Aside from Tufts and their 8 reported commits that Scoops shared; here are the rest of the announced number of football commits from around the NESCAC. Shout-out to nescac1 for the Williams info.

31 - Wesleyan
29 - Trinity
25 - Bates
22 - Middlebury
21 - Bowdoin
19 - Hamilton
19 - Williams
18 - Amherst
18 - Colby

Quote from: Trin9-0 on June 04, 2024, 09:58:27 AMAside from Tufts and their 8 reported commits that Scoops shared; here are the rest of the announced number of football commits from around the NESCAC. Shout-out to nescac1 for the Williams info.

31 - Wesleyan
29 - Trinity
25 - Bates
22 - Middlebury
21 - Bowdoin
19 - Hamilton
19 - Williams
18 - Amherst
18 - Colby

Tufts posted 21 incoming freshman the other day

Quote from: nescac1 on May 12, 2024, 04:50:34 PMSpeaking of Amherst seems like a VERY small recruiting class they posted - only 17 guys.  Two guys who were at one point committed seem to have had a change of heart, including Brady Jung, who appears to be joining former HS teammate Jaden Richardson at USC (presumably as a walk-on), and a DB who switched to W&L.  Only one QB and one DB listed. 

I've only seen 18 recruits for Williams as well so far, but the Ephs don't post recruits on social media and I assume there are likely a few more. Still, on average Williams and Amherst are simply not able to bring in these massive classes like Trinity, Wesleyan and some others do which is of course a huge disadvantage.  I wonder if admissions gives a bit more slack next year as at least Williams is losing a large (and hugely impactful) class with a slew of fifth year guys.   

Yes, the NESCAC is a strange league, in terms of some school Admins supporting FB more than others.

Trinity really does do a great job in supporting their FB Program.  Props to all involved in that.

Rumor ...

... I'm certainly in no position to know if true ...

... but an Amherst FB parent told me that some FB and other sport boosters told the Admin they wanted to raise the money for a dedicated athlete's weight room, akin to Trinity's and it was rejected.

So IF Amherst is more concerned about "dividing the students" between athletes and nonathletes, to the point they will turn down money to build something that ultimately makes student life BETTER for the nonathletes ...

... I'm sure bringing in larger classes and lowering academic requirements for FB players is WAY BEYOND possibility at this time.

State of NESCAC FB

Does anyone disagree with the NESCAC being summed up in to 3 tiers at this time:

Contenders
Trinity, Middlebury, Tufts & Wesleyan

Fighting for a winning record
Williams, Bowdoin & Amherst

Fighting to not be last
Colby, Hamilton & Bates

Trinity obviously the perennial favorite

I would not put Tufts in this Contender category.

They are like Wesleyan could have should have but they didn't category. Good record but not a contender. If it was not for Berluti then they would be a mediocre team at best. At least I can give somewhat props to Wesleyan they always year after year beat a team they shouldn't but then lose a strange game to a team they should beat. But they manage to stay relevant every year.

Curious to see direction of Tufts program after QB Berluti graduates.

Quote from: Charlie on June 06, 2024, 12:52:21 PMI would not put Tufts in this Contender category.

They are like Wesleyan could have should have but they didn't category. Good record but not a contender. If it was not for Berluti then they would be a mediocre team at best. At least I can give somewhat props to Wesleyan they always year after year beat a team they shouldn't but then lose a strange game to a team they should beat. But they manage to stay relevant every year.

Curious to see direction of Tufts program after QB Berluti graduates.

So you'd put them in the "fighting for a winning record" category for '24...??  Not sure what Vegas has the odds at, but if we're betting; I'll take the over .500 

Quote from: Charlie on June 06, 2024, 12:52:21 PMI would not put Tufts in this Contender category.

They are like Wesleyan could have should have but they didn't category. Good record but not a contender. If it was not for Berluti then they would be a mediocre team at best. At least I can give somewhat props to Wesleyan they always year after year beat a team they shouldn't but then lose a strange game to a team they should beat. But they manage to stay relevant every year.

