FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[SpringSt7]

RB: Williams, Trinity, Bowdoin

Unless something has changed, Joel Nicholas is not coming back for a 5th year, so I would probably drop Williams from this group following his departure and Dan Vaughn's graduation. But Mario Fischetti had a very promising start to his freshman year before a season ending injury - 52 carries, 301 yards, and 2 TDs, as well as 16 receptions out of the backfield. So I wouldn't be surprised to see him on an all-league team and I am sure they will find a second back to spell him, but for now they are probably not on this list.

[GroundandPound]

https://nfldraftdiamonds.com/2023/06/2024-small-school-prospect-watch-list/

[GroundandPound]

Re-Revised top 3 NESCAC Position Groups 2023
QBs: Tufts, Trinity, Middlebury
WR:  Tufts, Middlebury Trinity
RBs: Trinity, Bowdoin, Colby
TEs: Hamilton, Wesleyan, ?
OL: Trinity, Tufts, Williams
DL: Wesleyan, Tufts, Middlebury
LBs: Colby, Tufts, Trinity
DBs: Tufts, Middlebury, Bowdoin
Punter:  Middlebury, Trinity, Tufts
K: Trinity, Williams, Middlebury

[nescac1]

I think the Williams tight end group could be very good next year - despite modest statistical production last year, they are a very athletic unit.  Michael Bedard is primarily a blocking tight end but is an absolute beast of a blocker who can play as either a TE or a FB, and Sam Jaffe looking very promising with a few big plays late in his first year and I think will see a lot more opportunities in the passing game this season.  Brendan Guy is another rising sophomore who may see some more time, as well as some "ATH"-type incoming first-years who could end up at TE.  With few productive veterans returning at WR, I think that unit is gonna see a lot more targets this season. 

[Scoops]

Curious to know why you downgraded the Trinity DB group so far? Especially to put Bowdoin's group in? I can theoretically understand not putting them at 1, but not top 3 is shocking. Did I miss something here? Care to elaborate?

Re-Revised top 3 NESCAC Position Groups 2023
QBs: Tufts, Trinity, Middlebury
WR:  Tufts, Middlebury Trinity
RBs: Trinity, Bowdoin, Colby
TEs: Hamilton, Wesleyan, ?
OL: Trinity, Tufts, Williams
DL: Wesleyan, Tufts, Middlebury
LBs: Colby, Tufts, Trinity
DBs: Tufts, Middlebury, Bowdoin
Punter:  Middlebury, Trinity, Tufts
K: Trinity, Williams, Middlebury

[GroundandPound]

Tufts and Midd have a 1st Team All - Conf. DB and 2nd Team All Conf. DB returning. Colby has a 1st Team All Conf. Returning and Bowdoin has a 2nd Team player returning.
Are seniors Kennedy and/or Tully returning for Trinity?  If one then they should be tied w. Colby, if both are returning then should be listed first, then Midd/Tufts.  My mistake putting Bowdoin ahead of Colby.

[GroundandPound]

These are just estimates based mostly on the all-conference players who are returning.  As the season progresses, the statistics will help prove or disprove the estimates. The Mole definitely puts more factors into his analysis than I have done.  For example, although Bowdoin has a second team all conference DB returning and Colby has a first team all conference DB returning, the other three DBs at Bowdoin may be and play better than the Colby DBs and warrant a higher rating.  Only time will tell since I do not know the other likely starters on either team, and even if I did, how they play this fall is what matters most.

[GroundandPound]

Are Glantz and Anzeveno returning this fall for Trinity? If so, their DL would be first on list.

[NESCACFball24/7]

Does anybody know what day schools are allowed to start offering kids this year?

[The Mole]

Glantz was a 5th year in 22. 99 Has a 5th year left, not sure if he is returning or not

Are Glantz and Anzeveno returning this fall for Trinity? If so, their DL would be first on list.

[Scoops]

Has it been confirmed that Finn Muldoon is returning for his 5th year?

