FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[LochNescac]

Some good points raised....food for thought?

Gotta think the Tufts WR's will be just fine....

[Trin9-0]

Questions:

Trinity's QB hasn't started a game. How is that a top 3 position group? Didn't Hamilton just have the rookie of the year at that position?

Tufts returns a 2nd team WR and the top QB. (Need a guy to throw those guys the ball, right?) shouldn't they be in the top 3 for WR? And with Wood (and his QB) and Elkhoury transferring, what makes those groups any better than the rest of the league? Trinity has the best kid so I at least get that, even though he doesn't have a proven QB.

Why does Williams' OL deserve a spot on this list? Also is Fischetti returning/healthy? How do you justify them being on the top 3 list over Colby's kid or Hamilton's freshman RB?

Who IS Williams TE? I literally can't think of who you're referencing, which is a bad start. How can ANYONE on pass challenged Williams be considered a top player in a receiving position? Also, didn't Trinity graduate their TE?

Didn't Colby lose both of their starting LBs? How are they in the top 3 LB group?

Tufts was the best pass defense and brings back an all conference corner, shouldn't they be ranked higher? Particularly over the sieve that is the Wesleyan pass defense.

Didn't Trinity also graduate their kicker?

5/17/24: TOP THREE RETURNING POSITION GROUPS 2024
QBs: Tufts, Wesleyan, Trinity
WRs: Wesleyan, Trinity, Middlebury (Trin returns a first teamer, Midd returns a second teamer)
RBs: Trinity, Tufts, Williams or (Per Lonestar 12: Tufts, Trinity, Williams)
TEs: Bates, Williams, Trinity
OL: Trinity, Middlebury, Williams (Trin returns 2 First Teamers; Midd returns 1 First and 1 Second Teamer)
DL: Middlebury, Wesleyan, Williams
LBs: Wesleyan, Colby, Williams
CBs: Middlebury, Wesleyan, Tufts
Safeties: Amherst, Trinity, Wesleyan
Kicker: Trinity, Williams, Middlebury
Punter:  Hamilton,

In limited action last year Zebrowski completed over 70% of his passes. Of course, as a back-up to one of the most statistically successful NESCAC QBs of all time his reps consisted mostly of handoffs and short passes once games were far out of reach. It's still too early to tell how successful he might be running Trinity's offense but I'd be willing to bet on a fifth year senior with a top-tier roster over a Rookie of the Year winner from a bottom tier team. Also, while Zebrowski was voted a team captain despite his limited playing time it's worth noting Jake Robbins, the transfer QB from West Virginia will likely push him for the starting role. Considering those options, I'd say Trin is among the top three in the QB position group.

Trinity has either 1 or 0 returning Tight Ends who caught a pass last season so including them in the top three for that group is either folly or just based on them seemingly always finding a capable player at that position.

Wesleyan's secondary returns all NESCAC player Wesley Abraham and will be bolstered by the addition of Colby transfer and former All-NESCAC DB Nick Donatio. But your point is well-taken as the Cards allowed 240 YPG and 21 TDs through the air last season. Only Bowdoin, Hamilton and Bates were worse.

Trinity's Matt Jumes has been first team All-NESCAC kicker for the past two seasons and is returning for his senior season this fall. A safe bet as the #1 kicker in the league heading into the year.

[BantChamps]

Questions:

Trinity's QB hasn't started a game. How is that a top 3 position group? Didn't Hamilton just have the rookie of the year at that position?

Tufts returns a 2nd team WR and the top QB. (Need a guy to throw those guys the ball, right?) shouldn't they be in the top 3 for WR? And with Wood (and his QB) and Elkhoury transferring, what makes those groups any better than the rest of the league? Trinity has the best kid so I at least get that, even though he doesn't have a proven QB.

Why does Williams' OL deserve a spot on this list? Also is Fischetti returning/healthy? How do you justify them being on the top 3 list over Colby's kid or Hamilton's freshman RB?

Who IS Williams TE? I literally can't think of who you're referencing, which is a bad start. How can ANYONE on pass challenged Williams be considered a top player in a receiving position? Also, didn't Trinity graduate their TE?

Didn't Colby lose both of their starting LBs? How are they in the top 3 LB group?

Tufts was the best pass defense and brings back an all conference corner, shouldn't they be ranked higher? Particularly over the sieve that is the Wesleyan pass defense.

Didn't Trinity also graduate their kicker?