Curious to see direction of Tufts program after QB Berluti graduates.

Chaz good to see you're back with your high level football acumen. Jumbos beat the Cards like a rented mule last year. Did Wesleyan pick up some freshman studs that are going to actually contribute? Please.

the race is between Trinity, Tufts and Midd...period.

HAMILTON

Quote from: BigKat on June 07, 2024, 08:14:45 AM

Quote from: Charlie on June 06, 2024, 12:52:21 PMI would not put Tufts in this Contender category.

They are like Wesleyan could have should have but they didn't category. Good record but not a contender. If it was not for Berluti then they would be a mediocre team at best. At least I can give somewhat props to Wesleyan they always year after year beat a team they shouldn't but then lose a strange game to a team they should beat. But they manage to stay relevant every year.

Curious to see direction of Tufts program after QB Berluti graduates.

Chaz good to see you're back with your high level football acumen. Jumbos beat the Cards like a rented mule last year. Did Wesleyan pick up some freshman studs that are going to actually contribute? Please.

the race is between Trinity, Tufts and Midd...period.

FORECAST 2024 (best case to worst case)
Trinity (9-0 to 6-3)
Middlebury (9-0 to 5-4)
Tufts (8-1 to 5-4)
Wesleyan (8-1 to 5-4)
Williams (7-2 to 4-5)
Bowdoin (6-3 to 3-6)
Amherst (6-3 to 3-6)
Colby (6-3 to 2-7)
Hamilton (5-4 to 2-7)
Bates (4-5 to 0-9)

Can we stop acting like upsets don't happen every single year? Tufts lost to Hamilton, yes... Hamilton does play football and try to win. The disrespect to Hamilton and Coach Murray, as well as Tufts is kinda lame. Almost as lame as Trinity celebrating their "championship" this off-season.

Quote from: The Mole on June 07, 2024, 08:43:44 AMHAMILTON

Quote from: BigKat on June 07, 2024, 08:14:45 AM

Quote from: Charlie on June 06, 2024, 12:52:21 PMI would not put Tufts in this Contender category.

They are like Wesleyan could have should have but they didn't category. Good record but not a contender. If it was not for Berluti then they would be a mediocre team at best. At least I can give somewhat props to Wesleyan they always year after year beat a team they shouldn't but then lose a strange game to a team they should beat. But they manage to stay relevant every year.

Curious to see direction of Tufts program after QB Berluti graduates.

Chaz good to see you're back with your high level football acumen. Jumbos beat the Cards like a rented mule last year. Did Wesleyan pick up some freshman studs that are going to actually contribute? Please.

the race is between Trinity, Tufts and Midd...period.

Quote from: Charlie on June 06, 2024, 12:52:21 PMI would not put Tufts in this Contender category.

They are like Wesleyan could have should have but they didn't category. Good record but not a contender. If it was not for Berluti then they would be a mediocre team at best. At least I can give somewhat props to Wesleyan they always year after year beat a team they shouldn't but then lose a strange game to a team they should beat. But they manage to stay relevant every year.

Curious to see direction of Tufts program after QB Berluti graduates.

I'm more interested in how berluti does now that he doesn't have arguably two of the best receivers in d3 the last year and possible two of the more talented guys who have ever come through the nescac. This year is going to make it very clear what type of player he really is.

This is a very interesting point. I think it will be pretty clear that Richardson/Lutz made Berluti, not the other way around. For all the praise he gets, he's been surrounded by arguably some of the best talent to ever come through the NESCAC. From a top tier OL including all-American guard Cepalia, to the obvious receiver talent in Richardson/Lutz/Moore, and two elite RBs in Johnson/Reece, Berluti has always been one of the more overrated talents in the league. He's certainly good, and one of the better QBs in the league. There's no debating that. But I've always thought he got more credit than he deserved. Now with the lack of known talent around him, it will be interesting to see if/how he steps it up. I think it can be argued pretty easily that he was the reason that Tufts lost in each of their three defeats last season. Very much a make or break year for him.

