FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Nescacman]

Here are the recruits I've seen as committed to Williams so far.  I am sure there must be at least a few others:

Calvin Pedatella, LB, Bellport (NY)
Cam Maguire, DE, Lawrence Academy
Campbell Pang, LB, Duxbury
Brendan Guy, TE, Springfield Central
Jon Oris, RB/DB, Avon Old Farms
Justice McGrail, WR, Central Catholic
Teddy Massingham, DB, Duxbury (baseball / football recruit)
Leslie Williams, LB, Montgomery (TX)
Rowan Stenson, OL, Garden City (NY)
Michael Sheskey, OL, Scituate
Sam Jaffe, LB/DE, Milton Academy
Anthony Scala, NT, Chaminade
Riley O'Connell, QB, Lincoln Sudberry
Jamie Mazzacco, Ath, Shore Regional (NJ)
Joe Ngnombouwo, OL/DL, Nobles
Jack Wallace, QB, Kent School

Very heavy on MA and Long Island players.  It's very hard to project without a lot of knowledge which of these are guys to watch, but it looks like a very strong class at LB with Pang, Jaffe, Williams and Pedatella; maybe one of those guys can get an early look with the Ephs graduating three starters (although the Ephs did have a ton of quality depth at LB last year, so it will be hard to move ahead of the more experienced guys).  Scala looks like a tough NT but does join a loaded position for the Ephs.  Brendan Guy seems like a guy who could see the field early at the HB/TE positions, where Justin Burke leaves a massive hole to fill.  And Mazzacco absolutely dominated his small-school NJ league, he is a super-versatile athlete in the David Estevez mold (not saying he is as talented as Estevez!), but I'm not sure what position he translates to in college, at his size I assume WR or DB.  The class seems a bit light on impact skill guys, but maybe there are a few I haven't seen ...

Interesting they go so heavy on Long Island...we recruit in the NY Metro area and generally speaking, especially compared to NJ, LI HS football is not great...yes, we know Stola is from LI and there are exceptions, but the only school in New York State that can consistently compare to the NJ powerhouses like Bergen Catholic, Don Bosco, St. Joe's, and Seton Hall Prep, is Stepinac...

[nescac1]

Nescacman, Raymond is clearly connected in Long Island somehow, and to me, so much of recruiting is being able to trust high school coaches from strong programs, and them trust in you. 

If you look at who the Ephs have gotten from Long Island, I don't think any Eph fans will have any complaints:

Stola, Mario Fischetti, Jack Ledden (got hurt but looks like he will be a contributing player at WR), Blaise Takvor (in the two-deep at OL as a frosh, likely a guy who will be starter down the line), Cam Lee (looked like a future starter at WR but also got hurt). That's a really strong group of players.  I think Scala and Pedatella are going to be players, too, but both are coming in at crazy deep positions so I imagine will have to wait their turn for a few years.  Stenson certainly has great size though OL is harder to project ...

As for Wesleyan next year, you guys certainly look loaded, especially with Simco presumably back and healthy.  I think the top three are very close (Williams loses the most but was by far the best team last year, and the Eph defense is going to be scary next year; Trinity loses less than Williams but more than Wesleyan, but was also really good and the offense will again have the ability to put up huge point totals in a hurry), but if I had to go with a pre-season favorite, I'd narrowly pick Wesleyan, with such a ridiculously veteran squad.  Next year really feel like Wesleyan's window, with a team absolutely loaded with senior talent, much like Williams this past season.  TB seems like the only real question mark for the Cards ... but usually the easiest position to plug a young guy in. 

[Nescacman]

Charlemagne, stop stirring the pot. Cards story is more about who is returning versus not returning: 17 starters coming back and many 5th year players. Every single passing, rushing and receiving yard coming back. Losing a TE, Center and the OL you mentioned on offense. For the OL, Wesleyan doesn't have a graduate program to fit his area of study. Defensively, losing a starting DE and LB that were good players. Plenty of talent at LB and DL to replace those spots. All returning interceptions and most of the TFLs and sacks also coming back.

The departing coaches helped build the program but are younger coaches looking for opportunities and they should not be held back, wish them the best. The reality is the architects of the rebirth are in the hands of AD Whalen and HC DiCenzo. As long as they are around, the program is gong to be just fine.