5/17/24: TOP THREE RETURNING POSITION GROUPS 2024
QBs: Tufts, Wesleyan, Trinity
WRs: Wesleyan, Trinity, Middlebury (Trin returns a first teamer, Midd returns a second teamer)
RBs: Trinity, Tufts, Williams or (Per Lonestar 12: Tufts, Trinity, Williams)
TEs: Bates, Williams, Trinity
OL: Trinity, Middlebury, Williams (Trin returns 2 First Teamers; Midd returns 1 First and 1 Second Teamer)
DL: Middlebury, Wesleyan, Williams
LBs: Wesleyan, Colby, Williams
CBs: Middlebury, Wesleyan, Tufts
Safeties: Amherst, Trinity, Wesleyan
Kicker: Trinity, Williams, Middlebury
Punter:  Hamilton,

In limited action last year Zebrowski completed over 70% of his passes. Of course, as a back-up to one of the most statistically successful NESCAC QBs of all time his reps consisted mostly of handoffs and short passes once games were far out of reach. It's still too early to tell how successful he might be running Trinity's offense but I'd be willing to bet on a fifth year senior with a top-tier roster over a Rookie of the Year winner from a bottom tier team. Also, while Zebrowski was voted a team captain despite his limited playing time it's worth noting Jake Robbins, the transfer QB from West Virginia will likely push him for the starting role. Considering those options, I'd say Trin is among the top three in the QB position group.

Trinity has either 1 or 0 returning Tight Ends who caught a pass last season so including them in the top three for that group is either folly or just based on them seemingly always finding a capable player at that position.

Wesleyan's secondary returns all NESCAC player Wesley Abraham and will be bolstered by the addition of Colby transfer and former All-NESCAC DB Nick Donatio. But your point is well-taken as the Cards allowed 240 YPG and 21 TDs through the air last season. Only Bowdoin, Hamilton and Bates were worse.

Trinity's Matt Jumes has been first team All-NESCAC kicker for the past two seasons and is returning for his senior season this fall. A safe bet as the #1 kicker in the league heading into the year.

Noting that the "Rookie of the Year" was not very impressive either. To put him over any quarterback coming out of Trinity is most likely a mistake. I would suggest to rename his award to the "Beat Tufts when no one though you could" award.

[BantChamps]

Questions:

Trinity's QB hasn't started a game. How is that a top 3 position group? Didn't Hamilton just have the rookie of the year at that position?

Tufts returns a 2nd team WR and the top QB. (Need a guy to throw those guys the ball, right?) shouldn't they be in the top 3 for WR? And with Wood (and his QB) and Elkhoury transferring, what makes those groups any better than the rest of the league? Trinity has the best kid so I at least get that, even though he doesn't have a proven QB.

Why does Williams' OL deserve a spot on this list? Also is Fischetti returning/healthy? How do you justify them being on the top 3 list over Colby's kid or Hamilton's freshman RB?

Who IS Williams TE? I literally can't think of who you're referencing, which is a bad start. How can ANYONE on pass challenged Williams be considered a top player in a receiving position? Also, didn't Trinity graduate their TE?

Didn't Colby lose both of their starting LBs? How are they in the top 3 LB group?

Tufts was the best pass defense and brings back an all conference corner, shouldn't they be ranked higher? Particularly over the sieve that is the Wesleyan pass defense.

Didn't Trinity also graduate their kicker?

5/17/24: TOP THREE RETURNING POSITION GROUPS 2024
QBs: Tufts, Wesleyan, Trinity
WRs: Wesleyan, Trinity, Middlebury (Trin returns a first teamer, Midd returns a second teamer)
RBs: Trinity, Tufts, Williams or (Per Lonestar 12: Tufts, Trinity, Williams)
TEs: Bates, Williams, Trinity
OL: Trinity, Middlebury, Williams (Trin returns 2 First Teamers; Midd returns 1 First and 1 Second Teamer)
DL: Middlebury, Wesleyan, Williams
LBs: Wesleyan, Colby, Williams
CBs: Middlebury, Wesleyan, Tufts
Safeties: Amherst, Trinity, Wesleyan
Kicker: Trinity, Williams, Middlebury
Punter:  Hamilton,

In limited action last year Zebrowski completed over 70% of his passes. Of course, as a back-up to one of the most statistically successful NESCAC QBs of all time his reps consisted mostly of handoffs and short passes once games were far out of reach. It's still too early to tell how successful he might be running Trinity's offense but I'd be willing to bet on a fifth year senior with a top-tier roster over a Rookie of the Year winner from a bottom tier team. Also, while Zebrowski was voted a team captain despite his limited playing time it's worth noting Jake Robbins, the transfer QB from West Virginia will likely push him for the starting role. Considering those options, I'd say Trin is among the top three in the QB position group.

