FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Crawford]

Wabash posted 56 1st year guys.  Does anyone have any insights to any of them? 

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Wabash posted 56 1st year guys.  Does anyone have any insights to any of them?

Zeph Johnson - DL - Land O Lakes FL

I coached Zeph his Senior year in HS.  He played DL and OL for us.  Projects as an interior DL in college.  He was a captain for us, 1st Team All Conference, County All Star Game and also wrestled and competed on our weightlifting team.

Zeph is a tireless worker and great kid on and off the field.

[sigma one]

(Almost) all the 56 players have a page on Hudl and/or Maxpreps.  Quite a few have video highlights.  I've looked at most of them; and, although, they don't present a full picture with h.s. honors such as all-conference, all-state, etc., they present an adequate profile.                  Almost half of the recruits are OL and DL (around 25 total), and, probably not a surprise, no QBs.

[Crawford]

Thanks Sigma One, I'll check those videos out. 

[Brian]

Since players are slated to report to camp in less than a month and the College Football Preview publications are in full swing, here is a capsule preview on the 2022 Wittenberg Tigers.  Best of luck to all of the NCAC squads this season!

With a change at the top, there are several pre-season unknowns for Wittenberg Football heading into the 2022 campaign.  Upon the departure of legendary Head Coach Joe Fincham following a stellar 26-year career at the helm, the Tigers have turned to alumnus and head coaching veteran Jim Collins to lead the program into its next era. Despite having just one holdover from last year's staff, Coach Collins will have a solid arsenal of returning on-field talent with which to work.

Wittenberg returns nine starters on offense and seven on the defensive side of the ball from a squad that finished 7-3 (7-2) and tied for second place in the NCAC behind conference champion DePauw.  The Tigers started the '21 season dropping the opener to Cortland 38-16 (yielding two scores to the Red Dragon defense and coughing-up a muffed punt inside their own red zone) and failing to hold two fourth quarter leads in losing two of the next four games (21-16 to Denison and 17-14 to DePauw), to find themselves at a crossroads with a 2-3 mark at the midway point.  But Wittenberg found its stride in the back end of the season, winning its final five games behind a balanced offense and opportunistic defense, cementing a memorable finish for Fincham and laying a strong foundation for Collins' inaugural effort with the Tigers in 2022.

OFFENSE
Key Losses: Sam Kayser (WR), Hunter Shelley (OL) Rodney Van Cleaf (TE), Bobby Froelich (QB)
Returning Starters (9): Collin Brown (QB), Bryce Anderson (RB), Garrett Gross (RB), Jake Saus (WR), Gene Nobles (WR), Mark Pratt (OL), Angel Bravo (OL), Kacey Prospere (OL), Jeramiah Mensah (OL)
Key Returnees: Reed Hall (RB), Drew Sterett (WR), Isaac Grilliot (TE), Troy Teepe (TE), Wyatt Osterhage (OL), Max Milton (QB), Mario Getaw (RB)

Brown (Mason, OH), who missed all or part of four games in '21 due to injury, completed 64 of 108 passes for 1385 yards and 14 touchdowns. Anderson (Indianapolis/Lawrence Central) earned Honorable Mention All-NCAC accolades after gaining 594 yards on 147 carries with seven scores.  Gross (Bellefontaine, OH) toted the ball just 72 times, but averaged 7.9 yards/carry, accounting for 569 yards and four touchdowns.  Saus (Akron, OH/Archbishop Hoban) led the team in receptions (40), yards (749) avg/catch (18.7) and scoring (9 TD).  Nobles (Tavares, FL/Boone) wasn't far behind, accounting for 36 grabs, 545 yards and two touchdowns. The offensive line proved to be the team's most improved unit in the second half of '21 and was a catalyst for the strong finish, leading the way for a 234 rushing yards/game in the final five games (the Tigers eked out just 90 yds/game in first five).  Pratt (Hamilton, OH), Mensah (Lehigh Acres, FL/East Lee), Bravo (Orland, CA), and HM All-NCAC lineman Prospere (Miami, Norland) are the returning regulars, and Osterhage (Dayton, OH/Centerville) saw significant action.