Charlie-
In doing some checking this morning-  it seems to be a forgone conclusion that Stanley will not be on the Cards staff much longer or has already left.
However, tight lips on the matter in Lewiston but you may be right on this.

Wow the situation at Wesleyan is getting worse. There are now two players who were not going exercise fith year option. One is a starting OL who is going to graduate school William & Mary and using his last year as a Preferred Walk on there. Another DL who had two years left has chosen to just complete his Senior year and not take his fifth year.

So now you have following Coaches departed.

lst your QB Coach Archer passing game and recruiter who was there 6 years is now gone.

Coach Coyne who was LB and DC and was there for five years.

Coach Stanley who was DL , Run Game and Strength Coach was there 7 years.

Kashif Moore Wr Coach was there for one year gone

Kevin Burke OC was there for three years is gone.

So there sems to be a great deal of turnover in this program and they have hired Coach Ruiz a graduate student who is TE and recruiter and Coach Chicoine from Colby to be new LB and DC. Despite the fact that he di not have one unit lead in any type of defensive catogory the last two years. So there appears to be a turnstile at Wesleyan which certainly will put a crimp in their recruitment process. There is also evidence that players are not preferring to stay. Curious to see which direction football program will move in.

Thank you Mole. And let's not forget that most of the walking wounded will be back in the fall including All-league receiver Simco and All-league kicker Von Jess not to mention all of the returning 5th year guys like All-league DB Danny Banks and All-league everything David Estevez as well as the current DPOTY. We agree with you 100%...Wes will enter the season as one of the 3 or 4 top teams in the league in '22 with a legit shot at the NESCAC and Little 3 Championships...of course, Hartford State, Ephs, and Tufts (if they get their act together on defense) should all be very good so who knows...what we we do know is that they have a lot of guys back (healthy), they had a very year recruiting with 26 FYs coming to Middletown, Dice reloaded his coaching staff with energetic, like minded Coaches who are excited about this Team, and they will have their biggest roster ever with 104 student-athletes...we can't wait to welcome HCOF Matt back to Andrus on September 17th...#rollcards   

[NescacFam]

Does anyone have a comprehensive list of players returning for their 5th year? So far, we know that Danny Banks (Wesleyan), David Estevez (Wesleyan), and Devante Reid (Trinity) have decided to come back. Any news on roster size limitations or expansion?

[nescac1]

Most of Williams' original class of 2022 reclassified as juniors last year, including (among others): Ian Devine, Dan Vaughn, Tyler Spiezio, Xander Utecht, Desi O'Mahoney, Coleston Smith, Alex Dehmel, Rocco Giandomenico, Eli Peters and Christian Cuttita. All those guys will start or figure to be important reserves.

[NESCACFball24/7]

Of the 22 commits coming next year that Tufts has announced this month only 9 are from the North East. The majority are from Florida(4), Georgia(3), Texas(2), or California(2). Clearly, Civetti is recruiting heavily out of state and then coming back to the northeast to fill his remaining needs which is probably what is creating the poor and late recruiting narrative amongst people from up here. Not a bad strategy when you think about it given that those 4 would be considered the states with the most high school talent coming out every year. Also consistent with what he's done with the last two classes. This is probably the first year we will see that first class of this trend in action. Hopefully, it plays out the way he hopes. 

[Scoops]

Did anybody see the WR out of Georgia that Trinity picked up?! Looks like Jon Girard 2.0. Definitely an impressive kid. The rest of their class is surprisingly unimpressive, but him and the safety from the Hun school are great finds.

[lumbercat]

Of the 22 commits coming next year that Tufts has announced this month only 9 are from the North East. The majority are from Florida(4), Georgia(3), Texas(2), or California(2). Clearly, Civetti is recruiting heavily out of state and then coming back to the northeast to fill his remaining needs which is probably what is creating the poor and late recruiting narrative amongst people from up here. Not a bad strategy when you think about it given that those 4 would be considered the states with the most high school talent coming out every year. Also consistent with what he's done with the last two classes. This is probably the first year we will see that first class of this trend in action. Hopefully, it plays out the way he hopes.

I forgot who started the rumor here that Tufts recruiting is struggling, is too late in the cycle and has administrative issues etc etc (not sure if it was NESCACMAN or Charlie but that's irrellevant) Total nonsense, couldn't be further from the truth. Civetti is not a great play caller running that offense. He should step aside on that role but he is a masterful recruiter who knows how to sell the Tufts-Boston NESCAC football package and build his program.