Quote from: NESCACFball24/7 on June 07, 2024, 03:12:38 PM

Quote from: Charlie on June 06, 2024, 12:52:21 PMI would not put Tufts in this Contender category.

They are like Wesleyan could have should have but they didn't category. Good record but not a contender. If it was not for Berluti then they would be a mediocre team at best. At least I can give somewhat props to Wesleyan they always year after year beat a team they shouldn't but then lose a strange game to a team they should beat. But they manage to stay relevant every year.

Curious to see direction of Tufts program after QB Berluti graduates.

I'm more interested in how berluti does now that he doesn't have arguably two of the best receivers in d3 the last year and possible two of the more talented guys who have ever come through the nescac. This year is going to make it very clear what type of player he really is.

Scoops isn't Cade-Moore returning for Tufts this fall at WR? I think Berluti will have a better year than any non-Tufts fan would like to see.  He is hands down the best running QB in the CAC and clearly one of the top 3 passing QBs which equals the best returning QB.  Great RB for Tufts coming back plus great WR will likely result in a very potent offense.  OL is the big ? in my mind.  I view their running game as a finesse game more than a power game - more angles and misdirection than power ball.  With that in mind, I think the loss of some very good OL will not slow them down very much this year, unfortunately.

Quote from: GroundandPound on June 07, 2024, 04:26:25 PMScoops isn't Cade-Moore returning for Tufts this fall at WR? I think Berluti will have a better year than any non-Tufts fan would like to see.  He is hands down the best running QB in the CAC and clearly one of the top 3 passing QBs which equals the best returning QB.  Great RB for Tufts coming back plus great WR will likely result in a very potent offense.  OL is the big ? in my mind.  I view their running game as a finesse game more than a power game - more angles and misdirection than power ball.  With that in mind, I think the loss of some very good OL will not slow them down very much this year, unfortunately.

I don't think anybody doubts Moores ability at all. With that being said hes averaged 12 yards a catch over his career while Lutz averaged 15 and richardson averaged 17. Richardson and Moore actually only had a 5 catch difference this year but richardson had 8 more touchdowns and 300+ more yards. Moore is more of an intermediate receiver and is very good at that but by no means is the burner that richardson or lutz were. They just have very different skill sets so expecting the same type of production from Moore as lutz or richardson is somewhat unrealistic unless the jumbos completely try to change how they use him.

On a different note as I am writing this I am really confused how an offense that had those three, Jackson butler and Billy dunn at receiver along with Johnson and Reece in the backfield with Berluti was not more succesful in '22. That has to be an all time civetti blunder to have one of the best combinations of talent the league has probably ever seen on the offensive side along with a veryyy good oline only win 6 games. 

A lot of discussion here on Tufts and their outlook for the upcoming year.

First, some history. Civetti is the most dynamic recruiter in the NESCAC. He's got a great situation for incoming recruits at Tufts to sell to any kid across the United States and he is doing just that.........come play football 5 miles from Fenway Park and TD Garden. 7 minutes on the train to downtown Boston.  Not to mention all the cultural and life experiences in the Boston suburbs. He has recruited extremely well and by all reports he's got another great class this year.

In recent years Coach Civs has always has a loaded roster in terms of overall talent but the Jumbos have underachieved on game day. Coach C was not a good OC but he recognized that. In 2022 he stepped down and handed the reigns to ex Cardinal Frankie Hauser. Kudos to Civs for stepping aside but Hauser also underachieved, maybe worse than Civs, with his poor management of the talent laden Tufts offense in the 2022 season.

So in 2023 Civs elevated Mike MacDonald to CO-Offensive Coordinator along with Cardinal Frank......and the talented offense underachieved again.

As of this date for the 2024 season it looks like Hauser has been demoted to QB coach as he finally sees the light at the end of tunnel and the end of his NESCAC coaching career.