Tufts and Midd have a 1st Team All - Conf. DB and 2nd Team All Conf. DB returning. Colby has a 1st Team All Conf. Returning and Bowdoin has a 2nd Team player returning.
Are seniors Kennedy and/or Tully returning for Trinity?  If one then they should be tied w. Colby, if both are returning then should be listed first, then Midd/Tufts.  My mistake putting Bowdoin ahead of Colby.

[GroundandPound]

I believe he is playing this fall.

[westcoastnescac]

Muldoon was listed as a captain on twitter for upcoming season

[GroundandPound]

The Mole, what are your thoughts on this so far?

Re-Revised top 3 NESCAC Position Groups 2023
QBs: Tufts, Trinity, Middlebury
WR:  Tufts, Middlebury Trinity
RBs: Trinity, Bowdoin, Colby
TEs: Hamilton, Wesleyan, ?
OL: Trinity, Tufts, Williams
DL: Wesleyan, Tufts, Middlebury
LBs: Colby, Tufts, Trinity
DBs: Tufts, Middlebury, Bowdoin
Punter:  Middlebury, Trinity, Tufts
K: Trinity, Williams, Middlebury

[The Mole]

I am certainly not an expert here, but I appreciate the consideration of weighing in. No major issues but a few comments to add, keep in mind I have a slight bias to a team in red and black as my son plays on that team

Wesleyan returns a group of receivers I referred to earlier with 55 grabs for 763 yards and 6 TDs. Decent production that cannot be ignored.
Cards also return 5 LBs that accounted for 148 tackles. One was all league and another may have been had he not missed some time due to injuries. The three other guys add good depth and proved they can handle reps if called upon
They also return 4 DBs that accounted for 101 tackles 18 PBUs and a pair of INTs. Not saying they deserve a top ranking but it is a solid unit.
DL --the nucleus is there but need to avoid the injury bug and find some depth from position changes and/or younger guys stepping up
OL returns an all league player, another SR who will be a 3 year starter and 3 rising juniors that all started games last year plus two more juniors that got playing time. Will (needs to) be improved
QB as I stated earlier could have a breakout year not sharing reps.

If K from Amherst comes back for 5th year he helps a lot and same for Colby punter.

Middlebury LB trio had 151 tackles 13.5 for loss, 5 sacks with 1 INT and 12 PBUs. If 44 comes back this is the best group in the league. Without him returning, they will still be good

RB group is very hard to gauge, Trinity looks to be so far ahead of the rest of the pack. Even the "best" returning all league guys do not have great YPC stats (because they may not have had great QB and OL play).

TE hard to handicap. Despite another poster being critical of 88 from Hamilton, he led his team with 43 catches and a TD and blocked a punt. If that is "soft" I'll take it.

OL is so important, running the ball and sacks surrendered tell the story. Trinity only gave up 8 sacks, Tufts 16 and they were #1 and #3 in rushing YPG and and #2 and #1 in YPC. Bantams always seem to do a great job in this area. They are clear #1. Jumbos losing at least one starter here (52 was a 5th year) the other 4 were all seniors, depending on how many they return, they could be quite formidable.

Teams with best QBs are Trinity, Tufts and Middlebury and will be the hunted.

Wesleyan is the wild card and may play better without high expectations (see 2019), and you have to believe that Amherst and Williams will be better. Colby, despite the hype still had a losing slate. Can Bowdoin and Bates move up the ladder ? Hamilton needs a lot of work.

The Mole, what are your thoughts on this so far?

Re-Revised top 3 NESCAC Position Groups 2023
QBs: Tufts, Trinity, Middlebury
WR:  Tufts, Middlebury Trinity
RBs: Trinity, Bowdoin, Colby
TEs: Hamilton, Wesleyan, ?
OL: Trinity, Tufts, Williams
DL: Wesleyan, Tufts, Middlebury
LBs: Colby, Tufts, Trinity
DBs: Tufts, Middlebury, Bowdoin
Punter:  Middlebury, Trinity, Tufts
K: Trinity, Williams, Middlebury