If you're a top high school prospect form Texas, Florida or California who wants a quality NESCAC education without being in the middle of cow country wouldn't Tufts be the top choice of many? A stones throw from Boston and exposure to the great sports culture in Boston....RedSox Patriots Bruins Celtics all a stones throw away!!! Not to mention the greater Boston college community and overall culture in the greater Boston area. No other NESCAC school can offer that.

Civetti recognizes his advantages and he is doing a great job selling his program. Recruiting is no problem at Tufts. It's like shooting fish in a barrel over there.

Most recruiters will be far more successful selling the Boston area in recruiting  a prospect from Georgia or Texas in competing with a other NESCAC recruiters offering NESCAC opportunities in more rural settings. A kid who grew up in the Boston area and is used to it's advantages would be more likely to be attracted to the more remote NESCAC settings but many kids from more remote areas will be attracted to Tufts......Boston's NESCAC team.

[BigKat]

Maybe so re recruiting but the majority on their difference makers on both sides of the ball the last 5 years have been local Mass kids or from the usual spots-NJ, PA and Ct. I'll take them all day over the kids that will have to deal with the culture shock of Boston's nescac school

[Scoops]

I don't know if that's necessarily true. If you look at their all-conference kids from this season, half were from the south. Their most decorated guy in the last 5 years is Greg Holt who was from California. Civetti is doing something different. Have to give him credit for thinking outside of the box.

Maybe so re recruiting but the majority on their difference makers on both sides of the ball the last 5 years have been local Mass kids or from the usual spots-NJ, PA and Ct. I'll take them all day over the kids that will have to deal with the culture shock of Boston's nescac school

[BigKat]

I said the majority not all of them Scoops. But yes on Holt for sure and yes on giving credit.

[lumbercat]

My point is that Tufts has always landed a number of E Mass and greater Boston kids by default--- just on location. However, Civetti has now put together a great recruiting strategy that appeals to kids nationwide. They have more to offer than any other NESCAC school. The light bulb went on in Medford a few years after Civ took over.

Instead of relying on dominance in Eastern Mass and Ct/NJ he's expanded his recruiting radius beyond the traditional Tufts recruiting comfort zone. Thats why the Emass recruiting numbers have declined at Tufts. Tufts will win on the national D3 recruiting venue now that they have figured out how to get into the game.

Civetti will continue to get his share of the the top Eastern Mass recruits but he will take less local kids because he's got so many more prospects from other parts of the country.  Tufts admissions loves that so its a win-win for Tufts football.

Used to think Civetti was destined for the Ivies or Patriot league but the next few years will tell. Gotta get some W's in his stacked situation in Medford which other NESCAC coaches would die for.

[Scoops]

I would be interested to hear what changed for Tufts. Seems like they took a really sudden shift to focus on bringing in out of region recruits only a couple of years ago. Curious to see if anyone else follows suit, and if they will be able to do it as effectively as they have so far in Medford.

[lumbercat]

Every NESCAC program is trying to diversify and broaden their recruiting focus geographically. There isn't an admissions dept. or administration in the NESCAC that doesn't value and encourage this approach.

While Amherst and Williams will always have nationwide leverage in recruiting Tufts has been very successful in diversifying their recruiting approach nationally. They have a great deal to offer and have figured out how to get out there and sell it.

[LochNescac]

Hey NESCAC pros...Long time lurker; first time poster!

Had to officially jump onto the board & into this thread; very interesting talk of recruiting.   Looks as if several of the league teams have "Welcomed" their '26 classes and have great links to hudl highlights.

MaxPreps has been a fantastic source of info for stats....interesting to see where these NESCAC kids fell on their respective HS rosters in terms of tackles, sacks, INT's, yards, TD's, receptions etc...

Kinda gives a glimpse into the "Big Fish Small Pond" theory...or the other way around...

Certainly not a "scientific" analysis, but semi-useful from an entertainment perspective.

Will be interesting to follow these young men.  Regardless of your particular rooting interest, it looks like the season will be good theater...with possibly more parity than in the past?

What say you guys...?   I'm too new to this league to know anything but the obvious; all of which I learned here (for better or for worse) !?!?!