Trinity has either 1 or 0 returning Tight Ends who caught a pass last season so including them in the top three for that group is either folly or just based on them seemingly always finding a capable player at that position.

Wesleyan's secondary returns all NESCAC player Wesley Abraham and will be bolstered by the addition of Colby transfer and former All-NESCAC DB Nick Donatio. But your point is well-taken as the Cards allowed 240 YPG and 21 TDs through the air last season. Only Bowdoin, Hamilton and Bates were worse.

Trinity's Matt Jumes has been first team All-NESCAC kicker for the past two seasons and is returning for his senior season this fall. A safe bet as the #1 kicker in the league heading into the year.

Noting that the "Rookie of the Year" was not very impressive either. To put him over any quarterback coming out of Trinity is most likely a mistake. I would suggest to rename his award to the "Beat Tufts when no one though you could" award.

**thought

[lumbercat]

Questions:


Didn't Colby lose both of their starting LBs? How are they in the top 3 LB


Noting that the "Rookie of the Year" was not very impressive either. To put him over any quarterback coming out of Trinity is most likely a mistake. I would suggest to rename his award to the "Beat Tufts when no one though you could" award.

Colby lost 2 senior LBs but they return the best LB in the conference in Julian Young along with significant LB depth.

I'd agree on the Trinity QBs. Karzum at Hamilton shows a lot of promise but don't look now-  the Buff n Blue are bringing in 2 very good QBs. Connor Laverty for one, St Bernards NJ  6'2.5" 193- very good looking left handed QB who will push Karzum hard.

[Scoops]

9-0 Thanks for actually answering those questions on Trinity returners.

Everyone can be as hot as they want on Zebrowski, but it's inherently false to call the position group top 3 when the kid has only played in garbage time. 160 total yards on 17/24 passing with no passing TDs. Don't care how you twist it, he's done nothing. The kid who actually played (Kurzum) should get the spot there. Not to mention, as the old adage goes, if you have 2 QBs you have no QB.

I appreciate your acknowledgement that the TE position for Trinity is a farce as well. Again, they could very well have a top 3 unit there, but to award it to Trinity because "it's trinity" is a pretty BS way of going about this.

As for the Wes secondary, Abraham was all conference, but when your team (and you) get torched regularly, are you really a top player at the position? Sure, had interceptions. But howany touchdowns did he give up? Just turn on the massacre against Tufts alone. Same can be said for Donatio. Colby's secondary was no great shakes. I'd be willing to bet that they remain one of the most picked on units in the league.

Speaking on Colby, I was under the impression that Julian Young had transferred? Is that not the case? Also again, to base a ranking off of unknowns is suspect at best.

As for Trinity's kicker, I was legitimately unsure if he had graduated. Clearly they have the best in the league.

[NESCACFball24/7]

Does anybody know what happened with Joshua east from colby? He was the best cover corner in the league in my opinion especially considering he was completely alone in that secondary.

[lumbercat]

East entered the portal but has not been overwhelmed with offers- not sure how things stand at this point.

I do not believe Young transferred but don't claim any reliable knowledge on his situation.

[GroundandPound]

Scoops,
Thank you for the questions.  This list is evolving. As for Trinity getting a top three rating at QB with no starter returning, my answer is (1) it is Trinity, a team that has won 11 of the last 22 NESCAC titles; (2) they are returning two 1st Team OL and the best WR in the NESCAC; and (3) they will have a very strong run game that will create more space for their passing game.  Do you really think the Hamilton QB will have a better season than the yet to start Trinity QB?  I hope he does, but I am comfortable predicting Trin QB will be in top 3.
Why Midd top 3 for receiving group and not Tufts? Pat Jamin 2nd Team Nescac and Mike Ahonen 32 receptions 440 yds 3 tds as Sophomor including game winning TD against Trinity, the best D in the northeast.  Will Cade Moore be a 1st Teamer this fall, most likely yes. Is Tufts 2nd best receiver going to do better than Ahonen next fall? I do not think so, but time will tell.