DEFENSE
Key Losses: Jordan Burkey (DB), Michael Fiessinger (DB), Rashon Edwards (DB), Logan Jewsikow (LB), Kam Caudle (DL), Julio Novarini (LB)
Returning Starters (7): Conner Walls (DE), Mike Knock (DL), Matt Render (DE), Grant Hollinger (DL), Cameron Snurr (LB), Tony Calovini (LB), Anthony Pedro (DB)
Key Returnees: Levi Morrison (DL), Dev Culliver (LB), Christian Sweet (DB), Max Yost (DB), Nate Snyder (DL), Nick Wadsworth (DL), Dane Flatter (LB), Jamal Carter (DB), Jourdan Stipe (DB)

Wittenberg's defense will feature a few new faces, most significantly on the back end, as three starters in the secondary depart. Safety Pedro (Massillon, OH/Washington) (52 tackles/1 INT) is the lone holdover from a group that accounted for 12 turnovers and 179 stops and produced three All-Conference performers in '21.  Sweet (Hilliard, OH/Davidson) and Carter (Port Charlotte, FL/Charlotte) saw action at safety and corner, respectively, last season and are among the many candidates to replace Burkey, Fiessinger and Edwards.  Second Team All-NCAC linebacker Snurr (Springboro, OH) was the squad's leader in tackles (73) in '21.  He is joined in the linebacking corps by fellow returning starter Calovini (Etna, OH/Watkins Memorial) who accounted for 32 stops. The defensive line is the outfit's deepest unit, with seven players back who either started or saw action in at least nine games in '21.  Walls (Centerville, OH), an HM All-NCAC end who registered 51 tackles and 7.5 sacks last season, returns with fellow bookend Render (Miami/Norland) who accounted for 31 stops and 5.5 sacks.  All-NCAC tackle Knock (Springboro, OH) was a top performer last season, notching 54 tackles and 6.5 sacks from the middle of the line.  Returning defensive linemen Hollinger (Hilliard, OH/Darby), Morrison (Enon, OH/Greenon), Snyder (Springfield, OH/Northwestern) and Wadsworth (Mason, OH) combined for 52 tackles and four sacks.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Key Losses: Julio Novarini (P), Sam Kayser (PR/KR)
Returning Starters (2): Brandon Goodwin (PK), Reed Hall (KR)
Key Returnees: Nathan Hawks (PK), Tyler May (PR), Nick Bowman (K/P)

Goodwin (Englewood, OH/Northmont) returns after connecting on six of seven field goal attempts in '21, including a game-winner in the closing seconds at Ohio Wesleyan, and 34 of 36 extra points.  Hall (Westerville, OH/New Albany) averaged 34 yds/return last season and took one kickoff 88-yards for a touchdown. 

The Tigers will play their first three games on the road, starting with a non-conference trip to Cortland, NY to take on the Red Dragons on 9/3.  NCAC road contests against Kenyon (9/17) and Hiram (9/24) follow before the Tigers open home play at Edwards-Maurer Field on 10/1, hosting Wabash.  A trip to face reigning conference champ DePauw on 10/8 is followed by home contests against Oberlin (10/15) and Denison (10/22).  Wooster is the final road trip of the regular season on 10/29, as Wittenberg faces Ohio Wesleyan (11/5) and non-conference foe Hilbert (11/12) at home to round-out the 10-game slate.

[Shamrock]

Thirty-three days to opening day for the Little Giants!

[Dr. Acula]

I was looking at the preseason top 25 and it dawned on me that I didn't see Wabash or Witt receiving a vote.  When was the last time that happened?  My hunch is the final poll is not the same case.

