack Hoag.

Bowdoin returns almost all of their skill players. We'll see if that's a good thing since they were so abysmal on offense last year with just 11 total touchdowns and barely over 200 yards per game.