[GroundandPound]

As for Colby LBs it is my understanding 2x 1st Teamer Julian Young is returning. If not, I will remove Colby from top 3 LBs.

[GroundandPound]

As for Williams OL, it is my understanding Tim Forth 2nd Teamer is returning.  Also, is my understanding Fischetti is returning. If that is not the case, I would likely modify.

[GroundandPound]

As for CB's, I agree with you since Tufts and Wesleyan both have one returning all-conference corner back and the Tufts' position group outperformed the Wesleyan CB position group last year, the scale should tip to Tufts for the the pre-season prediction of second best group for CBs for the 2024 season.
5/24/24 TOP 3 POSITION GROUPS
QBs: Tufts, Wesleyan, Trinity
WRs: Wesleyan, Trinity, Middlebury (Per Scoops WRs: Wesleyan, Trinity, Tufts)
RBs: Trinity, Tufts, Williams or (Per Lonestar 12: Tufts, Trinity, Williams)
TEs: Bates, Williams, Trinity (Per Scoops ...)
OL: Trinity, Middlebury, Williams (Per Scoops ...)
DL: Middlebury, Wesleyan, Williams
LBs: Wesleyan, Colby, Williams
CBs: Middlebury, Tufts, Wesleyan
Safeties: Amherst, Trinity, Wesleyan
Kicker: Trinity, Williams, Middlebury
Punter:  Hamilton,

[GroundandPound]

5/24/24 Top 3 Position Groups
QBs: Tufts, Wesleyan, Trinity (Per Scoops: Tufts; Wesleyan, Hamilton)
WRs: Wesleyan, Trinity, Middlebury (Per Scoops: Wesleyan, Trinity, Tufts)
RBs: Trinity, Tufts, Williams or (Per Lonestar 12: Tufts, Trinity, Williams)
TEs: Bates, Williams, Trinity (Per Scoops ...)
OL: Trinity, Middlebury, Williams (Per Scoops ...)
DL: Middlebury, Wesleyan, Williams
LBs: Wesleyan, Colby, Williams
CBs: Middlebury, Tufts, Wesleyan
Safeties: Amherst, Trinity, Wesleyan
Kicker: Trinity, Williams, Middlebury
Punter:  Hamilton,

[nescac1]

A bit of transfer news, Yash Gupta, Tulane WR, is transferring to Amherst with four years of eligibility left (he was a RS last year).  I'm not sure how much of an impact he is expected to make at the NESCAC level.

I believe that Midd grad transfers Donovan Wood committed to Marist and Cole Kennon to Duke (in Kennon's case I assume as a walk-on), I'm not sure if either's final destination was previously mentioned here.  Quite a few NESCAC transfers to keep an eye on next season (none bigger than Richardson at USC, of course).

Tim Forth is back for Williams as are regular starters Joseph Ngnombouowo and Michael Tartaglia.  In addition, several guys who started at least one game as injury substitutes - Blaise Takvor and Michael Sheskey - return, as does Cam Maguire, who played a lot as a FY but missed last year with an injury. The Ephs have a few promising rising sophs and what looks like a loaded OL class coming in, so I think the unit will have some good options and fierce competition for the last two starting spots. Even with everyone loading up on the running game and an injury-riddled TB unit, the Ephs finished in the top three in NESCAC last year in both total rushing yards and YPC, and a lot of that was due to the offensive line and TE/HB group. 

I do believe Fischetti will likely start this season healthier than he did last year, and when he plays he's the best back in the league - though at his size he's always an injury risk.  Oris's emergence as a starting-caliber TB over the second half of last season should help keep Fischetti's workload manageable this year. And I'm hoping we see Jon Marvan as well, who missed all of last season with injury. 

For Williams, as always, the question will be can they get a LOT more production than they have over the past few years out of what's been an anemic passing attack. A lot of young players will need to make a big leap for the Ephs. 

[Trin9-0]

Trinity unveiled new uniforms for the upcoming season.


Pros: I'm happy to see them return to a more classic number font. Moving the Bantam to the shoulders is an upgrade; the old jersey was too crowded with it on the chest.

Cons: Losing the last names on the back is a definite downgrade. I can't imagine the players love that. I'd prefer the NESCAC logo be a team color, but not a huge deal. I always thought of Trinity as a Nike school so seeing them in Under Armour will take a little getting used to.

I'm curious if there will be a gold jersey released at some point. You can see some addional pictures here.