[sigma one]

The NCAC should be pretty balanced this year--maybe more than anytime in recent memory.   To pick up on the last post, Wabash and Wittenberg were both 7-3 in 2021.  Wit has a new coach.  The Wabash secondary must improve if they are to challenge for the title.  Based on last year, DPU is likely going to be the favorite, but they lose their entire defensive backfield and some other productive seniors.  OWU (8-2 a year ago)  should still be strong.  Denison always does well under Coach Hatem. Wooster has a strong core returning, but they always seem to hiccup somewhere along the line . .  .still? That leaves Kenyon, Oberlin, and Hiram.  The Lords should be the best of the rest, with the potential to (perhaps?) surprise someone.
     The NCAC coaches' poll has not yet appeared.  Their views will give us a hint, at least, whom they gauge as the top teams.  This is a year when "upsets" (if that is what they should be called) will help determine the outcome more than in previous years.
     Wabash probably has the toughest OOC schedule with Hampden-Sydney and North Central.  When Allegheny departed for the PAC all  teams were left with an empty spot, which they filled with whomever they could.  Four teams picked up Hilbert--a first year program.  DePauw found Anderson, adding the Ravens to  Rose-Hulman.  They defeated the engineers in the first round of the playoffs last year, so they are playing back to back.  Wit opens with Cortland, who defeated them soundly last year.  OWU has Otterbein and Illinois Wesleyan; both could challenge the Scots.  In addition to Hilbert, Denison will play Capital.  Wooster opens with Geneva (and later gets Hilbert).
     There's no sense in trying to gauge the remainder of the season on OOC games, but they will give some indication of relative strength, I think.
     Time for others to chime in as camps open next week.   

[Crawford]

I was looking at the preseason top 25 and it dawned on me that I didn't see Wabash or Witt receiving a vote.  When was the last time that happened?  My hunch is the final poll is not the same case.

Dr Acula, the final poll in 2019, not a single NCAC team got a vote.  Wabash represented the conference in the tournament, ended the season 7-4.

[DePauwalum05]

Heads up.  Kenyon's "moniker" is now the "owls," which beat out Oaks, Rook, and Thrill.  So long, Lords and Ladies.

https://www.kenyon.edu/kenyons-athletics-monikers/

[Brian]

Pre-Season NCAC Coaches Poll has been released

https://www.northcoast.org/sports/fball/2022-23/releases/PreseasonPoll

1. Depauw (3)
2. Wabash (4)
3. Wittenberg (1)
4. Ohio Wesleyan
5. Denison (1)
6. Wooster
7. Kenyon
8. Oberlin
9. Hiram

[wabashcpa]

Pre-Season NCAC Coaches Poll has been released

https://www.northcoast.org/sports/fball/2022-23/releases/PreseasonPoll

1. Depauw (3)
2. Wabash (4)
3. Wittenberg (1)
4. Ohio Wesleyan
5. Denison (1)
6. Wooster
7. Kenyon
8. Oberlin
9. Hiram

I was looking at this and looking at this and thinking, shouldn't there be 10 teams?  After minimal digging, I forgot Allegheny moved conferences.  Anyway, if this poll holds up, it will make for a mighty interesting Bell game.

[sigma one]

In addition to the first place picks in parentheses, the North Coast Athletic Conference page, adds up the total points each team received.
          DePauw (3)           72
          Wabash (4)           70
          Wittenberg (1)      58
          Ohio Wesleyan      56
          Denison (1)          55
          Wooster               38
          Kenyon                23
          Oberlin                19
          Hiram                  13 

This breaks down pretty nicely into three tiers, with Wooster as an in between.  Frankly, I  am surprised that Wooster is so low.  I checked their website the other day and noticed that Hissong is returning at TE for a fifth year (potential All-American, and last year's first-team All Conference), as is Renteria at QB for his fifth year.  He averaged over 300 yds a game passing a year ago with 29TDs.  With these returners, I have them closer to OWU and Denison.   Denison clearly benefits from the one 1st place vote.  Awhile back I said that the year promised to be balanced with several possible upsets.  This has not changed my view. 

[Crawford]

Wooster has three players who are recognized as pre-season All-Americans.  TE, P and K.  Special teams can definitely turn a close game into a win.

[Dr. Acula]

If I was picking what positions I'd want to have an AA player at K would definitely be up there.  A great kicker is a big advantage in general, let alone in D3 where some teams barely have a serviceable kicker.